FEATURE:
Spotlight
Alex Vaughn
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BACK in October…
I came across The Hurtbook and, with it, the incredible Alex Vaughn. I have instantly fallen for her music! That debut project followed the amazing E.P., Voice Notes (recorded using the voice notes app on her phone). Vaughn honed her skills as a background singer for artists such as Goapele, Cece Peniston, and MuMu Fresh. She released her debut E.P., The 4pm Mix, in 2017, followed by the full-length, Shift, in 2018. Even though she has been on the scene for a few years now, Vaughn is being tipped now as one of the emerging faces and voices of R&B. She has this incredible catalogue behind her already. The Los Angeles-based artist, producer and musician surely has a plan up her sleeve for this year. Such a prolific and passionate artist, she follows a hugely accomplished 2022. I do hope that Vaughn is able to tour the U.K. soon, as there are people over here that would love to see her. I am going to get to a couple of recent interviews with her. First, I want to flip it back to 2017. You Know I Got Soul focused on the emergence of a new generation R&B artist. Someone whose music was already connecting and standing on its own:
“YouKnowIGotSoul: What first got you interested in pursuing a career in music?
Alex Vaughn: I’ve always been into music. When I was a child, I would also crawl to my grandmother’s piano, I would hum when I chewed my food, I was involved in choirs from elementary, middle, and high school where I was classically trained. I think when I was going to college, I was on a full scholarship for classical music, it hit me that I couldn’t really be here putting my energy into classic musical. But more so into being an artist and making music off of the vibrations and how I felt. I think that was the ah ha moment for me.
YouKnowIGotSoul: What do you take forward with you from learning classical music that you use when you create music now?
Alex Vaughn: Breathing techniques, even getting into character when performing, learning the origins of songs. It definitely helped a whole lot.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Tell us about your biggest influences.
Alex Vaughn: They vary. My biggest two are Alicia Keys and Kanye West. Also, it depended on whose car I was riding in. If it was in my mom’s car, I would hear India Arie, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige. My dad’s car, it would be Stevie Wonder, The Whispers, and then Biggie. So it’s like I’m a musical mutt when it comes to influences.
YouKnowIGotSoul: You are a true triple threat as a singer, songwriter and performer. Unfortunately these days r&b artists like that don’t always get the attention they deserve. How do you overcome that as you begin to develop your career?
Alex Vaughn: It doesn’t discourage me. This is just what I love to do. I’m just true to the music and I feel like people just like what’s true. They can tell. If it’s true then it will shine through. I love playing the piano and singing. I will never not be a musician. Even if people didn’t like it. That’s just the type of artist I am.
YouKnowIGotSoul: What’s the overall goal for you? Are you looking to get signed to a major label? Would you like to continue as an independent artist?
Alex Vaughn: I think if the right opportunity presents itself I’d like to be signed to a label.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Anything else you’d like to add?
Alex Vaughn: There’s a lot of music coming. I have a project dropping in November, which is also my birthday month. Be sure to check it out. You can also follow me on all social media platforms at @WhoIsAlexVaughn. I’m on all music streaming services”.
New Wave Magazine spoke to Alex Vaughn when she was promoting The Hurtbook. After such a whirlwind last few years, I don’t think she is going to let up. There is this huge amount of love and support behind her. She is going to be a major name very soon, as she has this peerless talent. It does seem that an album is next on her agenda. I think most of her fans would love to hear that:
“If you’re not sure who Alex Vaughn is by now, then I don't know where you’ve been, the R’n’B powerhouse who has lived and breathed music for as long as she can remember is now being recognised as the new face of R’n’B. The last few years for the singer-songwriter have been a whirlwind from working the Grammy award winning producer Dark Child to performing at the BET Soul Train Awards via their infamous Soul Cypher segment. ‘As a young child I always had dreams of attending and performing at award shows, so actually being in this space is such a beautiful moment’.
‘Due to my Dad being in the military, I had the brief desire to become a train conductor as a kid, however music is something I’ve always been drawn to, my Grandmother had a piano in her house and I remember journeys to school where my parents would play a lot of soul music in the car’. As she further explored her talent as a singer, Alex would often performed her own renditions of the artists that inspired her, following this the songstress was granted a college scholarship in classical music, ‘Although I was given this amazing opportunity, Classical music was never a genre of music I was truly passionate about, but for the sake of my parents I did complete the scholarship which pushed me further into focussing on R’n’B’.
Alex cites the likes of Indie Arie, Mary J Blidge, Jill Scott and Stevie Wonder as major influences, however the list doesn’t stop there as Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Kanye West and Missy Elliott also played a huge part in Alex’s life, ‘They always had soul, but with a funk to it. These artists had cool ways to express their pain, via their lyrics and music videos’. From having strong remnants of the artists who have come before her, Alex Vaughn has gone from being inspired by her idols to collaborating with them on her nostalgic R’n’B infused EP ‘The Hurtbook’. The songstress worked alongside infamous producer Dark Child for the project (Destiny’s Child, Brandy, Monica), ‘Working with Darkchild was such a surreal experience, when creating the track I’m leaving, we were trying to figure out the production for it, so we reached out to him and he was instantly feeling it, I just couldn’t believe it because it was actually one of my older tracks. Once we met we connected straight away, we now have so much music we have worked on together’.
Describing her music as 'Feel good, life music' Alex Vaughn's sound resembles an early 2000’s heartbreak anthem, the latest single taken from The Hurtbook is So Be It, which encapsulates the loss of someone in your life whether a friend or lover it can be hard to let go at times, Alex sums that up perfectly. ‘The Hurtbook was very personal for me, all of those songs were based off true stories and experiences, initially the EP was based on one specific person but as time went on during the pandemic I got to explore a variety of emotions and situations’. Alex Vaughn manages to capture love, loss and heartbreak all in just 8 tracks, at first making music was just a form of expression, but now it’s a needed form of selfcare. ‘I’m inspired by so much, from constantly searching for more knowledge, to the love my fans and close ones show, I could literally see a bird and be inspired by it, the possibilities are truly endless’. Whether it’s a personal topic, a conversation or something Alex has seen she is an individual who often sees the beauty in everything and feels the constant need to be creative. ‘Even if it’s just having a conversation with another songwriter, I can’t go a day without creating something that will further inspire me’”.
I am going to finish off by sourcing from Mixtape Madness. They were stunned by The Hurtbook, and the visuals for So Be It. Observing the way Alex Vaughn blends Classic training and background with this raw talent, she has a sound and electricity that is infectious, intoxicating and hugely moving. This is a supernova of an artist that everybody should get into their life:
“A mark of Alex’s heat levels in the scene, legendary super producers are laced across the project – incl. Rodney Jerkins, Camper and GRAMMY-nominated DJ Money. Vaughn opens the project with, “So Be It”, a powerful ballad that breaks down the emotions surrounding a breakup between friends; “I ignore my intuition once again, all for me to say you’re still my friend,” Vaughn sings. She then follows up with the upbeat, feel-good “Keep That Energy (One More Chance)” sampled from the late Notorious B.I.G., capturing the original’s nostalgia whilst adding her unique touch.
An unquenchable thirst for growth is what’s powered the Maryland singer/songwriter with her release of “Mirage” earlier this Feb – her first release since signing with LVRN/Interscope in 2021. The Hurtbook, seamlessly blends her natural musicianship with the raw expression she’s developed as she’s digged deeper. With her parents enrolling her in classical and jazz piano lessons from a young age, Vaughn’s heart was nevertheless always set on R&B: 2017 saw her begin posting covers to Instagram and Twitter, which led to performances at The Kennedy Center and The Fillmore, as well as opening on national tours for the likes of K. Michelle and Eric Bellinger. During the pandemic, Vaughn joined LVRN’s Instagram Live talent show, catching the label’s attention and the following year they formalized their belief in her.
Now, with The Hurtbook, Vaughn is using her platform to show her fans how far self- belief can go: “My fans will always know that I am a human being, so I’m scared just like you are,” she says. “I’m nervous like you are. I’m excited. I feel what you feel. I’m doing the best that I can with what I got”.
I am completely in awe of Alex Vaughn, and I am going to watch her progress closely this year. Such a wonderful artist who is going to be delivering absolutely remarkable music for decades more, I am buckled and braced to see what Vaughn delivers throughout 2023. Even though I only recently discovered her wonderful music, I am now a dedicated fan…
FOR life.
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Spotlight Alex Vaughn
