We recently had the chance to connect with Alex Noelle and have shared our conversation below.
Alex, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
This question is sooo on point for my artist journey. The new music I’m releasing soon on all streaming platforms has taken years longer than I thought it would take to get together. Health issues, pandemic issues, and unexpected life circumstances slowed the creative process down in ways I couldn’t have predicted, and it has often felt disappointing.
But the final product would not be what it is now if I had rushed it years ago! I found the right people to work with, and I found a deeper personal connection with the message of each song as I lived through those years of obstacles. I then had more time to strengthen my voice, my musicality, and my vision for what I wanted this project to sound like and convey!
I started leaning into the mindset of “It’ll be done when it’s done” rather than trying to meet – and miss – deadlines with frustration. By changing my mindset, I was able to let creativity flow more freely and give it a higher quality sound and meaning. While I wasn’t “glad” at first when things were getting delayed, I’m definitely glad now with how it all turned out!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a queer and disabled artist, educator, and music therapist. My main goal in all of my work is to offer catharsis and connection through creative expression & authenticity! I’m very open about my journey in hopes that others going through similar things will feel less alone. Music can bring us closer to ourselves and each other, and I think we all deserve that.
My upcoming EP “Love, Loss, & Kubler-Ross” has a soul pop sound, with mostly upbeat tunes, playful lyrics, and catchy melodies. The title and theme take inspiration from my background in therapy and mental health, with each song aligning with researcher Kubler-Ross’s five stages of grief. I know we all experience loss at some point or another, and I figured, why not dance it out while we’re processing?
After 6 years of developing disability due to chronic health issues, I’ve also become really passionate about nervous system education and helping people connect with their inner world, and inner peace. I run skills-based groups, teach private music lessons, and more, with all of this in mind. If you’re interested, reach out!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Honestly, the answer sounds a bit dorky, but it was when I decided to join Girl Scouts in kindergarten. I vaguely remember that our teacher explained it involved making art & learning about nature – two of my absolute favorite things to this day – and I knew right then and there I’d join and nothing could stop me. According to my mom, I told her so confidently that this was happening, without even considering that I needed her permission, and she said I had such a power in my decisiveness that it was inevitable! We can say “kids will be kids”, but I’ve had more moments like this throughout my life when I feel so strongly about something but don’t understand why…and I always find out later there was something to it. I’ve learned that it’s my intuition giving me a push towards what matters most, and I’ve learned to trust that voice even without full evidence in the moment. My connection with nature and creative expression have both been driving forces throughout my life, so I’m grateful for that moment way back when. I think we all have access to this inner voice, guiding us where we need to go – we just need to listen!
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I’ve learned some of the most important life lessons thanks to the disability I’ve developed from chronic health issues. Most importantly, that journey has taught me that who I am and what I’m worth are separate from what I do, how I do it, when it gets done, and what people think of me and my work.
There was a time when I could no longer physically do the career I’d chosen to pursue, which was also my lifelong passion. I could no longer physically do the main hobbies I most enjoyed, or utilize the main coping strategies many people use when they’re having hard feelings – like going for a walk or hike, or doing yoga. I couldn’t even manage much of my daily to-do’s, and it had me feeling guilty that I couldn’t repay those who were willing to help me.
I’m so grateful to have learned that developing strength and confidence in who you are inside, rather than in your titles or labels or trophies, takes you much farther (and with more fulfillment). By no longer leaning on external factors to tell me who I am or if I deserve love and peace, I have more intrinsic motivation and resilience to hard times.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Well I just asked a few of them and here’s what they said: wellness, inclusivity, community, authenticity, inner growth, and social equity. I’m glad to say that the people who know me, really know me! I really value bringing people together in a space of realness and mutual growth and accessibility. I believe that the more we bring our full selves to the table with a willingness to grow and connect, the more we thrive together.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
I love this question! I’ve become very passionate about nervous system awareness – the subconscious part of ourselves that activates instinctive fight, flight, freeze, fawn, or collapse responses in the body (even sometimes when there is no threat to be found!) It’s so important to tune into this part of ourselves and make sure we’re proceeding with a sense of connection to our inner body experience no matter what comes our way. With practice and mindfulness, I can tell the difference between feeling a hard feeling or experiencing a challenge, versus feeling my nervous system start to panic. I’m here for the hard feelings and challenges, but if I start to feel those nervous system instincts of fight, flight, freeze, fawn, or collapse, I know I’m out of my depth and decide to reorient into my body to meet my needs first. It’s been a super helpful process for me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alexnoellemusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexnoellemusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexnoellemusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/alexnoelle
Image Credits
Oceanna, Turnstile Productions, Nashville Pop, Wingman Visuals
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
