Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Nester.
Hi Alex, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love of music started very early. My dad is a trumpet player, and I remember hearing him rehearsing and working on his chops every day (he still does!). There’s even a picture of me, as an infant, dead asleep in a little baby backpack on my dad’s back while he was playing away! No mute either! Full blast!!
When I was in the third grade I was cast as the lead in my school play, and I had a solo. As much as I loved the acting part, the second I sang that solo it was over. Music was my life. Music was my love. Music was my path. The next year, at just 9 years old, I was hired to record a commercial jingle for a product called “Yo-Gel”. That session started a lifelong friendship with producer/keyboard player/arranger extraordinaire Robby Robinson, who produced my debut solo album. Robby and I still work together, and I am so grateful for his friendship, his mentorship, and the years of music we’ve created together.
Robby and I had just begun working on my debut solo album when I was diagnosed with cancer at just 16 years old. I was very sick so we had to put the album on hold for a bit. After kicking cancer to the curb, we went right back into the studio to pick up where we left off. Music was such an integral part of my healing and recovery, and I believe it made me a stronger and more compassionate artist.
Throughout the years I’ve been blessed to have worked with legendary artists like Carlos Santana, Earth Wind & Fire, Chicago, Tito Jackson (of Jackson 5 fame), and many more. I’ve also been able to work with some of the best local session and live musicians, who continue to push me creatively and musically. From little crowded bar gigs with killer musician friends to huge amphitheaters with legends, I have lived some of my wildest dreams. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Smooth? Definitely not. The road has been absolutely littered with speed bumps and potholes along the way.
From painful rejections to very toxic people, it has been a minefield to navigate. But I think the hardest thing to overcome has been my own self-doubt. As a creative, I put my whole physical and emotional self into my craft, which means the highs are euphoric and the lows are soul-crushing.
People say to keep the business and the art separate, but when you’re talking about something that is an extension of yourself it’s very hard to distinguish that line between the two. You’re putting the core of your existence on the line for people to either accept or reject.
Imposter syndrome is very real and runs rampant throughout the artistic community. But in the end, my love of music is what keeps me going no matter what.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a soul-singing, funk-loving vocalist, songwriter, and keyboard player who just wants to make the world a little bit better through music. Music is love, and there is great power in that love.
I am incredibly proud of my most recent album, “Someone Better”. The songs are very personal, as mine tend to be, and I feel I was able to say everything I wanted to both lyrically and musically. So much time, love, and dedication went into creating that album, and I can hear it in the recordings. Although they’re my songs and it’s my album, each musician brought a special piece of themselves to the project. They were able to elevate my vision to a place I never knew possible, and I am forever grateful for each and every one of them. And I officially released “Someone Better” on the 20-year anniversary of being declared cancer-free, which makes it even more special to me.
I think what sets me apart in music is my authenticity. Some of my most defining moments as an artist have been when others resonated with the emotional vulnerability in my work. People will let you know when your music has moved them. Last week a woman came up to me after a performance to thank me. She cried and gave me the biggest hug. It’s a special feeling to connect with strangers through music. She really felt every word I sang. To be able to touch someone so deeply like that is probably the best compliment I have or will ever get.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
As far as apps are concerned, I use Forscore for all of my sheet music, charts, and lyrics. I can easily edit them in the app on the fly, too. It has been a game-changer.
I have a Livestream every Tuesday called “TUNESDAYS” (pun very intended) and I broadcast on both Instagram and Youtube. After the pandemic, there was a huge shift in the way we had to think about live music, so I use my home studio to do weekly performances for anyone who wants to drop in!
For Instagram, I use the Mobil POD app to connect my audio specifically for the Instagram feed, and there is a program called Ecamm Live for the Youtube feed. The Notes and Voice Memos apps on my iPhone are incredibly helpful for jotting down lyrics, remembering melodies, recording rehearsals, and piecing together new songs as well.
Pricing:
- “Someone Better” CD: $15
- “Someone Better” Signed CD: $20
- “Someone Better” Limited Edition Vinyl: $35
- “Someone Better” Signed Limited Edition Vinyl: $45
- “Someone Better” T-Shirt: $30
Contact Info:
- Website: AlexNester.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/AlexNesterMusic
- Facebook: Facebook.com/AlexNesterMusic
- Twitter: Twitter.com/AlexNesterMusic
- Youtube: Youtube.com/AlexNesterMusic
- SoundCloud: Soundcloud.com/AlexNesterMusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5WzhAffPw35eQsC7I3UBjD?si=Ri4jd98GTb-uQXu_4IgDkg
Image Credits
Eddy Navarro, All Rose Weng, and Michael Delmonte
