AIDAN ALEXANDER: A Dynamic Rising Star
There is something honest and personal about Aidan Alexander’s latest singles “I Don’t Love You” and “Yours” that penetrates your soul. The soothing vocals, the sensitive lyrics and the comforting melodies make it highly relatable to anyone.
Aidan Alexander is posing himself as a dynamic artist transcending social media, films and now conquering music.
As an actor, he starred opposite Golden Globe nominee Bill Paxton in the film “Red Wing” and was seen in Sony’s “A Cowgirl’s Story” and “.270,” which won the Grand Jury Prize at the New York International Screenwriter’s Awards.
As a content creator, he’s amassed over 1.5 million social media followers and he’s considered one of Twitter’s top engaged accounts.
Alexander is currently putting the finishing touches on EP that’s set for release later this year. In this interview, we talk to Aidan about growing up, Meryl Streep, and Catcher in the Rye.
PHOTOGRAPHY: IRVIN RIVERA
How was it like growing up in Idaho with a fiery passion for acting?
I think that living in a small town gives you a bit of a perpetual stir craze that never really leaves you. Growing up in a place that was really quiet made my thoughts so much louder in terms of the art I wanted to make. I was lucky enough to have a teacher in Idaho recommend I go to LA early on, so I got to spend most of my formative years there.
What would you say is the biggest difference between Idaho and LA?
The culture. Los Angeles is a bit of a melting pot, which excites me. Idaho is very one note most the time, as far as people go. Idaho itself is gorgeous though. A lot of space. It feels like the sky is further away there. Like the clouds exist so far out of reach that it looks painted. I haven’t found any other place like that yet. Los Angeles has a nice energy though, like you can do whatever and nobody cares.
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You wrote and directed a short horror film when you were 10 entitled “In the Shadows.” Can you tell us more about it? What is it about and what inspired you to create it?
When I was in art school I made it for a project. It was absolutely ridiculous. I love horror films and I grew up watching the most intense movies I could find because I wanted to see everything. I decided to make a scary movie about a girl who gets assigned a school project to make a film, and she chooses to make it about a doll she finds, which is actually haunted. It’s pretty awful.
What came first, your love for acting or music?
I can’t trace back the first time I did either. It was always something I had with me. I always longed to be somewhere else doing something else. I grew up watching film after film because it’s all I had to do, and I grew up taking solace in music. I think they go hand in hand.
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What was your most memorable audition experience and why?
I can’t even tell you. They’re all crazy. I got to read with Drew Barrymore once when I was younger. I am the biggest Drew fan, it was a holy experience for me. I remember she was eating a sandwich that had garlic or something in it, and she offered me a bite. It was so charming, everyone loved her.
Let’s talk about your music. Do you write your own songs?
I do. I grew up writing, so most of my music is transplanted from my notes and my journals and mashed around and trimmed in my head a bit. I have songs that have lines written months apart, but about the same thing. The experience is always different.
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Tell us more about the singles I DON’T LOVE YOU and YOURS. Are these personal anthems or they’re totally fictional?
They’re personal. They’re about totally different people, and totally different things. They’re polar opposites. I feel like I’m full of contradictions and I wanted to get that out of the way first. I Don’t Love You is about not being able to be that person for someone, and Yours is about only being able to be that person for only that someone.
Listen to “I Don’t Love You”
Listen to “Yours”
https://open.spotify.com/track/47De7873PT4hz4sSOUVWJw
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Being a child of the internet and one of the rising social media superstars today, how do you manage and handle your influence to our audience as well as your viewers’ expectations from you?
I try to take it with a grain of salt. Fame is always fleeting. I think I definitely have a responsibility to talk about things that matter. I try my best to do that. I think the internet is incredible because it’s such a well of knowledge and exposure. I don’t know how I would’ve turned out if I didn’t have access to little peaks at the world growing up. It shapes you. I can get a little anxious with social media sometimes, I think it’s important to set limits and know when you need to turn off.
What inspires you?
People inspire me. I write of my music in the car. I love watching how people react to things. I think it’s so human and honest. I love poetry, and draw a lot of inspiration from the old time poets like Plath and Woolfe. Moon River by Frank Ocean inspires me.
How do you balance your time?
I’m not the person to ask. I am always bouncing from thing to thing. I try my best to handle time efficiently, but sometimes something will pull me in, and I’m a goner. I’m a creature of habit though, I love my night routines and my water intakes. It’s weird but I love being in bed at 9, so sometimes I have to start earlier in the day.
What’s your dream project?
I would love to work with Meryl Streep. In any capacity. That would be my dream project. Whether it’s a movie or I make her sing with me or it’s a panel. I would die. She is so brilliant.
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If you’re a book, what book will you be and why?
Catcher in the Rye. I love his indifference and honesty. I am not like Holden I don’t think but I can relate to his thoughts. I would say that. Maybe a manga.
What can we expect from you in the near future?
I’m working on the EP right now. It’s consuming all my time, I want it to be perfect. I can’t wait for everybody to hear it and hopefully take something away from it. That’s what’s most important to me, really.
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A lot of people may not be aware of your involvement with charities like Pencils of Promise Charity and DoSomething but you are pretty much active them. What drew you close to these charities? And how do you use your platform to get people involved?
I just am a very privileged person, in every aspect of my life. I try to give as much as I can. I don’t think a person ever needs as much as they have if they have a lot. I think it’s important to give in abundance. Give and you shall receive. I found an old box of photos of when I was in Bali when I was a baby, and that was written on the back of one of the photos. I think it stuck with me. I try and use my platform to urge people to do what’s right. I try to show that apathy is dead and it’s cool to be involved.
Check out his latest new single, “I Don’t Love You.”