We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alex Elena a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Being involved in a meaningful project is the only way to move forward. It keeps you artistically satisfied and gives you a chance to spread a positive message to the world.
Music is the most powerful tool, the universal language that reminds us we are all made of flash and bones.
It helps breaking barriers and has been the soundtrack of many positive revolutions.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Born and raised in Rome i started playing drums at the age of 5. My dad was a drummer too and from a very early age I was thrown into a very creative environment.
I moved to London at age 17 where I started playing professionally and touring the world for Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden.
My curiosity brought me to New York City where I kept playing non stop and started experimenting in the studio.
The first record I produced (Alice Smith’s For Lovers Dreamers and Me) landed a Grammy Nomination that officially started my career as a music producer.
From then on i had the luck to work with great artists such as Lily Allen, Citizen Cope, Avril Lavigne and so on…
My work evolved to include photography in 2009, when a sudden decision to create a portrait of the Darien Strip took me to Panama.Throughout the years i photographed a range of subjects spanning the globe from the slums of Kenya, everyday life in The Gambia, the vanishing Indigenous tribes in Central America, to the aftermath of the war in the former Yugoslavia.
I thought myself how to do all these different things.
Curiosity is my driving force and being able to impact the world in a positive way is the fire that keeps me going.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Definitely through music and photography we can somehow change the world. I worked on Citizen Cope’s new record (The Victory March) and definitely it will be able to inspire people to move forward, never stop and it is the ultimate reminder that love will prevail.
A Clarence says in his own words “The Victory March” is recognizing the gift of life.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I first got to London I spoke no English. Everything was new to me and all of a sudden I found myself in a multicultural society where i could learn a new lesson every day.
I spoke through music.
When playing all was good….As soon as the music stopped the struggle would begin.
When you have a dream and you know you are good at what you do nothing can stop you.
Throughout my life i lived in Rome, London, New York, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Havana.
Havana is the dearest to me. That’s where I found the most inspiring situations and also where i met my wife Karla. And now I have an ally and a partner in crime to share my adventures with.
Moral of the story….
Everything is possible.
You are the director of this movie called life……  

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.alexelenatv.com/
• Instagram: alexelena007
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexelena007/
• Other: www.alexelenaphotography.com

Image Credits
i have the rights to all images