Hey Aalex, thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. Could you tell us a little known fact about yourself?

Thanks for having me, it’s a pleasure to be here. My musical background is in drumming, which means I never had any formal training in harmony. As a result, I write and produce music almost entirely by instinct and by ear. It usually takes me a long time to finish a song because I’m constantly experimenting and refining every detail. I’m also quite a perfectionist, so I rarely stop working on a track until I’m completely satisfied with it.

Your new EP, Memory Aragenu, explores the space between memories, dreams and reality, so did you have a clear narrative in mind when writing the five tracks? Or did the story reveal itself during the creative process?

When I was writing the EP, I wanted to focus on the small details you only begin to notice after you’ve said goodbye to someone you truly cared about. 

For example, in Tierra Rouge, I tell the story of a man walking through a crowded street who recognizes someone he once loved only by her perfume, without ever actually seeing her. I think it’s those tiny details that make emotions feel real and believable.

To me, it’s like taking a photograph of the one thing that suddenly catches your eye, instead of trying to capture the entire landscape. Sometimes a single detail can say much more than the whole picture.

Who or what are some of your main influences for the playful Italodisco textures, R&B undertones and soulful vocals that feature throughout the EP?

My biggest influences have always been Childish Gambino, Snoh Aalegra and Jorja Smith. What I admire most about them is their ability to blend different styles while still having a very distinctive identity. They’ve inspired me to approach music without feeling limited by genre, which is why Memory Aragenu naturally combines elements of R&B, soul and Italodisco.

Would you also say that your background as a drummer has had an impact on how you write and produce music?

Absolutely. Being a drummer has had a huge influence on the way I produce music. I think the drums are one of the elements that make my songs feel less predictable and give them their own identity. Rhythm has always been at the center of my creative process, and it’s probably the aspect that defines my sound the most.

The closing piece (and the EP’s title-track) ‘Memory Aragenu’ explores the idea of someone who you haven’t seen or heard from in years, still having a place in your thoughts. Was this inspired by a real-life experience?

Everything I write comes from real experiences because I believe that’s what makes a song feel genuine and believable. Memory Aragenu was inspired by one person who continued to inspire me long after we went our separate ways. That’s the feeling I wanted to capture in the song.

What do you hope that listeners will take away from these songs?

I hope these songs encourage people to slow down for a moment and reconnect with memories or emotions they may have forgotten. Everyone has experienced love, loss or nostalgia in a different way, so I don’t want to tell listeners what they should feel. If these songs become part of someone’s own memories or help them see their own experiences from a different perspective, then I’ve achieved what I wanted.

What’s next for the project?

I already have a few demos in the works, but for now I want to take a step back and give myself time to be inspired by new music and new experiences. I think it’s important to let life happen before writing about it. At this stage of my life, everything is still moving incredibly fast, and I want to make sure I keep growing both as a person and as an artist before starting the next chapter.

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