Dive into the world of Alexa Ray Joel, whose first two singles off her upcoming “Tales From A Winding Tower” EP take listeners on an eclectic musical journey through themes of fantasy, desire, and escapism.
As the daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley, two “vivacious and wonderfully artistic” parents, as she describes them, Alexa showcases the same energy as an artist unafraid to experiment and emit a multitude of emotion, offering a mix of hard-hitting rock and a nostalgic ballad inspired by the 1960s, with the first tracks released: “Riverside Way” and “Heavy Eyes” (out November 21).
We asked her about her inspirations and bold directions behind her captivating collection of songs.
Can you share a little about the themes and musical direction of your five-song EP, “Tales From A Winding Tower”?
This record came about very organically for me, with each song having its own distinctive style, sound, and musical influences. No two songs are alike on this EP… it ranges from a hard-charging, edgy sound like my first single “Riverside Way,” to a nostalgic ’60s torch song like “Heavy Eyes,” my newest single. As the EP continues to rollout with waterfall releases (putting out one single at a time), I’m hoping there is something for everyone on this record, as it is my musically-eclectic way of paying tribute to a myriad of my most beloved artists — from current songwriters to iconic muses of a bygone era — such as Irma Thomas, Etta James, Ronnie Spector, Dionne Warwick. As the record progresses further, it delves into a theatrical hymn-like ballad and more of a ’90s experimental sound reminiscent of my favorite Lilith Fair female singer-songwriters. The underlying themes that tie each colorfully differing song together are fantasy, escapism, and desire.
Your first single, “Riverside Way,” takes your music and lyrics in a bold new direction. How would you describe the sound and mood of this release compared to your earlier work?
“Riverside Way” is a complete departure from anything I’ve ever explored or written before. I wanted to take listeners by surprise while also challenging myself to write a much edgier, darker, hard-hitting rock song that’s entirely contrary to the romantic “soft-girl” songs that I’ve previously released. It was a really fun and spontaneous process writing this song; it came about very naturally, I was just sitting in the bath one night, thinking about a fantasy of an innocent girl meeting a bad boy and speeding down a highway — which I initially thought would be Riverside Drive (the NYC avenue) but “drive” didn’t sing nearly as smoothly as “way”… hence “Riverside Way.” I think it’s so important for artists to take risks and step outside their comfort zones, both musically and aesthetically. This fiery banger was my way of showing listeners that I’m not afraid to dive into new terrain, both as a songwriter and in terms of my persona. As someone who has always been known to the public as a “good girl,” “the good daughter,” I thought it was important to shed that skin, and step into my alter-ego as an adventurous vixen who throws caution to the wind! The narrative underpinning of this song is about a girl who becomes so immersed in the flames of her own desire that she ultimately ends up drowning in a fantasy that can’t be fully realized in reality.
What’s the story or emotion you hope people will walk away with after listening?
I think the inherent beauty of music is that it’s deeply personal to every individual — each listener will get something different out of every song on this record. I do feel that “Tales From A Winding Tower” will be especially relatable to late bloomers, like myself, who are perhaps finding themselves whilst in the throes of experiencing desire, lust, love, heartbreak, success, and are still on the path to fully realizing their dreams… and how to bring them to fruition. I want listeners to take away a multitude of emotions from this record, as each song carries its own unique story and melodic undertones: from the lusty-intensity of “Riverside Way,” to the nostalgically sentimental sweetness of “Heavy Eyes,” to much intimately darker notes as the record continues to unfold; I think every listener will find a song on this EP that resonates with their own identity and style.
Your second single, “Heavy Eyes,” is a musical love letter to the ’60s and pays tribute to some of your favorite female singers from that era. Can you talk a little about those who have inspired you on this track and how that inspiration influenced its direction?
I grew up as a child with my ever-prolific father, who would play the piano while I sang to the iconic classic tunes of the 1960s, notably: “Anyone Who Had A Heart,” sung by Dionne Warwick, and written by Burt Bacharach, “Under The Boardwalk” by The Drifters, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” sung by The Shirelles and written by the great Carole King, and “At Last,” one of my favorite torch songs with a knockout vocal delivery by Etta James, and last, but not least, the incomparable songs of my ’60s muse, Ronnie Spector. Specifically, I wanted to mimic a definitive musical style from the 1960s called “The Wall of Sound,” which was made popular back in the day by Ronnie Spector’s producer and husband, Phil Spector. The effect it had on her records was genius… and to my ears as a songwriter, it truly defined the optimal sound of that era. It made the orchestral parts on her records sound both denser and richer at the same time. My father also paid tribute to “The Wall of Sound” with a few of his own songs — most notably his sorely underrated ballad “Until The Night,” and one of his greatest tunes “Say Goodbye To Hollywood,” which was an intentionally derivative and stylistically masterful tribute to Ronnie Spector. I was thinking about both Pop’s uncanny interpretations, and those of the golden era, when I wrote “Heavy Eyes”… which is my musical love-letter to the swingin’ ’60s.
You described “Heavy Eyes” as a bright spot on the record. Can you describe how the track blends sweetness and fire?
With “Heavy Eyes,” I really wanted to add a bright spot on this record, and it is by far the most uplifting “sparkling” track amidst more shadowy, darker undertones. I specifically wanted to evoke the musical style of “torch songs”: notably romantic and angsty ballads, complemented with rich orchestration and soulful vocal lines. Usually, a torch song is known for its pulsating chords, and you’re going to hear that palpably nostalgic sound featured definitively throughout this song. Musically and lyrically, it’s a bygone mix of lustful and sugary innocence. There’s an ingénue quality to “Heavy Eyes,” as it’s reminiscent of a simpler time, but it gets more sultry and fiery as the song continues to build with a gradually heightening intensity. I wanted to play with that mix of sweetness and fire, also known as sugar and spice. We’re living in such a complicated era right now, and I really wanted to bring what feels like some much-needed light and fun to the world. This song is my way of being a little more playful, coy, and flirtatious… and it’s delivered with a wink and a smile.
Your songs convey a great deal of heart and honesty. Is it ever challenging to share something so personal with an audience?
Honestly? It has never been a challenge for me to reveal my deepest, innermost thoughts and feelings through my art. As a creative, it has always felt quite natural to me; it’s my go-to outlet as someone who has always felt an inherent need to express myself artistically. I think our society far too often idealizes suppressing emotion… and as a non-conformist, I’ve always taken great issue with that. I think it’s so important for anyone and everyone to find a meaningful, positive, and productive way to express themselves — because we’re all a colorful and complex mix of emotions, instincts, subtle nuances, unsaid thoughts, desires, and longings. Personally speaking, as an angsty gal myself, I’ve never been afraid of admitting that. You could say I’m highly “pro-emotion” on principle — as both a songwriter, and just a human being.
I think it also influenced me to be a little more on the eccentric and creative side, having two such vivacious and wonderfully artistic parents, who are both real characters and storytellers in their own right. Growing up with them, we were always putting on musicals and having sing-a-longs, doing impersonations, and just hamming it up! So naturally, I came to appreciate celebrating music and the arts in the most vulnerable, expressive, and transparent ways possible — and I gotta say: what’s better than creating, singing, and making music for a living? I can only hope that it also helps to make the world a more beautiful, heartfelt, and honest place.
Are there any upcoming performances we should keep an eye out for?
I wish I could give you some dates now! But in all honesty, I’m just about to start putting my live band together in early December, with my amazing musical director, Tony Bruno. I think the goal for me as a live performer is to get the sound as close to the tracks on my record as possible — both musically and instrumentally, while also playing with that raw spontaneity and audience connection that can only come in the spur of the moment. Stay tuned on my Instagram @alexarayjoel for teasers, updates, music clips, writings, and all of my favorite things… I’m always sharing everything there!
