Meet Alexa Gold | Singer/Songwriter & Music Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexa Gold and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexa, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
This question has found me at a very interesting turning point in my life. Before I could sit down and share my honest thoughts, I engaged in my usual procrastination habits: I cleaned, then cooked and sat down to eat, watched some cartoons, added some more items to my Amazon cart and just absorbed myself in some mundane activities until I was ready to deal with everything this question was bringing up for me.

Why does this question bring up such heavy thoughts for me? Well, first, I need to identify what I’m actually feeling: Gratitude. Excitement. Disappointment. Uncertainty. I’m currently at a point in my life where I’m reevaluating the perception I have of myself as a music artist and how I approach what I do. Quick backstory, I was born and raised in the city of Brotherly Love (Philly), and within the last few years, my BF and I (with our puppy) moved to Texas and eventually found our way to Los Angeles earlier this year to settle down. When I was living in Philly, I established myself as a music artist, performing with and leading bands all over the city. I hosted a music podcast, immersed myself in music production and became certified in audio engineering, ultimately releasing a self-produced album! Now that I’m settled in LA, I’ve had loads of time to think, and while I’m so damn proud of myself and all that I’ve accomplished, I’ve also had to be honest and come to grips with the disappointments and resentments Ive been carrying within me…the wins that I wish I could’ve experienced…the short term superficial relationships that promised so much with little to no results…the music that was never created, and all the ways I held myself back because of judgments and fears. I always joke and say that my relationship with music is one of the longest commitments I’ve ever had! And just like any relationship, it was filled with its share of challenges and triumphs.

So now, after I share all of that…I sit here and ask myself, why did I pursue an artistic/creative career? And the only answer I can come up with is that I had to…all the signs were leading me to creating a life in music, and although things didn’t always work out the way that I wanted them to, I’m deeply grateful that I had the courage to allow myself to be seen and my voice, words and music to be heard. I’m excited about re-inventing myself for this next chapter in my life, and I trust that where ever I land and whatever shows up for me is meant to be.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always been a deeply creative individual and whenever I wanted to try something, I would learn about it and try it without hesitation. I’ve explored several outlets for my artistic inclinations: drawing, poetry, dancing, photography and creating handmade body care products. But music became the main channel for my evolution as an artist. Aside from training in audio engineering and a handful of vocal lessons, I’m pretty much a self-taught/intuitive artist. I’ve learned so much about being a performing artist by just “throwing myself into the fire”. I also taught myself how to produce! My path initially started as a singer/songwriter actively attending open-mics and jam sessions, using these events as a platform to elevate my skills and presence as a musician. My musical friendships have been nourishing and inspiring – I created some dope music and experienced amazing opportunities. For example, I found myself collaborating with Neo-Soul artist Jaguar Wright, Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Cee Knowledge (bka Doodlebug of Digable Planets) and Paul Simon’s lead bassist Bakhiti Kumalo for The Graceland Tribute Band, featuring music from Paul’s Grammy award-winning album “Graceland”. I created a catalogue of soulful Dance records with StealVybe Productions that were heard internationally. And as a co-host of THE BEAT CONNECTION 215 podcast on Youtube, I facilitated discussions that explore the art of Sampling within classic Hip-hop music. Listening to, making and talking music with other super creative folks is always my happy place!

I’m also proud to say, with nearly two decades of experience in the music industry, I’ve evolved to become a Producer and Audio Engineer – still blows my mind honestly! Since I’ve attained my audio engineering certification in September 2020, not only has it opened up the possibilities of how I’m able to serve my own artistic vision, but I’m also able to provide music production and engineering services to fellow artists.

In the summer of 2022, I released an album called SUPER LOOPER Vol. One: VISIONS OF GOLD. I can say, without a doubt, that this body of work serves as an aural testament to the ways in which my artistry, spirituality and personal philosophies have evolved within the last few years. Before the world was forced to lockdown and look within, I relinquished control of my musical identity to outside entities, mainly producers who wanted to box me into their vision of who I should be as an artist. Stepping out on faith, I seized the opportunity to expand my professional toolkit and became certified as an audio engineer and its one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Its led me down a path that’s allowed me to shape and refine my sound in ways that feel refreshingly personal. From the title track “Visions of Gold” to the last song, “Be The Light”, each track is pieced together with samples of award-winning black women creatives (ex. Alice Walker, Jill Scott, Octavia Butler) who share their raw and eloquent worldview on creativity, freedom, self-actualization and the cycles of life and death.

This journey has stretched my creative muscles in unexpected ways, allowing me to experience the kind of freedom that comes with trusting yourself and the process. And now that I’m reinventing myself and my career, I’ll continue working on myself, eventually creating a sustainable business that unites my artistic and spiritual passions so that I can be of greater service to the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I just moved to LA this year and I wish I could say that I had some places that are staples for me in terms of entertainment, but if I could suggest anything:

I enjoyed my time at Griffith Observatory – I love learning about the cosmos and the views of the city are gorgeous. There would definitely be some shopping at The Beverly Center or The Fig at 7th because I like Sephora, TJ Maxx and Target! lol. I attended some amazing concerts hosted by Jazz is Dead/Art Don’t Sleep at The Mayan and The Ford Theaters. For eateries, well, there’s Joyce’s, which is an upscale soul food restaurant and the food is BOMB!!! So good!! And there’s a restaurant and bakery called Bottega Louie that serves macarons and beignets – two of my fave desserts!

I am looking forward to exploring more of Los Angeles so if anyone has any suggestions, let a sista know!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
While I can’t name everyone who poured into my Spirit as I embarked on my artistic journey, I do want to SHOUTOUT: my Mom & Dad, Erik Baker, “The Beat Connection 215” podcast co-hosts Sean “The Can-Do Kid” and Azrael DiCaprio and my fellow artist friends Zamani Feelings, Naeemah Maddox, R-Son the Voice of Reason, Blue Marvelous, Small Professor, Summer Willow Fitch of LadiesLuvHipHop and Samori Coles of Lil Drummaboy Recordings. Lastly, I’m deeply thankful to Splice (dot com), a sonic platform that enables me to create all kinds of music, the music of Philadelphia (neo)Soul, Teena Marie, Minnie Riperton, Madlib, Pete Rock, J. Dilla and the countless artists who epitomize what it means to heed the call of an artist and serve as inspiration for me.

Instagram: @AlexaGoldSoul

Other: https://alexagoldmusic.bandcamp.com/album/super-looper-vol-one-visions-of-gold

Image Credits
Please credit Alexa Gold (most images were selfies)

You can credit my Mom, Melissa Bagley, for the image of me in the white dress.