Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A Pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
After having spent time as a founding member of both The Nursery and The Ruby Spirit, Toronto’s Alex Exists is ready to release his next project to the world. Coming 26 May, Everybody’s Famous (Except Me), Alex’s debut album from The Confidence Emperors, is a glimpse into the absurdism, hyper surrealism and optimistic nihilism of Alex Exists’ influences.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Congrats in advance on the release of the Everbody’s Famous (Except Me) album. What was the process like in fleshing out that record and bringing it to life?
It’s been a wild ride so far! There are a lot of moving parts with the releases. From the production, the mixing, to the videos, artwork, live show etc…. I’m very hands on in all the stages so you could say it is self imposed 😅 I can’t complain. I see the album as having 8 separate characters (songs) that all play together in the Alex Exists world of strange but loveable characters. Picture the album like a short film. Everybody’s Famous is basically a story about finding individualism in the face of conformity. Finding meaning in you can create rather than chasing an ego dragon into the void. It’s loaded with irony, humour and sarcasm. It’s supposed to be fun and not depressing on purpose. Also…rock and roll so it’s supposed to be fun, sexy and a little dangerous.
How did this recording compare to the experiences you had with The Ruby Spirit or The Nursery?
Since I produce nearly all of the music myself for this project, the recording process has become a lot more isolated, challenging, but rewarding. Recording can often be a solitary activity, especially when working alone or in a small team. This can be isolating in the sense that it requires spending a lot of time with one’s own thoughts, without necessarily interacting with others in a social or collaborative way. My mantra is to create space for experimentation, trial and error, and a willingness to take risks. This has allowed me to harness the abstract elements that were disassembled in my head and create tangible art that closely aligns with my imagination.
The world has been going through some shit over the last few years. What affect, if any, have the cultural (and/or political) landscapes of the last few years had on your music?
I believe that art has become more powerful than ever, particularly in the face of increasing shaming, injustice, censorship, and restrictions on human expression. As these phenomena become more normalized, art is proving itself to be the ultimate tool for fighting back and expressing an individual’s voice. However, it’s important to acknowledge that the entertainment and creative arts industry is not immune to these issues. Despite this, the tools that creators have to create art, speak the truth, distribute their work, find like-minded communities, and tell stories are truly inspiring. It feels like a renaissance 2.0 is starting to emerge, and it’s definitely needed. I’m just doing my part.
One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found most important on a personal level. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think they should know about?
Well to be honest the bands and artists that inspire me most are the ones I see in the clubs locally around town. There is just something about seeing someone giving their absolute EVERYTHING on stage before they are about to break out. I love these alternative music scenes because of how much energy and originality is happening. It’s also before the “industry” comes in and starts de-purifying the art. I’m going to shout out Aiko Tomi. She’s a totally refreshing dose of big fem energy without being another copy/paste pop star. Sam Casey also! I’ve collabed a bunch with her and love her shit. Incredible voice and songwriter. I also really like Waves That Stray. Their songs sound like psilocybin infused butter.
Not to put the cart before the horse, but what’s next for Alex Exists after the release of Everybody’s Famous?
A bunch of live shows most likely. I’ve been working on a new live set with the band to bring the same energy and vibe of the record onto the stage. I’m working with multimedia effects, projections and other fun theatrical stuff to create that experience. Probably a tour as well. Make sure to follow the pages and look out for that! I was thinking about possibly producing an “album film” of short narrative that ties together every song on the album thematically.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
