We recently connected with Alex Elena and have shared our conversation below.
Alex, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Curiosity for learning new things was always in my DNA as well as music, and a passion for history. Music was everywhere where I grew up. My dad was a drummer and we had a recording studio set up in my bedroom. I picked up a pair of drumsticks, i think, before I could even walk.
Curiosity came from having around a strange motley crew of artists that would hang out at the house playing music and showering me with photos and records they would bring from far away countries.
My grandfather would arm me with a random volume from the history of the world, art, or Second World War before my morning visit to the bathroom, right before i would start my school day.
This was Rome back in the early 80’s.
From a very early age I developed a strong sense of curiosity and story telling.
There was no way on earth I would remain in Rome.
The world became my oyster and through music, and later photography, I got my free ticket to exploring this beautiful planet, its people with their different shades of perfection and sadness saving myself from one of my biggest fears to manifest: stagnation.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I have a music production company named Two Beards Productions alongside Grammy Winning mixing and Mastering guru Steve B Baughman. We have been together for about 5 years working on a lot of interesting projects together.
Just recently i worked on Citizen Cope’s new album titled The Victory March. It is out now and it has been an intense and creative journey in the making. I am very proud of this album and the message of love and hope attached to it.
I was lucky to start working professionally at age 18 in London drumming for Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden.
As i moved to New York i started producing records. The first album i worked on ( For Lovers Dreamers and Me by Alice Smith) landed me a Grammy nomination that paved the way to work with other artists such as Lily Allen, Evan Dando, Ruby Friedman to mention a few.
I ended up in Los Angeles which now i consider my home but keep jumping back and forth between Rome, LA and Havana Cuba.
I started photography in 2009, when a sudden decision to create a portrait of the Darien Strip took me to Panama. Since then i covered a range of subjects spanning the globe from the slums of Kenya, everyday life in The Gambia, the vanishing Indigenous tribes in Central America, to the aftermath of the war in the former Yugoslavia.
I have done many photo exhibits around the world and made sure part (if not all at times) of the proceeds made went to charity.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My only piece of advice is to never ever stop when life gets tough. If you have a dream you must believe in it and work really hard every day of your life to get better at what you do.
Also remember to enjoy the ride.
The ride is as important as the destination.
You must surround yourself with people that are always better than you and can help you grow.
Push the envelope.
Be humble.
You can learn something new from everybody.
Don’t judge a book by his cover.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
They taught me to be independent and not be afraid of the unknown. They taught me how to cook, saw, keep my room tidy from as early as I can remember.
They would send me out to buy groceries and pay bills.
We travelled around Europe together and it was always an adventure.
Never boring.
We always melted with the locals.
Greatest learning experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alexelenatv.com
- Instagram: alexelena007
- Facebook: alexelena007
- Other: www.alexelenaphotography.com
