Lexi X
Interview conducted June 4, 2021
By Dan Locke
Cover shot (Lexi X credit: David Koley )
“Hip-hop laden and clearly provocative pop” -Home cooking Share
What is your upbringing?
My upbringing can best be described as “humble beginnings”. I grew up in the country in a small town and it wasn’t until college that I really found hella opportunities to branch out and explore my interest in hip hop music. I loved the outdoors and taking piano lessons, which my parents signed me up for starting when I was 6 years old.
How did you discover music?
My older sister introduced me to some alternative rock music like Linkin Park, Evanescence, Nickelback, and Seether. I listened to it a lot on YouTube. Eventually, I realized that I didn’t want to adopt someone else’s playlist–I wanted to make my own. I wanted to branch out and find out what I really liked for myself. What I found was a growing niche of cutting-edge female rap music like City Girls, Saweetie, Tay Money, Petty Levels, Kash Doll, etc.
How did you start to write music?
One lazy summer day, I opened up the program ‘Garageband’ on my laptop and started fiddling around. I would record a section of piano, loop it, and add instruments. Eventually, I started adding vocals. Pretty soon I was studying song structure and creating full songs to show my fam and friends.
Describe your music.
Lexi X music is sexy and provocative. It throws very poppy vocals on massive hip hop beats. Can we say the best of both worlds?
What was your first performance at like?
I am finally about to do my first Lexi X performance in mid-July in South Sioux City, NE. I’m a little nervous but I’ve felt nothing but support from those around me and I can’t wait!
You are a hip hop artist from Iowa. How is Hip Hop in that state?
Hip-hop is surprisingly good here. Iowa doesn’t have a particularly well-known reputation for doing music like Nashville or LA, but you’ll find a variety of really strong and active hip hop artists here. Joey Draco, Psychedelic Sidekick, Brady Raps, Tae Groove, James Hennessy, Rue, Radio Recordz, Fetty Fred, Zeus Almighty, Jose the MC, and more, all come to mind. They are all chill dudes and I’ve done collabs with several. I also wish there were more females that did hip hop here like me!
What makes a good songwriter?
A good songwriter allows their inner creativity to take control and isn’t afraid of making a “bad” song because practice is what makes perfect!
What is the process of writing your music?
I do music stream-of-consciousness style for lyrics and follow my ear and my heart for beats. Inspiration from other songwriters often drives my writing. I’ll find a really cool line and make up a title and a whole song around it.
How did you come up with your name?
I wanted to create a persona for myself that embodies what I aspire to be. Plus, Lexi to me just sounds like a boss bitch name. My voice teacher from college always said to pretend to be someone famous or cool when you’re singing, and for me, Lexi is that bad bitch. X because, well, the music is pretty sexy (or so I’ve been told)!
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
BMI!
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Going for the Gold! It was an anthem about letting go of the past and pressing onward through obstacles.
How was it to work with both Joey Draco and Honey-B-Sweet?
It was an amazing experience – Honey-B-Sweet She worked hard on my feature and it was so worth it to collab with her – made my dream of working with a female rapper come true. Shout out- she just released a new EP and dang! It’s called Thick Bitch Energy and it’s all over my playlists lately! Joey Draco is local and he’s awesome! Super nice and very talented. He also just released a new single, “I’m Human”!
While you were creating the songs with Joey and Honey did you do it in the same room or virtual?
Honey was remote because she’s from Australia. Joey was in the same studio as we both are from the Sioux City area.
Why did you pick Enif Velazquez to work on Choreography with you?
She is a super talented choreographer and teaches dance. I saw a video she did and knew she’d be a good fit for the project, vibe-wise.
How do you stay healthy while performing?
I imagine I’ll have to drink lots of water, sleep, and max out on self-care!
What are your feelings about streaming music?
I think it’s awesome because it gives access to so many options all at once!
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, [ or (in North American usage) pound sign. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
Yes! I think people forget that hashtags are what helps tag music and organize it so that you can find things. Imagine what the music metadata world would be like without hashtags! Yikes! That’s like not having maps or GPS on the road.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Digital because it’s more mobile and accessible to people. Takes up less space. I’m a minimalist.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Work by Iggy Azalea. It shows a glimpse of the hardships female artists go through and asks the listener to “walk a mile in these louboutins”. To me, songs are like time stamps, and that time stamp shows me how much progress Iggy has made through the years. I can’t get enough of her new song “Sip It”. Her music just keeps getting better. Inspires me to keep going as a female artist in hip hop.
Both (Pfizer and BioNTech) and Moderna have conclude Phase 3 Study of the Coronavirus vaccine. With the both vaccines, it takes two shots. How many people do you think will take it and how many will forget to take the second shot?
I think about half of us will forget, but I really hope as many as possible get vaccinated as possible so that this pandemic can become a thing of the past!
How long before the whole world will be vaccinated against the virus. You have to remember there only has to be a 70% for Herd immunity (Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune.)
I heard the pandemic could end within a month. I’m hoping COVID will be nothing more than a bad memory at least by the end of this year.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
COVID’s effects have been felt because of the lack of live performances, but I think that will only make the comeback of live music even stronger in the future.
What did you do with your self-quarantine?
I made music and socialized with my parents as we were quarantining together.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I found I really like to create my own beats. I recently decided to start selling them through my small business, Boss Pitch Audio. I also tune vocals and make demos.
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
I am a huge fan of educational documentaries and Netflix stand-up comedy.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Social Media and especially the newer platforms like TikTok and Only Fans offer ways to get paid for artists.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Not sure.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
That would be fun, but definitely not the same. A real visit with a friend is a hundred times better than a zoom call. It’s a substitute at best.
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.”.
Will this help save the music industry?
I think no single thing can save an industry but I believe in the power of artists working together to overcome obstacles and harnessing endless creativity.
In the past if a musician stop doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
I work at a treatment center! I am passionate about counseling and recovery from addiction.
What is your happy place?
The beach, with a loud ass speaker and a bomb playlist. And my favorite people to dance with.
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
Hell yeah.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
I can’t wait to grow and show my fanbase more music. HUGE collabs are in the works and I’m planning at least 3 summer releases. They are almost done. It’s such a pleasure doing this interview and I hope you guys stay tuned for more content.
Follow me on social media to catch my upcoming release dates which I’m announcing soon!
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