Courtesy of Epic Records
[Alex Harris](https://www.instagram.com/alexharrismusic/) is here to tell his story through his music, blending the genres of R&B, soul, rap, and alternative. Hailing from a small town in Texas called Commerce, the singer-songwriter recalls his grandpa gifting him a vinyl record player — leading to hours listening to Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and Fats Domino. As he got older, he quickly fell in love with lyricists like Kendrick Lamar and Frank Ocean.
Newly signed to Epic Records, Alex wants to normalize the feelings and emotions that come with all of life’s ups and downs, from anxiety to heartbreak to happiness. With vulnerability being his key to connect with listeners, music quickly became his safe haven — and now he finally gets to do it full-time.
Most recently, he released his new single titled “I AM,” with a powerful visual to match. Flaunt caught up with Harris via Zoom to discuss his upbringing in Texas,
**What was it like growing up in Commerce, Texas?**
It’s a really small, country town, probably 8,000 people. I moved to Dallas/Fort Worth area when I started high school. Shortly after that, I started doing music. Most people don’t make it out of that small town, they still work at Walmart. I’m proud to be from that small town because not a lot of people get to do stuff like this, they definitely don’t get to talk to Flaunt Magazine.
**I know your aunt and uncle were in a country rock band, right?**
My aunt and uncle were a blues, rock, country cover band. I grew up watching them perform on stage, they’d do shows at this festival every year. I got my first ever chance to hear what I sounded like on a microphone at their jam spot in the garage. They rehearse every weekend, I’d come through and watch them. Every now and then, they’d let me get on the mic and sing songs with them. A lot of my mom’s side of the family is really into music, but I didn’t really pursue it until I was almost 20.
**What made you pursue it at age 20?**
I was really into skateboarding. I had a group of guys and girls sponsored by the same skate shop. That was my life, I was so set on wanting to be a pro-skater when I got older. That was my dream, then I got hurt so I couldn’t skate. I was listening to 90’s boom bap, East Coast hip-hop. That’s what I really got rooted in, something I felt was a little easier for me to get into. I wasn’t singing because I wasn’t as confident. I listened to a lot of Screwed Up Click (SUC): DJ Screw, Z-Ro, Lil’ Keke, Paul Wall. That was huge in Texas at the time. I went through this breakup. My parents told me not to but I moved in with this girl, had to go back later and tell them they’re right. I was 18, got out of this shitty relationship. I wrote this song about the whole thing. Luckily my friends didn’t clown me too much, they said “keep going.” It went from there.
**What were you studying at Texas State University? When did you write your first song?**
I was a Creative Writing major. English has always been my strong point in school. My grandma’s retired now, but she has 7 series of English rhetoric textbooks she’s written. A real grammar person so I always grew up around writing. I didn’t make it all the way through, dropped out my junior year because I was doing music more than going to class. It wasn’t until I got to class where I found someone to record my music. I was writing all of these songs, tried to record myself but I was so frustrated. I’m not a tech-savvy person. I tried to play every instrument, but there’s no instant gratification. With writing, you can write and say it out loud, it develops faster. I played the drums, guitar, but didn’t have the patience to learn the guitar chords. I tried all of them, none of them stuck like writing music.
**Where were you working before the music?**
I’ve done everything. Before I linked up with my manager Damian, I worked at a Mercedes-Benz dealership in the car detail department. When Dame was courting me to sign, move to Atlanta and really take it seriously, I was on the phone with him washing cars talking about how we can make this happen. Before that, I was a pool boy. I was cleaning 40 pools a week in Texas heat, listening to music and writing things in the truck. I’ve always had a 9 to 5 job. I dropped out of school like alright, you have to make money. Until now, music’s never able to be a full-time focus. Sometimes I miss those days because it motivates you. “I fucking hate this job, I need to step it up.” I’m happy to be where I’m at now, I love LA.
**You released the visual for “I AM,” I know you were going through it in Atlanta. What was your mindset recording it?**
That was me venting about even being signed. Everyone wants to be signed, be a signed artist working in the industry. I was so green. I thought I knew everything, but I really didn’t. It’s me venting about the people that said they’re supportive, but actually jealous and hoping for me to fall. It’s about being signed to a label, the different expectations. Everything becomes so much serious, I was washing cars before the meetings at Epic. It’s the closest to how I started in music: that boom bap, very pop style. It’s a homage to where it all started.
**You say “you’re your own biggest critic,” how much are you critiquing yourself?**
I overthink things too much. That came with being signed to a label because I used to put out music for my small fanbase in Dallas, do shows. I didn’t think too much about what other people thought. I’m back to that place now but in the beginning, I felt a lot of pressure. This song is my way of fuck it, I’m letting go. If you don’t like it, listen to someone else. If you rock with it, I’ll continue to give everything I have.
**Where did you shoot the visual?**
We shot that here in LA, a run and gun style video. There wasn’t really a budget, we had a small team pinpointing a couple of pictures that’d make sense for the video. It’s such a hip-hop oriented song. More vibey, not a lot of glitz and glamour. I wanted it to be about the lyrics and the message. A couple different locations, the tight-knit team we’ve been working with, and me as authentic as I could be. There’s no crazy, bunch of girls in the video we hired, it’s me feeling it.
**How was opening for A$AP Ferg and Juicy J?**
I’d opened for Big K.R.I.T., the first big artist I opened for. Got to do one song, then they kicked me off stage. I couldn’t even be backstage, I had no leverage. The same thing happened at that show too, at a big venue called Emo’s in Austin. I got to do a few songs, the first time I ever saw a big crowd react to my music like that. I’m still a big fan of both of those guys. Juicy J, that whole Memphis sound coincides with SUC. I like that whole grimey, DJ Paul type take. Crazy to be on stage in the back and see a banner with Juicy J on it.
**How’d you find your way to Epic Records?**
By signing on Clarke IMG, Damian’s company. After he found me, we both moved to Atlanta. He came from Miami, I packed all my shit in my car and drove to Atlanta. I‘d never been there before, didn’t know what to expect or where we’d live. We had nothing planned. We put together a project, Damien has resources to where we could get this in front of the industry. We got a meeting with Epic, they were feeling it. I remember we went and didn’t hear shit back for a month. I thought “aw fuck, maybe I can wash cars or clean pools out here.” A week later we’re in the apartment, I’ll never forget. Dame hit me, “Epic emailed me.” It was the happiest moment of my life. Fuck, finally. At that point, I’d been doing it for 8 years and nothing was sticking. I was happy someone believed in it.
**What can we expect next music-wise?**
We have another single dropping this summer, a more melodic record called “Every Time.” It’s rap singing on the verses, to gear people up for the sound. I know this EP is going to really blow people away. We worked hard on it, it’s my best work yet. Later this summer, the plan’s to drop the full EP. This is the first project I’ve ever done with features, so I’m really excited.
**Anything you’d like to let the fans know?**
I’m still the same dude that was working 9-5’s and washing cars, trying to make It happen. There’s no glitz and glamour to me. It’s honesty, it’s always about the music. Anybody who’s a fan of mine knows if you message me, I’ll message you back. If you comment on something, I’ll comment back. I don’t take any person that listens to my music and gives me support for granted. Without them, I can’t do this at all.
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