We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alex Durow. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alex below.

Alex, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

No. I’m rarely happy. But also No, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. As scary as the instability can be. As intense as the emotions can be. As hard of a life as a creative can be- I don’t think I or anyone else who does this would want to trade for a ‘regular’ job or a ‘regular’ life. It’s our calling. I find my ‘happy’ in the struggle expressing what I’m feeling, of growing as an artist, and those moments in the studio or on stage when a magical moment is created, it makes all the pain worth it. I’m thankful to be lucky enough to spend my life creating, and as hard as it is I am grateful for the chance to suffer. Hopefully it’ll do some good for someone.

Alex, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve been making music since I can remember… and there’s some videos of me playing make-shift drums at an age even I have no memory of. I started piano at 7, and singing in choir shortly after. Since then I’ve picked up producing, guitar, trombone, ukulele, and depression. I write a lot, usually when I’m supposed to be doing something else. I can make a song a certain way if I want, or a lot of times I’ll just hear/see/smell the idea in my head, and work to reproduce the sounds and ideas I’m experiencing. Music to me is like water- I am it. I need it. And if I went long enough without it I’d probably die. Luckily, the pain and suffering of reality is enough to keep me creatively busy.

I love working with others. I have to say that because I usually make my own beats, write my own songs, record myself, film my own music visuals, edit them, then release the song/visual myself and promote it all on my own… so I kinda give off introvert vibes. But I really do love working with other creatives, and I have many times! But at my core I will admit: I love to be alone in my room where no one can hear me, while I put another idea from my brain onto the piano, or into the computer.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

‘If you want something done right, do it yourself.” Great advice for certain people, but I had the opposite problem. I was doing everything myself, and I had to learn to communicate my ideas to a team. I like creating my vision MY way, and it took way too long for me to realize that as much as I think I can accomplish, the level of production I can achieve with the right team is simply exponential. I had to unlearn how to be all by myself, and work with videographers, choreographers, promoters, and other creatives. If you want something right, do it yourself… or find a team you trust and trust you AND your people.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Watching my creations take on a life of their own is one of the great pleasures in my life. For example, I made a song called ‘Icarus’, and about a year after I released it, a stranger messaged me. He told me he met a girl, and he had just proposed to her (she said yes.) He wanted to let me know that ‘Icarus’ was ‘their’ song, and he was reaching out to let me know how much the song meant to them. He even said they sing it together in the car. It’s fun to get a lot of views on a project you work really hard on, but knowing that what you made actually had an impact on those who heard it- knowing the song means something to others- is the greatest gift an artist can receive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/durow
• Instagram: @deaddurow
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alex.durow.9/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC39fMoWSZ8IefsaAuQ5xWYg
• Other: MERCH- https://www.deadstockdurow.com/ SPOTIFY- https://open.spotify.com/artist/4wwkHIyf3ZilnBl9TI2CBh?si=C0uMSltoRRWUwBdzPY-c_g

Image Credits
@colinps, Emily D., Christa J.