Introducing Alexina – We Talk New Music, Lockdown And Dating Disasters

Whether happily single or loved up, from the first time you hear Alexina singing ‘I’m having fun in my twenties, I’m young, now where are all the boys?’ you have no choice but to mentally revisit the nostalgic horror of dates gone wrong. The London based Singer/Songwriter has just released her latest single and it’s an ode to the awkwardness of dating in your twenties. We caught up with Alexina to find out more about the track, how she’s coped through lockdown, and her worst date ever. 

Hi Alexina, you’re definitely one to watch on the music scene, tell us a bit about yourself and your career so far?

Thank you! I've actually been writing and making music for a few years now. I started out fronting a rock band when I was 18/19 and we spent a lot of time in a van touring. We supported Blondie on their UK tour which was completely insane & wild, but I began to feel quite disconnected from the songwriting process. I began listening to a lot more alt-pop synth music by women like Banks and Twigs, so I quit the band to venture into making electronic music. I spent time writing in New York & LA, did backing vocals for Robbie Williams, and toured a bit. It wasn't until I started working with a writer in London who showed me the importance of words that I began to revisit songwriting with poetry and words really telling the stories. I met my collaborator and producer Rob Brinkmann and Alexina was born. I went on to write the theme track for a couple of Hollywood films including Terminal (starring Margot Robbie). I put out my debut EP Partying On My Own last year with One Two Many/Sony Records and now I’m ready to release my next EP which addresses life as a twenty-something in London. I want to tell stories in pop music as they've never been told before. I guess that's it in a nutshell!

You’ve been compared to Tove Lo and Halsey, who are the biggest musical influences in your life?

I grew up in a rock n roll household. The Smiths, Stones, and Pink Floyd were all I listened to. As a teenager of the indie scene, I guess I have always been heavily influenced by guitar music and great storytelling, but I love dark, clever pop music too. Alex Turner and Prince are two of the best storytellers.

The music industry is notoriously hard to break into, tell us what your career highlights and lowlights have been so far? 

While a degree of luck is definitely needed, (I met my first manager on a train when I was 18 which helped carve the path of my career) a lot of hard work needs to go into writing and making your music heard. As a writer, you're constantly forced to think about who you are, what you want to say, and why you want to say it.... you learn a lot about yourself in the process. There are millions of nos and only a couple of yeses, so it requires grit for sure. Highlights for me include being able to collaborate with a brilliant up and coming producer, Rob Brinkmann (my collaborator, therapist, and big brother), getting my work on a couple of exciting films & learning from some great writers. Lows include living on not much money, picking yourself up after the 14738294273th time someone says, "yeah we like it, but it's not for us" and anti-social hours. But I wouldn't change it for the world. 

The last few months have been so strange for everyone; I feel like I need to ask how your lockdown has been? How did you keep busy and stay inspired to release new music? 

Lockdown, it's really hard to even say this, has weirdly been the best few months of my life. Mentally, it's been challenging but I've been able to get off the mad carousel that is life in London. I’ve been able to write every day and I haven't had a drink for 2 months. It's been a terrible and really difficult time for so many, but I've had a moment to stop and think about what I want and what music I want to make. It's definitely been a period of clarity. I finished these next few releases last year, so luckily these songs are ready to get out there. We had to push back the release of Where Are All The Boys? because of the pandemic but I'm ecstatic that it's finally out in the big bad world.

Your new track ‘Where Are All The Boys?’ is such an anthem for your twenties, can you tell us about the inspo behind the lyrics? 

The song pretty much fell onto my notes app on my iPhone when I was lying in the bath one night after my 47389247th failed date. I was frustrated and exhausted from the whole thing and started writing a poem which became this song! The guy who I'd been on a date with that night insinuated that because he'd taken me out for a fancy dinner, I really should go on a second date with him. It was actually quite funny, but all I really wanted was a guy who was like me and wanted to go down the pub for some Guinness. Screw the awkward white tablecloth dinners & misogynistic dudes!

Bad dates are almost a rite of passage in your twenties, what’s the worst date you’ve ever been on?

I have had a fair few, but I once went on a date with a guy who spent the entire evening talking about himself, his Mummy’s herb garden & other fascinating stories (I do actually quite like herbs and gardens to be fair). When we left the restaurant, he threw up in the street AND in the Uber, I had to order for him. The next day he asked WHEN WOULD WORK FOR A SECOND DATE?!?

He sounds like a treat! Have you got any advice for our readers who are dealing with dating disasters?

Honestly, these dates were probably the making of me or at least the making of this song, so don't give up. On another note, make sure you're happy and love yourself too. Give yourself time and look after yourself. It's not all about the guys. I definitely forgot that at one point. 

Let’s talk fashion, we know you’re partial to a charity shop rummage, what’s your best second-hand find? 

Ohhhhh you found my #charityshoptuesday (every week I go to a different charity shop and try and find a whole outfit or at least some great garms for £10!). My best find was probably a £15 velvet leopard print coat from a shop in North London...I had lost an almost identical one a few years ago and was devastated! My favorite thing is gossiping with the charity shop keepers, they normally have some good stories to tell. 

We’re all about sneakers at Fizzy, if you could only wear one pair of sneakers for the rest of your life, which would you choose? 

I’m normally a Doc Martens girl BUT I bought my first pair of black high-top Vans the other day which I love and adore almost as much as DM’s. So those would be my sneakers of choice! 

A solid choice! Lastly, what’s next for Alexina?!

More storytelling, more writing, releasing more music, and playing shows again. I'm really eager to get out now. 

Thank you so much for chatting with us, we can’t wait to see what you do next! 

Massive love for having me xxxx

Check out Alexina’s new single:

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