Dubai-based Allexa Bash is making the transition most musicians dream of – moving from cover versions to releasing her own songs. Her debut single Spin of the Moment, a soaring pop song about soul and identity, is out now. With her album scheduled to follow soon, iamCrü finds out more about the talented Ukrainian Allexa Bash…
How long have you lived in Dubai?
“I’ve been in Dubai for three years and it’s been the most exciting three years of my life. I’ve gone through the most interesting and challenging transformation as an artist and as a person.”
How do you describe Dubai to friends who have never visited?
“I tell them Dubai is a great energetic city with a lot of opportunities. Full of interesting people, it’s a city where you can build yourself. It’s a great place for creativity. It’s very safe, it’s very comfortable and it’s perfect for living, business and for relaxation.”
Earliest musical memory?
“When I was four years old, I used to perform with a fake mic in front of my parents and their friends. It was my showtime. So, when I was eight, my father bought a piano for me and I started studying at music school. I really loved the sound of the piano and learned it very fast.”
Biggest musical influences?
“My biggest vocal influence was Whitney Houston. I was really impressed with The Greatest Love of All. After that I became familiar with all of her songs. Her powerful vocal inspired me to develop as a singer.
“From around the age of 14, my musical influence was jazz music – Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Julie London. Later, it became the pop music of Michael Jackson, Madonna and Beyoncé and the funk and soul of Aretha Franklin and Earth, Wind & Fire. And later still, the rock music of Led Zeppelin, Beth Hart, U2, Kings of Leon and Radiohead.”
What’s the best album you’ve heard?
“Adele 21. All the songs are part of a true life story and so perfectly done. It’s a great combination of voice, lyrics, music, and it all sounds so natural. So great and simple at the same time.”
Which song do you wish you’d written?
“Nothing Breaks Like a Heart by Miley Cyrus. The lyrics are awesome: ‘This world can harm you; it cuts you deep and leaves the scars, things fall apart but nothing breaks like a heart’. The lyrics are so true. We all face difficult situations in life but nothing hurts so badly as broken heart.”
What’s been your most nerve-wracking performance?
“I was 24 years old and taking part in the TV show ‘The Voice’. It was a test I created for myself but I got really cold feet. I wanted to prove to myself that I’m a really good singer and I’m worth it. But at that point I didn’t have a proper music education. Sure, I knew music school piano but as a singer I’d built myself up from scratch. I didn’t have a mentor advising good techniques to help me handle my voice – especially when nervous. But the audience loved it – they stood and clapped through the song. Their reaction told me that it sounded very special.
“After that I learned everything I now know about the voice and vocal muscles. To be a performer and singer, it’s not only about the technique. It’s your inner truth, in which you are confident about your identity as an artist and your message. Now, when I am on the stage, I enjoy the adrenaline and the happiness that comes from sharing my emotions with people.”
As a singer-songwriter, what inspires your lyrics?
“It depends on my mood. Sometimes it’s situations in life, sometimes it’s digesting new information. Sometimes the lyrics come by themselves and only afterwards I understand what it they’re about.”
How does it feel to have the debut Allexa Bash single – Spin of the Moment – released to the world?
“Mixed emotions, really. Excitement mixed with gratefulness and interest at how listeners will react. I was performing cover music when I came to Dubai and a year ago, I started working on my original music. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my creation with the world but I’m also a bit shaky because it’s the first release.”
Album title and release date?
“The album is called Dark Angels and it will be released at the end of March.”
What can we expect from it?
“Alternative rock mixed with a fusion of electronic sounds. Every song is connected. Every song will open a different side of your personality. We have different levels of being – spiritual, mental, physical and sexual. It’s a journey for the soul.”
Which producer are you working with?
“His name is Stoyan Boykov Stoyanov and his artistic name is Storn. He’s from Bulgaria, lives in Dubai and runs the VST music studio. I really like that he can mix orchestral music perfectly with electronic sounds. That’s exactly what I was searching for. I wanted to mix classical instruments with rock and electronic sounds.”
Which part of the creative process do you enjoy the most?
“Singing. Making music is also very interesting as you have to think and feel at the same time if the song is going in the right direction. But when the music is ready, I can completely dive into the emotions of the song and express the message through my singing.”
Describe your ideal gig.
“An Allexa Bash gig at the Royal Albert Hall, in London. I’d love to combine rock style with a big orchestra on stage. The audience would be full of people that know and like my songs, and they’d feel a whole range of emotions.”
Also read: Aeli Composes Music for Emirati Director Aiham Al Subaihi’s Short Film
