Meet Jax Sprague

We were lucky to catch up with Jax Sprague recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jax, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Does anyone really overcome imposter syndrome? I battle it daily. I feel like a fraud for getting my degrees but not remembering much of my coursework. I hear a new song from an independent artist and think about how they have such better vocals, lyrics, and production than I do. I look at models who are younger than me and wish I had that control over my expressions and positions and that discipline over my body. Impostor syndrome never ends. There is always someone younger, smarter, and more talented than you, but they aren’t you. Lots of people have my influences, but they don’t necessarily interpret them all like I do. Even if they did, why do you have to be the best at something to put it out in the world? Do you even have to be good? There is enough space on this planet for everyone to make art, and there are enough people in this world for someone to enjoy it. Every time I think that no one is going to like what I do or like I am not doing enough, I remind myself that there are 8 billion people on this planet. Someone is bound to find something of value in my work.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My name is Jax, and I make music under the name Alleyway Dust. I have worked as an editor, writer, lyricist, singer, model, and actor. I studied Mechanical Engineering in college and worked as a freelance lyricist and writer during that time. The most exciting part of my career is that I get to meet and collaborate with so many inimitable individuals, and we get to bring out sides of each other that we had not explored. I post original songs, covers, and some random videos on my YouTube channel.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

One area of knowledge that greatly impacted my artistic journey was discovering healthy coping mechanisms. Growing up, I developed a handful of health conditions that made it hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I would cry because I was a preteen who couldn’t run across the street without being bedridden for a few days, and it was really taking a toll on me. I turned to songwriting to express my frustrations.

A quality that I found useful was my desire to learn. I love living in the Internet age because I can easily go down any rabbit hole I want at any time. Then, I can use this random knowledge to inspire my craft. I draw from a lot of random tidbits when I write music. For instance, I binged a bunch of Sion Sono movies and wrote songs inspired by each one of them, drawing upon the plot points, score, and visuals.

The third topic I consider impactful is my desire to constantly improve myself. I love researching new routines, productivity tips, and lifestyle hacks to become healthier, happier, smarter, and more creative. There may not be a magic cure, but I do learn more about myself and others with each new thing I explore. With an enhanced understanding of how people work and thrive, I can take on different characters and voices in my work, and I can better understand my clients when I write music for them.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

I was laid off last July, forcing me to delve into freelance work once more. I have found greater joy and prosperity in balancing between scientific editing for a couple companies, writing pop culture profiles, modeling for local artists, writing music for myself and others, and scare acting. I tried to move back to an office job, but I was so dissatisfied and in pain each day. I found myself crying while getting ready for work each day, and I would limp all the way home from the bus stop due to the strain that it put on my body. I felt I had no choice but to go back to freelancing, so I quit my job and went back. I have variety in my work again!

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