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Exclusive Interview With Swedish Independent Artist, Singer & Songwriter Alex Alexander
Hello Alex, welcome to HONK Magazine! Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, First of all thank you so much for the feature! I am Alex Alexander a Swedish artist with 26 singles out and now my brand new EP Helpless. I’m from a small village in the south of Sweden. I started with music at 12 years old playing guitar and at 19 years old I toured for 2 years in Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, China). And the last couple of years I have been traveling a lot working in studios as a songwriter and producer around the world.
How is the music scene in Sweden different than the US? What made you move to LA?
The Swedish music scene is really cool. There are so many talented singers, instrumentalists and producers in Sweden and it’s overall very easy to work with people. I really like the LA market because of the work ethic. People are working 24/7 and the hustle is really on another level. My move to LA has been planned for the past 2 years, but as any European may know its really tough to get a valid Visa for the United States. I got really lucky this year since my Artist Visa got approved right before the pandemic, So now I am just waiting until things get better so I can go back.
You have just dropped an outstanding EP Helpless – what did inspire you to create it?
Yes, I am so proud and happy about this EP. The inspiration comes from my life you know so we never had any preset subject to write about. Me and Johan just went in and wrote about what we felt at that moment.
Helpless is your debut EP, but you released a bunch of projects before that. Why did you wait so long with publishing a collection?
Yes, as you may know, the release schedule is so different nowadays and it’s very focused on singles. Especially if you’re an indie artist like me and you’re building up your career and fan base! We wanted to make sure that my first bigger project was really thought through in terms of sound, style and the look of the artwork. I could have squeezed even more songs but it just felt like this Tracklist was perfect and it came together very organically.
Johan Randén produced and wrote the whole EP with you, how did the work look like? How was your chemistry during creating Helpless?
First of all, Johan is one of the most talented musicians, producers I ever worked with! His talents really are mind-blowing on the guitar! Me and Johan have a very organized and structured way of doing songs now, I think that’s what happens after your 40th song haha! We wrote and produced all these separate EP songs in literally 1-2 days from nothing to full production with vocals. I’m not gonna lie there was quite a lot of red wine involved :). But at this moment we almost always come out with a full song after our 1-day sessions.
What’s your favorite track on Helpless? Why?
I really like “Helpless” & “Lyin’ Eyes” because they blend in a lot of the Latin flavor that I am a very big fan of! I pretty much grew up playing Santana songs and a lot of flamenco, Spanish guitar so I think these influences are deeply rooted in me!
Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming projects? Are you planning any collaborations, or maybe releasing music videos?
At this moment we are looking to push this EP to its full potential over the summer! I might do a music video for either “Helpless” or “Lyin’ Eyes” under the summer. I have a couple of singles that are ready as follow up singles. I was thinking of different features that we are already trying to lock in but we are also thinking of saving a lot of songs to work towards an album by early next year!
Anything you would like to add?
I would just like to personally thank all my fans for the support and kind comments about the EP! I also want to encourage all of you out there to stay positive and keep working forward. I know these are some very hard times, but together as a world, we can get through it!
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Olivier Martinez Wants Halle Berry to Cover $240K in Legal Fees Amid Custody Dispute.
French actor Olivier Martinez is asking a Los Angeles judge to make his ex-wife, Halle Berry, pay $240,000 in legal fees as their custody battle continues. Martinez allegedly says he can no longer afford the mounting litigation costs, especially after years without landing an acting role.
The request comes less than a week after the former couple received a mixed ruling on custody of their 13-year-old son, Maceo. The latest legal dispute between them is now about Martinez’s finances, and the actor is asking Berry for help paying bills he says are hard to manage.
Court documents have been obtained, and the $240,000 request is made up of two different amounts. Martinez is seeking $176,522.58 for outstanding legal fees and an additional $63,477.42 for anticipated costs. The figures indicate he is asking the court to consider both the costs he has already incurred and the legal work he anticipates will be necessary as the case progresses.
The documents also detail Martinez’s reported financial situation. He says he makes around $776.34 a month in acting residuals, and his monthly expenses are estimated at $17,555.99. He also reported approximately $43,206 in different financial accounts. Martinez is using these figures to argue that he can no longer fund the custody litigation on his own.
One piece of financial information in the filing is his disclosed residual income, but this does not represent all income sources available to him. The documents as described are a snapshot of the financial information Martinez is relying on to make his request, not a full accounting of all possible earnings.
The request adds another financial issue to an ongoing custody dispute involving their son, Berry said. The ex-spouses recently received a mixed ruling, and Martinez’s latest filing indicates that legal fees remain a major concern as they work through issues involving Maceo.
That’s $240,000, which is a lot of money, but the request itself is not a court order. Martinez is asking a judge to make Berry pay for the costs, but the information provided does not indicate that the court has approved the request or decided how the fees should be split.
His filing also points to the financial strain that can come with drawn-out family court fights, especially when one party claims their resources are no longer adequate to cover the expenses. Martinez argues that, based on the income and expenses reported, he can’t keep paying the bills without help.
It is not known whether Berry will be asked to contribute. Martinez is now seeking a financial arrangement that will allow him to continue the legal process, and the court is due to consider his request as part of the ongoing legal dispute between the former couple.
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Cardi B Rips NYC Bullying After Death of Bronx Teen Javits Frimpong
Cardi B is speaking out on bullying in New York City after 15-year-old Bronx student Javits Frimpong was shot and killed. The rapper spoke out against the teen’s death and slammed what she called a bullying culture in the city on a livestream caught by “Hollywood Unlocked.”
Based on the information provided, Frimpong, a 15-year-old student from the Bronx, was shot and killed this week. Cardi B spoke about the case in a social media livestream, using the moment to highlight her concern about the environment young people face. She focused on bullying and what she thinks it does to life in New York City.
The rapper said the situation makes her reluctant to raise her children in the vicinity of a New York public school or in what she called the city’s ‘hoods’. She spoke out of concern about safety and the social pressures young people may feel. The information provided does not give any more details about the circumstances of Frimpong’s death or the investigation into the shooting.
Cardi B’s response also fits into her broader pattern of speaking freely on social media about personal matters and events around her. She is also talking about a tragedy involving a young student and what she sees as a larger issue facing the city. She spoke about bullying, which she said was a concern in the environment.
The account also said that A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie addressed Frimpong’s case. Details of his remarks are not included in the information, but his response adds another Bronx-connected artist to those reacting to the death of the teenager.
The incident has caught the attention of people in the music community, and Cardi B’s comments have sparked discussion about bullying and concerns for young people’s safety. She spoke emotionally and directly, in response to the death of a teen from her home borough.
The information released does not link bullying to the circumstances of the shooting, nor does it include any information on suspects, charges, or official findings. These are things outside the scope of the account given. Frimpong’s death has sparked public reaction, including Cardi B’s criticism of what she sees as a damaging culture for young people in New York.
The tragedy also prompted Cardi B to express concern about the environments children grow up in. Her comments about public schools and city neighborhoods revealed her fears as a parent. The public reaction to Frimpong’s death continues to attract attention, and her comments have brought wider discussion about bullying into the public response.
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