Alex Lipinski: Chasing Authenticity in a Vacuous World

Introducing the enigmatic artist, Alex Lipinski, whose latest single, “Idiot Station,” boldly challenges the vacuity of the modern mainstream. Hailing from Weston-Super-Mare, just south-west of Bristol, Alex brings a captivating blend of Americana, folk, and rock ‘n’ roll to his music. With a genuine passion for storytelling, his lyrics delve into the depths of human experiences and reflections on society. Alex’s musical journey began in his early years, influenced by the iconic sounds of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and the Britpop era, which laid the foundation for his heartfelt compositions.

Beyond his musical endeavors, Alex finds inspiration in various creative outlets, including books, films, and the ever-present world around him. As an independent artist, Alex faces the challenges of carving a niche in a crowded industry, seeking to be heard among the digital noise that surrounds us. However, his unwavering dedication to his craft and genuine love for performing live have propelled him forward, earning him a devoted fan base.

In this interview, we explore Alex Lipinski’s artistic evolution, the role of music in his life, and the challenges he faces as an independent musician. We delve into his inspirations, creative process, and the impact he hopes to make with his thought-provoking music. With upcoming shows and plans for recording, Alex Lipinski continues to pave his own path, driven by a desire to create meaningful, authentic music that resonates with listeners.

Listen to Idiot Station

Follow Alex Lipinski on

Facebook

Twitter

Spotify

Soundcloud

Youtube

songkick

What is your stage name?

Alex Lipinski

Is there a story behind your stage name?
That’s my real name. My band that join me are called The Crown Electric, which was inspired by the name of the company Elvis Presley used to drive trucks for.

Where do you find inspiration/What is your main inspiration?
Anything creative can fuel inspiration. For me it comes from listening to music, reading books, films. As a songwriter I try to keep my antenna up at all times. It gets stored into the subconscious and if you’re lucky you’ll be able to use it in a creative way.

What was the role of music in the early years of your life?/Are you from a musical or artistic family?
I’m originally from Weston-Super-Mare, just south-west of Bristol. Morrissey aptly described it as “a seaside town that forgot to close down”. I’m the youngest of four. My parents grew up in the 60s so as far back as I can remember I was brought up on heavy doses of 50s & 60s rock’n’roll music, especially The Beatles & Elvis Presley.

My two brothers & sister are all musical and I guess my musical influences stemmed from their record collections. So it was the 1950s, 1960s and The Britpop era that soundtracked my upbringing. As I grew into my teens I started to take the lyrical content more seriously, looking for a deeper meaning to the music, which took me to a new dimension when my brother handed me a copy of ‘Blonde On Blonde’ & ‘Blood On The Tracks’ by Bob Dylan. Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen & Townes Van Zandt shortly followed and sent me into orbit. Other songwriter’s such as Ryan Adams, Rufus Wainwright & Ray Lamontagne would influence me further by the time I recorded my first solo album ‘Lonesome Train’. I first started playing live on the local circuit when I was 14, pubs, weddings, funerals, etc.. The last 15 years has felt somewhat of an apprenticeship which has granted me the tools to do what I do to the best of my ability.

Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
It was never a conscious decision. I’ve just always loved and been immersed in music, to be the point it would feel alien to spend my life doing anything else.

How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
My older brother Adam taught me my first chords on guitar and also taught me how to play Wonderwall, which was the first song I learned to play. I also had guitar lessons from Cliff Moore (Gary Moore’s brother) at school. Writing and singing came mainly from listening, watching, trying to take in everything.

What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform?
My first gig was U2 at Earl’s Court in London on the Elevation Tour in 2001.

How could you describe your music?
There’s a real melting pot in there which stems from my influences. It’s impossible for your music not to be tinged in what you love listening to. My second record ‘Alex’ was produced in Berlin by Anton Newcombe (Brian Jonestown Massacre) and is a very stripped back Americana/folk sounding album.

Whereas my latest record (For Everything Under The Sun) is a 100% electric, full band sound that dips its toes into 1960s rock n roll, 1990s Britpop and psychedelia. The goal is to try and pull all these influences together and create something that has my own identity stamped on it.

Describe your creative process.
It generally starts from sitting down with a guitar or piano and just playing around and if you’re lucky, something reveals itself and there will be a chord progression or melody that I find interesting: which I’ll record into my phone. I trust the process and I find this is where your subconscious takes over. It’s almost as if the magic stuff happens when you’re not thinking about it.

Sometimes they’ll be a certain phrase or words that I like the sound of and again I’ll record that into my phone or write it down, and then you have something to work with. Every songwriter has different approaches and this is what makes it so special. There is no rhyme or reason, but when ‘it’ comes you need to make sure you capture it.

What musician do you admire most and why?
Too many to mention. From a songwriter’s point of view it would be Dylan, Neil Young, Lennon/McCartney, Neil Finn, Ryan Adams. These guys have a body of work I’m can only aspire to reach.

Bruce Springsteen would probably be my pick. Bruce reinvigorates your soul. I’m not religious, but going to see a Springsteen show is like going to church. I recently went to my 14th Springsteen show. 73 years old and still head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to live. Man, are we going to miss him when they stop touring.

Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?
I think I’ve evolved as a musician, I always aim to be as good a songwriter as I can be, so I try to always look forward and always improve on what I’ve done previously. I think there’s a natural evolution if you listen through the records I’ve made. I certainly think my latest album ‘For Everything Under The Sun’ is my strongest piece of work so far. My sources of inspiration and musical influences have evolved over the last few years so it’s only natural that that would have some affect on the music I write.

Who do you see as your main competitor?
I’m never that interested in viewing things that way, I just try to make the best music I can. If anything I always compare with the greats, because ultimately that’s who I want to be competing with, otherwise what’s the point? So that gives me the level of where it is I want to reach and gives me motivation for trying to improve and hone my craft.

What are your interests outside of music?
I love football and Aston Villa. I try and watch them at Villa Park as much as I can when I’m not gigging. I also love travelling, reading, films, spending time with my wonderful wife and dog.

If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?
I honestly have no idea. I’ve had a few unsuccessful part time jobs growing up. I was sacked from McDonalds after 6 days for sending out a bunch of Chicken burgers without the chicken in! Thank God I can sing and play guitar!

What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
The biggest challenge as an artist not signed to a major label is essentially being heard. There’s so much white noise out there. In this digital age, with streams and algorithms essentially dictating all, it’s easy to be drawn into that and forget about the music. One of the biggest challenges is financial. The way the majority of people consume music now has changed so less money is being made by selling your records.

For me it’s always been about performing live and creating a body of work that people will listen to holistically. I started playing live in pubs when I was fourteen years old, and have been fortunate to make a living doing that, for me it has been an apprenticeship where you learn your trade and craft, but it has been soul destroying at times. You have to keep believing in yourself and keep working as hard as you can.

If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
I think there needs to be more support for independent artists and venues in this country. More often than not you hear grass roots venues closing down due to rising costs, and it really does feel in this country that music, as well as the arts in general are taken for granted.

There are a huge amount of talented musicians and songwriters in the UK but unfortunately it’s not financially sustainable and they end up working shitty jobs. You can earn far more money playing covers in pubs than playing your original music at a festival and that isn’t right. More respect, more financing, more opportunities.

Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
The new single ‘Idiot Station’ is about the vacuous nature of mainstream media.
The lack of substance, depth, or feeling being fed to us constantly through all avenues. On TV it’s all meaningless ‘reality’.

Then you flick over and there’s some deluded political fuckwit covering his/her/their arse.
Big radio filled with the same empty, and the same cast of maybe 50 artists; is this really all we’ve got?? Equally, the song could be interpreted as a love falling apart. So the title is pretty self explanatory!

What are your plans for the coming months?
I’ll be playing a bunch of festivals this summer, including Valley Fest, Glastonbury, Lakefest and Shiiine On Weekender. I’ll also be playing a few record stores and some shows towards the end of the year. We’re also planning on recording a live album in the Autumn.

Do you have any artistic collaboration plans?
I’ve recently been supporting Marc Almond on his UK & European Tour, and Marc has invited me to sing and play on his next album so I’m looking forward to that. I previously collaborated with Bonehead from Oasis and a project called Phoney’s & The Freaks.

What message would you like to give to your fans?
Thank you for listening. In the current era it’s never been easier to release music but it’s never been harder to be heard. My fans are completely part of the journey. Every album and t-shirt sold is so important and helps me make the next record or fund the next tour.