Catching up with Alex Warren: ‘Before You Leave Me’

Alex Warren. Photo Credit: Jimmy Fontaine.

Singer-songwriter and social influencer Alex Warren chatted about his new single “Before You Leave Me” and his latest endeavors.

Inspiration behind the single

On the inspiration for “Before You Leave Me,” he said, “We went into a session, and we wanted to write a song that is something sad that you can dance to. I thought that my middle school relationship was a perfect way to write it.”

“We wrote it in a way where it’s three things at once, almost. It’s a long-distance relationship song, it’s a breakup song, and it’s a song about losing someone,” he said.

“The whole gist of it is that you have one last night with someone, and it’s about making the best of that last night that you have,” he added.

“I hope my new single helps people as much as I enjoy making it,” he acknowledged. “That’s the biggest takeaway; there’s a lesson in everything that I write.”

Songwriting and music inspirations

Regarding his music and songwriting inspirations, he said, “I am inspired by a lot of the things that I’ve gone through. Funny enough, I like to say that I’ve been fortunate to say that I’ve gone through a lot of trauma.”

“Every day I go into a writing session, and I have so much to talk about and so much to write about so it’s like therapy to me,” he said.

“My biggest inspiration are the things that I’ve gone through, and the coolest part is that many other people have gone through similar things, and that makes it even more relatable,” he elaborated.

The digital age

On being an artist and social influencer in the digital age, he said, “It’s cool because it’s like two jobs at once, in a sense. I make music that I love so much, and I get to make TikToks about that sad music.”

“It’s really cool to have so much access at your fingertips. Before, it was kind of random but now, you have so much access at your fingertips,” he said.

AI on the future of the music business

When asked about his thoughts on AI (artificial intelligence) on the future of the entertainment industry, he said, “I think AI is something interesting but also dangerous in some ways.”

“The reason why my songs work is because it’s me telling a story as opposed to me telling something to tell a story. That’s the whole point of music. The type of music that I make means so much because I’ve gone through it and because I’m writing it,” he explained.

Future plans

Regarding his future plans, he said, “I want to drop an album this year. I want to go on tour, and I want to play a festival one of these days, that would be so cool. I want to keep making songs, keep putting them out, and keep having fun.”

Advice for young and aspiring artists

For young and aspiring artists, he said, “The best advice is do it now, and do it authentically. The biggest thing is that you can go on TikTok and put out a song that you’ve made on the piano. It doesn’t need to be done, and you don’t need to be a signed artist anymore. Just go on a piano, play the keys, sing, post it on TikTok, and have fun with it.”

Atlantic Records

On being signed to Atlantic Records, he said, “I love Atlantic Records. I am very happy with where I am at, which is so fun, because so many people can’t say that.”

Dream duet choices in music

Warren listed Reneé Rapp and Miley Cyrus as his dream female duet choice in music. “Having a song with Reneé or Miley would be so fun,” he exclaimed. “Vocally, they are both such powerhouses. I think we would be able to write something really cool.”

Alternate career choice

If he weren’t in the entertainment business, he would be an “FBI agent.” “That would be fun. I watch a lot of crime TV,” he explained.

Favorite mottos to live by

On his favorite mottos to live by, he shared, “I live by this every day. I think it is easier to be nice than to be mean. That’s the biggest thing, and I always remember that. Even though I’ve met a lot of mean people, I think it is much easier to be nice and caring.”