We caught up with Demo Taped last week before his Baby’s All Right performance.
Adam Alexander, better known by his stage name, Demo Taped, opened for Wafia last week and we had a chance to catch up with him before the show. Demo taped is a singer and producer from Atlanta who’s fusion of synth pop and hip hop is truly unique. Demo Taped signed to 300 Entertainment late last year and has dropped a slew of successful singles since his debut EP Heart. Demo’s working on his next project while touring and here’s what he had to say about his musical journey:
What was your first musical memory?
Riding in my dad’s car, he’d play Earth, Wind and Fire and a lot of Jazz. We’d listen to the jazz station in Atlanta and that’s the first time I really remember connecting with music and seeing how I could connect with music with my dad because he’s a musician too and that’s when I really saw how music brought people together in different ways.
Can you talk about how your dad’s musical interests influenced your work?
He is a bass player and plays now at my church, but he used to play in a funk band and he went on tour and did a lot of really cool stuff and had so many stories. It’s influenced me because he really, he’s really put me on to some great music that I otherwise would never have heard and he’s also been helpful in times where I don’t think I know what I’m doing in terms or maybe writing a song or the production behind it- he’ll tell me if anything clashes and he’s always been the person, to be honest, and not just say it’s great because he’s my dad. He’ll give me an honest critique and advice. Both my mom and dad have done so much for me and helped pay for my music equipment.
Outside of your family, who are some of your biggest musical influences?
I’d say Flying Lotus is a big one, Herbie Hancock, Thundercat, always been a fan of him, a lot of the Brainfeeder guys and Jimi Hendrix was the first artist that I really like sort of identified with, the way he was layering sounds and noise and the way he was doing rock was just amazing. I’ve always looked up to him even though I only played guitar for a hot minute
What other instruments do you play?
Piano, guitar Kalimba, thumb piano, ukulele, a lot of obscure instruments, I can play the kazoo.
What’s your favorite program and hardware to create beats with?
My favorite program is ables and live been using it since the start of Demo Taped, I’d say my favorite piece of hardware is this tiny Yamaha reface/rephrase C# and it’s a reboot of these 80s mini keyboards with speakers inside of them. I use it now and I’m using it a lot for the EP.
Can you tell us more about your upcoming EP?
The EP is still in its developmental stage, but essentially I want to show a sense of honesty with it. I want to be as true to myself as possible.
Can you tell us about your last singles “Stay” and “Not Enough?”
“Stay” featured Amber Mark and it’s a song that’s really a plea. I’m a person that doesn’t really like change that much and “Stay” is a plea for things to stay the same, at least for a little while.
“Not Enough” is really about facing depression and anxiety head on, because those are two things I’ve suffered with for a while, but I’m doing a lot better now which I’m happy to say, but “Not Enough” is literally – the lyrics are “the brooding thoughts are not enough/ just send me to the edge with everything I love” and it goes back and forth because that’s what my mind did at least. One day I would be very empowered and the next day it would be rock bottom and that’s what the song does. The chorus is the uplifting part, the verse is the self-doubt.
You’ve spoken about your depression and anxiety in previous interviews, can you discuss how you cope while on tour or even before a performance?
A lot of it is prayer, I’m religious and a lot of it comes from meditation as well. I call my parents I talk to them before every show.