Interview with Alcian Lindo

THE LET = "The Local Express Tour"

THE LET: Hello there, Alcian! Thank you for taking the time to interview with us on Commentary from the Creatives! Let's get right into it...

THE LET: Where are you from and how does that affect your work?

ALCIAN LINDO: I’m from Oakland. I grew up in East Oakland for the most part, but my parents are originally from Jamaica. They moved to the US in their early teens and met later when they were adults. I think this adds an interesting layer to my music.

My Grandma (on my Mom's [side]) is very religious and sings gospel. Growing up, she had me in church all the time. We went to this church on Foothill called Greater Bethesda. I was there with her singing nearly every Sunday.

On the other side -- my Dad was in a Reggae band, was also a promoter, and DJ. So growing up, if I wasn't hearing my Grandma sing church music, I'd hear my Dad playing Reggae, R&B, and Hip-Hop. My Dad and Mom would take my Brother and I to music events all the time. [Events] like Festival at the Lake and Art & Soul Fest. 

As I got older, my Brother, who worked at a radio station in Connecticut, started exposing me to even more Rap, R&B, and Hip Hop. Also, because he was on the East Coast, he had me listening to other genres like Bachata, Cumbia, and Reggaeton.  While in middle/elementary school, I went to this free after school program at a church. That's where I learned classical music like Mozart and Chopin. The church pianist was a retired music teacher. She took a group of us and taught us piano, violin, and one of my friends even learned cello!

Oakland has a rich and diverse music scene. One day I'd be at a symphony, the next day I'd be at a drum circle at the lake, or a Pow Wow at Mills College, or a jazz festival, or something!

We didn't have a lot when I was growing up.  My parents struggled. When they separated [and] it was just me and my mom, it became even harder. But the beauty of Oakland at that time was that a lot of the art and music events were free. And art - it was everywhere! Growing up in Oakland during the 90s/2000s, exposed me to so many different sounds and cultures that it really kind of shaped the way that I hear and absorb music. This directly influences my creative process.

THE LET: Most artists draw inspiration from other artists. Is this true for you? If yes, who are some of your top inspirations?

ALCIAN LINDO: I definitely draw inspiration from other artists. I remember the exact moment I decided I wanted to sing and make music. I remember being in my Uncle‘s living room; I don’t know how old I was. He he had a huge CD collection and I was going through it and saw Mariah Carey's Music Box album. I remember looking at the cover and thinking, "Oh she's pretty, I'm gonna listen to her!" I played the album and the song "Hero" came on and I was like, "Oh my God! She sounds so amazing! I’m going to be just like her!" And for the longest time, I would literally wish that I could sing like Mariah Carey. I wanted my voice to change so bad which, now that I'm older, I've come to appreciate my own unique voice, that does not sound like Mariah at all! lol (Ain't no way I'm singing that high!) But she was definitely one of the first, if not the first, to inspire me. From there, I'd list: Lauryn Hill, Brandy, Aaliyah, Mya, Tamia, Selena, Destiny's Child, Christina Aguilera, Jojo, TLC, and basically all the 90s/2000s R&B/Pop groups and girlies as inspiration.

THE LET: We notice you have a strong academic background in English/Writing and Fine Arts. Very impressive! How specifically have your undergraduate and graduate degrees influence your music? 

ALCIAN LINDO: My degrees definitely influenced my music. My undergrad degree is in English with a minor in Music. My graduate degree is also in English. I specifically wrote and studied a lot of poetry as a graduate student but while in undergrad, the focus was more on the theory and mechanics of writing. I believe that studying English has helped me really see music, specifically R&B, as more than just a creative outlet and catchy sounds. It's a complex genre that deserves to be studied, analyzed, appreciated, explored and respected a lot more than we do now. 

THE LET: Images of conjoined twins is a recurring visual in some of your content cover art. Is there a meaning for these images?

ALCIAN LINDO: There’s definitely a meaning behind the Lost Girl. She’s actually not conjoined twins - she's one person that has wandered into this unknown realm where she is literally and figuratively being pulled apart from her original essence. She's lost in this multiverse where she’s trying to figure out who she is, how she ended up split into pieces of herself, and how she can put herself back together to get home.

Each song and project I release is a piece of this larger puzzle that I want listeners to try and figure out with me. The pieces are jumbled and songs are not being released in any specific order so understanding comes down to paying attention to clues, immersing yourself into the story, trusting me as a guide and sometimes journeying into spaces where we all feel vulnerable. The story of the Lost Girl is about remembering and confronting your past, making sense of that past, and understanding how it is the root of who you are today. [Then] assessing where those roots have damage and then figuring out how to fix it so that you can become whole again. Along with the Lost Girl character, there's also a white hare that is constantly present in my visuals in some way. The white hare is a guide to the Lost Girl and a reminder to stay focused and to honor both the gifts that time brings and the things it takes away.   

THE LET: What motivates you to create your content/material?

ALCIAN LINDO: There are times where I literally feel like if I don’t sing or write a song that's in my head, I’m gonna explode. When I watch other people perform, my chest gets tight and I feel super anxious and excited at the same time. It's the strangest feeling. When I'm writing, I feel like I enter into this other realm and when that happens, it's like I can't write fast enough. The words just flow. I don't know where it comes from, maybe the universe, or the ancestors, or God? Either way, the feeling I get when I'm performing or writing or even watching someone else perform motivates me to do more. I guess I'm chasing a high.  

THE LET: Are there any artist(s) you’d like to collaborate with? If yes, who and why?

ALCIAN LINDO: There are a ton of artists I wanna collaborate with both famous and up and coming. I don’t even know where to start. I mean if we’re talking about famous artists then I would love to collaborate with Noname, Tierra Whack, Jill Scott, Tyler the Creator, Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, Lupe Fiasco, Beenie Man, Missy Elliot, Brandy, Leon Thomas, Frank Ocean, the list goes on and on. I want to collaborate with them because they each have such unique stories and voices. In the end, I feel like we're all searching for something in the music we create and that sharing a piece of our journey with each other will help us find what we’re looking for faster. 

THE LET: What are the long term goals for your artist career?

ALCIAN LINDO: My long-term goal is to build a world with my music that people can get lost in. I want create a body of work that will push people to explore who they are and and identify whatever is splitting them apart. I want to make people dig deep so that they can heal and find true happiness. I want leave behind a body of work that is shared and appreciated for generations. I think the best way to do this is to continue to speak my truth. 

THE LET: How do you balance your artist career with your professional and personal life?

ALCIAN LINDO: It’s very, very stressful. My blood pressure just went up from thinking about it. I have to balance a lot more than people realize. I have a full time job that I maintain while being a single mom. I'm also my own manager, label, booking agent, content creator, vocal coach, performance coach, etc. To balance it all -- I rely on my calendar and set boundaries for myself and others.

I also stay single because in the past, relationships have been a huge distraction. I have a tendency to pour into whoever I’m with, which can take away from the things that I wanna accomplish. I haven’t learned how to balance that yet so in order to stay on top of my other responsibilities within my personal life and my professional life, I made the decision to not enter into a relationship until I can figure out how to do it in a way where I'm not giving up things that are important to me. It's been about 3 years of pure single bliss so far. My edges are thriving and I am unbothered.

THE LET: This month’s interview theme is “Independence.”’ What are your thoughts on indie artists and corporate signed artists? Which do you prefer for yourself?

ALCIAN LINDO: I think they both have their pros and cons. Being an indie artist provides you with a level of freedom that I don’t think a signed artist gets to experience. You get to collab with who you want, release what you want, wear and do what you want. You are in control. However, being a signed artist gives you a level of access, opportunity, and support that most indie artists don't have. It’s very difficult -- maybe even impossible -- I don't know...for an indie artist to tap into that same level of access. I can’t say which one I would prefer since I've only experienced one side. It would be dope to have the access and opportunities of a signed artist, along with the funding, but I also don’t like being boxed in or feeling like I have to answer to someone. So if I absolutely had to choose, I guess remaining an indie artist would be my preference. 

THE LET: Any new projects of yours for the audience to look out for? How can folks find/keep up with you?

ALCIAN LINDO: Yes, I have a new song that I’m releasing in late August/early September called "Sand Viper". It's a single off of a larger project I plan to release next year. The best way to keep up is to follow me on music streaming platforms and on Instagram @AlcianMusic. They can also subscribe to emails and texts related to upcoming shows and song releases on my website: www.alcianmusic.com

~ COMMENTARY FROM THE CREATIVES ~

ANTYE - Indie Recording Artist & Entertainment Company Administrator

"...keep pushing and use being from Jamaica as an advantage. You could market to a bigger audience."

** Be sure to look out for our third interview of "Commentary from The Creatives" in mid September! **