Unplugged With Alexander Mack | Interview

Alexander Mack is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer based out of Virginia who masterfully fuses the vintage art of Jazz with the versatility of Hip-Hop to create his signature groove-filled aesthetic. With his clean look, mass appeal, and uncanny ability to capture fresh sounds infused with an old-school flair, this true artist is steadily achieving organic success while ascending far beyond expectations. He has already shared stages opening for icons like Jodeci, T.I., MC Lyte, October London, Muni Long, The Chuck Brown Band, Masego, and many more. 

Dive into our exclusive written interview with Alexander Mack as he opens up about his creative process, journey, and and listen to ‘You Had To Be There’:

Hey, thanks so much for sitting down with us today – what’s been the absolute best part of your week so far, music aside? 

It’s a pleasure, I appreciate you guys having me! The best part of my week so far has probably been being able to go home and spend time with my family. Life is moving pretty fast these days so it’s nice to be able to slow down, disconnect, and spend that quality time.

Which genres best describe your music, and is there any particular reason you chose to create music in that genre? 

If I could choose genres that describe my music it would be a mix of jazz, hiphop, R&B, house, and world music. My music is a direct reflection of my life, experiences, and what I’m inspired by.

If someone wanted to understand the real vibe of the band / you as an artist beyond the music, what’s one story from your everyday life that says it all? 

I don’t think that there is one story that could really say it all, but the overall story of dreaming in my parents basement while having fun doing something that I love to winning a Grammy very accurately describes my life.

What’s the wildest creative risk you’ve ever taken in the studio that actually paid off in ways you never saw coming? 

Honestly the wildest creative risk I’ve probably taken is creating this whole project I’ve just released. A lot of the songs are sounds that I’ve never released to the public, and I’m doing so after not releasing a project for 7 years. Despite this, it’s been truly amazing experiencing the great reception and love that it’s gotten.

How often do you hope to release new music? 

I’d honestly like to release new music every few months, but I really like to take my time, figure out what I want to say, and the picture I want to paint.

What is the date of your next planned single/EP/Album release?

Recently I just put out my album “You Had To Be There”. I really want people to spend time with the project so there isn’t another release date for anything outside of that set in stone. However, I’d like to release a few new singles later this year.

What is your main platform for distributing and promoting your music?

My main platform for promoting my music has Instagram. It’s such a diverse platform and allows me to express myself and my work in different ways which is important to me when it comes to releasing the art that accompanies the music that I make so that I can really build a world for my listeners.

If you could change one thing about the modern music industry overnight, what would it be?

I’d like to change how heavily the industry is based on numbers and data. New artists aren’t developed or given opportunities because they don’t have the numbers that established artists have because most companies don’t want to spend the time to develop them as they would have in the past.

Do you see AI as a threat to musicians, a helpful collaborator, or something else? How do you plan to keep your music relevant as the industry changes rapidly because of these tools? By embracing AI, avoiding it, or taking a different approach?

I’m honestly not threatened by AI at all actually. My music is made with everything that is unique to myself, even elements that are “imperfect”, which are artistic choices that only humans can make. Through these changes, I’ll just continue to be creative, original, and authentic as I always have been. I think that when you start trying to catch up to the times, you’re already behind. I’m creating my own sound and world, so that really can’t be dictated by any external factor but myself. However, I think AI could be a great tool for songwriters to pitch their demos to artists. 

What is the single biggest challenge you currently face as an African artist/band?

My biggest challenge is constantly navigating around what it means to be a  “black” artist. Early on, the way I dress and speak made navigating or being accepted in certain spaces or being understood very difficult. Every day I make the conscious decision to make creative decisions that are true to who I am individually first, and then how I can represent my people and culture in the best way possible.

What core themes were you hoping listeners would connect with in your latest track?

With my latest album You Had To Be There, I really wanted to bring listeners into a world of experiencing the fun parts of the come up. The traveling, hanging with the homies, and finding romance in the process of becoming successful. 

What is your dream collaboration whether it be local or international and why?

My dream collaborations would be Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars. These are two artists that I’m inspired by because of how involved they are with their process and sound. They produce, write, record, and are amazing performers.

What does your creative process look like when you head to the studio to work on a new track? 

I have a studio in my home so that I can record whenever inspiration strikes. I usually start tracks one of two ways. Either I’ll hear a melody in my head, and build the beat around that or I start producing a track, come up with a chorus first, and then write the verses.

If you could revisit one decision from your artistic journey and do it differently, what would it be? 

Honestly, I would’ve started posting on SoundCloud way earlier. I started in 2017, but a lot of my favorite producers and artists like Soulection started around that time. It was way less saturated at that time. However, I’m glad that things happened the way they have and that I was still able to connect with the people I did during that time.

What’s one unexpected influence, maybe from outside music, that keeps showing up in your work? 

I’m highly influenced by retro movies, television shows, and commercials. Whether it’s “A Different World” or random Afro Sheen commercials, this is what’s playing in my crib and inspiring me visually.

What’s one fun or ridiculous moment from the studio or road since this release that still makes you smile?

Since this release has just dropped, I’m looking forward to starting to experience what comes from it on the road very soon. I was recently offered the opportunity to do a festival at an amphitheater, which is the biggest show I’ve done to date. So I’ll definitely be updating you guys soon lol.

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