Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shane Alexander. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Shane, thanks for joining us today. 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?
I’ve honestly never been happier. After 19 years as a full-time artist/producer and 20 years of touring internationally, I’m very proud to have survived and kept my creative spark intact. I think most creatives that have the burning desire to live a life outside the lines tend to hold onto the dream, even when things get weird. To be honest, the last/only time I seriously thought about getting a proper 9 to 5 was during Covid, when I couldn’t tour and we weren’t doing any in-person sessions. Things got pretty spooky. Thankfully, just as I was really starting to become fearful, I got a national Chevy commercial, which helped pull things out of the fire and back on the road to sustainability. The universe always comes through if you work hard and keep the standard high.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m primarily an indie folk and acoustic rock solo artist, based in Southern California. Since leaving my last job in 2006 (working for Irving Azoff’s management company), my ethos has always been to maintain a major label standard in all I do on an indie budget. I saw Neil Young perform solo acoustic to a rapt crowd at The Greek in LA when I was just a teenage rock guitarist. That show was really a catalyst for everything that has followed. I’m such a fan of Neil’s timeless and honest music as well as his legendary work ethic and reverence for the muse. All of these things have served as my yardstick. I never got into this to be famous. I’ve only ever wanted to be a great artist that touches people with my words and music, get paid to see the world and love my life.
My first big solo shows were opening tours with Jewel and Seal, which put me in front of thousands of new faces nightly. Over the years, I’ve played everything from bars and coffeehouses to theaters and arenas. I try to treat every show like it’s my last. In 2015, I built my own recording studio called Buddhaland, which was a major milestone. I’ve self-produced my last three albums as well as many records and singles for other artists. I love helping artists capture their magic for posterity.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I really think you need super-human resilience to sustain a career in this business. I remember spending 25 grand on my 3rd record. I’d had some successful touring and licensing with my second record, so I was really swinging for the fences. I ended up being dropped from my label because they didn’t like the direction of the new music, but I believed in it completely. I had a year of waking up terrified that I’d put my family’s finances in harm’s way. Eventually, that record went on to become one of the biggest successes. Another that comes to mind I was on a German tour in 2019 supporting Christian Steiffen, a very dear friend of mine. We were doing a run of sold out shows, and on our second night in Bielefeld, I fell over an upstage monitor when the lights went down at the end of my set and split my lip down to my chin. It wasn’t pretty. I was taken to the hospital by ambulance to get checked out and some stitches in my face. The lovely German doctor said she did not want me not to perform for at least a week. Our biggest show of the tour was coming up the following night at an arena in Lingen. Needless to say, I performed to 3,000 people with my ugly, stitched-up mug. The show must go on.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
It’s hard to pick just one, but the idea of getting express myself and do my passion for my living is the first thing that comes to mind. Not many people can say they’ve lived their dream. I feel blessed every day and try my best to be worthy of all of my blessings. I love getting to travel internationally and connect with friends and fans around the globe. I enjoy collaborating and being part of a vibrant scene of likeminded artists. We are the dreamers of the dream.
Forever Songs, Shane Alexander’s 8th album, comes out 4/4/25.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shanealexandermusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanealexandermusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shanealexandermusic/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-alexander-8743b02a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ShaneAlexanderMusic/videos
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/shanealexandermusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2T9pR6zAB5dUpBOJ1m6Chw?si=BdEqzIuWTwevPBddp0yn5g
Image Credits
1. Trista Renee
2. Mitchell Giebels
3. Karlo Rotim
4. Karlo Rotim
5. Karlo Rotim
6. Christopher Mooney
7. Christopher Mooney