My First Interview...

The saga of how a drunken promise turned into my first piece of media attention.

The above photo was taken during an interview I did that was promised over 3 years ago... That kind-faced man is David Soares. He is one of the only guys I know in Lisbon keeping it real.

I first met David (in Portuguese it's pronounced "Dah-vid") bumbling around on the underground music scene in Lisbon at an open mic night through an ex-girlfriend. He and I frequented many of the same gigs and, at that time, I didn't realise that he was writing articles about musicians but I always appreciated his company and sincere commitment to supporting local artists.

Over the years in Lisbon we have shared many conversations but I will never forget one specific encounter at a time when I was getting over a bout of imposter syndrome around being a songwriter. This chat seems an age ago (it was even before the Italian bass-playing-heart-throb, Daniele Pistone, had dubbed me: The Mighty String). I was testing performing my first few Calypso songs (some of which I only had 2 verses for and would make up some nonsense on stage to finish the songs of!) and for some reason I decided to say something new to the crowd.

When I perform to strangers I like to chat on the mic between songs and share a little bit of what I am currently going through, to give some context to the songs or to invite participation from the audience. On this particular occasion I had made some joke along the lines of: “You can’t find my music online, I don't have Instagram and if you want to hear my music I can give you my phone number and sing it down the phone to you.” The crowd loved this joke (probably because it was true) and some kind soul in the room shouted out: "Your music is really good and you should record it so we can listen at home". I was touched by this comment. I mentioned that I had been thinking of recording an album and I was considering applying for a grant. (I was rejected for the grant but that led me to the famous never ending crowd funder... which, at the time of this article being published, has ended… except the socks with my face on.)

After the show David (dah-vid) came up to me and asked me if I was serious about making an album. I said “I think so”. He looked me in the eye very deeply: "I write for an online magazine and I would publish an interview with you but I will only do it if you're actually serious." I told him I was serious and was going to do it. He made a point of looking me in the eye again and telling me that he had met hundreds of artists that say that but never actually manage to finish recording and publishing an album. I told him that I was serious and that when I have the CD I would remind him of this conversation and ask him for an interview.

True to his word and true to mine, we bumped into each other randomly at a gig last December and I informed him I had just made the order for 500 copies of my album to be pressed and sent to me from Leiria (Big up MasterCD print shop). He said he would be in touch and, as they say, the rest is history.

On Thursday 19th December we met at one of those Cafés that was transitioning to be targeted at expats and tourists instead of locals near my beautiful apartment building and we did the interview. I loved it. David had really gone out of his way to connect with my album A Portrait of Lisbon and had prepared some really humbling questions about my artistic choices and song writing - he had even listened to the 20 minute long track 12 (Feira da Ladra) and picked up on some funny scenes I had included in that!

Thank you David Soares for your passion in supporting local artists and your service promoting them. It is a time consuming passion and, in my eyes, shows great strength of character to consistently pump out great articles as well as working a day job and being a legend.

The interview piece was published last week and I will put a link to it below should you be interested in all my deepest darkest secrets...

I’d also like to finish with a shout out to a wonderful lady in Barcelona who I did some coaching with. I told her this would be my first public article 6 months ago. Now be a good internet user and please subscribe Alix ;)

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Read David’s Full Interview with me: HERE

Read David's other 50+ music articles: HERE