“It may be hard to penetrate the market by being different, but sooner or later, that’s what the market needs,”

Even if you haven’t heard the name “Alx Veliz” yet, you’ve definitely heard his hit single Dancing Kizomba. Alx was in Brampton for a special and intimate Canadian Thanksgiving show at The Rose Theatre in his hometown, where Weekly Asian Connections caught up with him after an electrifying performance. In an exclusive Interview with Anushree, he shares insights into his music, his influences, and advice for young artists in the GTA pursuing artistic fields.

1. What is your music style?

1. My influences, they vary. I come from a multicultural background – my parents are Spanish, from Guatemala, and then my grandparents are from Jamaica. But you know, growing up in the GTA, you have friends from India, the Caribbean, China, Africa. For me, when I get into the production and writing music and everything, all of a sudden, I’ll be like, it’d be perfect if I get some African percussion in this song, or an Indian sitar in this song. I just love music in general; it doesn’t matter where it’s from.

1. Did you always know you wanted to pursue music professionally?

1. Since I was a kid, always. I remember my cousin gave me my first vinyl. I was 5 years old. He gave me Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and when I got that vinyl, I started listening to it, memorizing it. When the music video came out, I started memorizing the dance moves. And I was like this is it! This is what I gotta do for the rest of my life.

1. If you could name one music idol growing up, who would it be?

1. A.It would be Michael Jackson.

1. Who, in today’s music industry, inspires you and your music?

1. Right now, I think some of my inspirations that I look up to are Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake. When it comes down to production, I would say Major Lazer, just because of how multicultural they are. And honestly, any artist that pushes the envelope, any producer that goes out of [their] way to bring about new music and new fusions, and is not scared to try something new- those are artists that I usually admire.

Q.You’re at an international stage now. When did you know, ‘I’ve made it?’

1. “Oh, man. You know what? I think that question goes by levels. Because back in the day, I told myself I made it when I released my first album without anything that I recorded in my basement. And as soon as I had that physical CD, I’m like, ‘I made it.’ But then after, when I got signed by Universal Studios, then I was like ‘I made it!’ And then after Dancing Kizombahit number one, I was like, ‘oh now I definitely made it.’ I think the key is just being happy that you’ve been blessed with where you are at the moment.
2. What does success mean to you?
3. I think over the years, success for me has nothing to do with fame or the money and everything. Success itself has to do with family, with people that keep you grounded, with being content with what you have at the moment. That’s what success is for me.

Q.What is one piece of advice you’d give to young, aspiring artists in the GTA?

1. I tell people to always be themselves. Don’t follow trends. That’s my number one advice that I give. Usually artists try to follow what’s in and they forget about their originality, and what they have to offer that’s different. At first, it may be hard to penetrate the market by being different, but sooner or later, that’s what the market needs.
2. Did you have naysayers? How did you deal with rejection?
3. A. I got shot down by a lot of radios in the beginning. They said my music doesn’t fit the mould. But I just kept pushing because I knew the success of [Dancing Kizomba], I knew the potential it had, so I wasn’t scared to be different and here we are. Who would’ve thought that all of a sudden, an artist that puts reggaeton with an Indian sitar would’ve made a hit?

Alx was captivating on stage; and very down-to-earth in person. His best quality, aside from his obvious music talent, is his ability to show gratitude.What a perfectly fitting thought post-Thanksgiving! Alx opened the show this weekend for headlining act Kardinall Offishall, also an artist originally from Brampton, with international hits like Dangerous and That Chick.  We couldn’t be more proud of both of these Bramptonian artists making it big on the international stage.