The Swiss singer-songwriter Alex Wellkers just published his sophomore full-length album ‘Fly Away’, an astounding multidimensional creation. The eleven-track album incorporates the music of rock, pop, hip-hop, classical and so forth and conveys a cinematic experience by means of powerful vocals of Wellkers.
The album’s entry is the gentle “You Want Us” followed by the more abrasive “We Celebrate.” The first two songs are sung totally in French, the last one is in French, Swiss-German and English but with the hip-hop groove. Violins and violas weave through the tune providing an atmosphere of magnificence.
“It’s an album for people who are fans of dramatic pop music and rock,” said Wellkers. “My desire was to create a style that was new but also, combining different styles resulted in something that was unique.” This is a fabulous work which should be listened to several times to understand its mastery.
He started to compose hip-hop songs when he was 11 years old and occasionally mentions Marilyn Manson and Queens of the Stone Age as some of his idols. Nevertheless, ‘Fly Away’ showcases the uniqueness of an artist that cannot be found elsewhere. Through slow-burn start all the way to genre-mashing final, it is a mysterious tale, very intense and pretty thrilling with lots of raw emotion and music of unpredictable moves.
Wellkers’ aspiration is obvious, as showcased through their clever, multi-layered beat. “I am trying very hard to make it different,” he replies. “There’s something for everyone – the rock fans, the pop fans, the classical music lovers – with this album.” He has created a unique type of experience, that keeps people hanging around, by ‘Fly Away’.
Listen to Fly away below
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What is your stage name
Alex Wellkers
Is there a story behind your stage name?
At the time Alex Wellkers was created, I listened nearly exclusively to the music by Oasis. So I decided that Alex Wellkers was born in Burnage, Manchester.
Where do you find inspiration?
Other musicians, some movies, whatever. I like artists like Marilyn Manson, Schlingensief, QOTSA, Deftones as well as movies like Trainspotting and Clockwork Orange. But, in the end, I also listen to pretty commercial productions so I am not really restricted to some kind of music, I nearly listen to everything. From Hip-Hop to Pop to Classic, from Underground to Mainstream.
What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
In my early childhood, I liked watching Knight Rider so I liked the music by David Hasselhoff a lot but I was really young back then. At the beginning of my youth, I mainly listened to Toten Hosen, Ärzte and Bon Jovi.
Later, I had a phase in which I listened to Hip-Hop, even a lot of Swiss-German Hip-Hop like Primitive Lyrics. When I got a bit older, that changed to Grunge and Rock music. Marilyn Manson, Queens of the Stone Age.
Are you from a musical or artistic family?
On my mother’s side yes, she plays the piano. She also sold vinyl and later compact discs for a living. That’s why I got in touch with 80s music like Whitney Houston, Barbara Streisand, Sandra, Matthias Reim, Michael Jackson and all this very early.
Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
I am not part of the music industry, I am just someone who records some kind of music that probably will never be seriously heard. However, if, what you ask, will ever happen, that would then definitely be Brian Warner.
His music influenced me a lot in the 90s and 0s. I doubt I would hit it off with him if we met. Chances are high that we are very different. But, artistically, what he did during the 90s and the 0s, is unique and irreplaceable.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
At 6, I started to play the accordion. Later began to play the keyboard and the guitar. Started to write my first songs at age 11. During my youth, mainly wrote Hip-Hop songs in German and Swiss-German, did a lot of freestyles back then.
Came from Hip-Hop to Grunge and Rock music with Alice in Chains, Queens of the Stone Age. At the end of my youth, I found out that, in principle, I might be not too bad at singing. So I changed the songs a bit and started to write English Rock songs from time to time.
What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform?
David Hasselhoff in the Hallenstadion Zurich.
How could you describe your music?
It’s hard to say cause I try to make it diverse but maybe this is a very subjective estimation. I think one can hear that, during the last years, I made some progress. And I keep on learning.
Describe your creative process.
Either I write a song sitting at a piano or in the homestudio with an e-guitar. I usually play some repeating chords and take some lyrics that I wrote before. Then I start singing those lines in different ways. If I find something catchy, I record it on my smart phone and write the chords and the lyrics down.
I try to switch some chords but stay in the key and find something else. When I have at least 3 nice parts, I decide the most catchy part to be the chorus and start arranging some pilot tracks.
What is your main inspiration?
I think it’s the same for everyone. Achieve something in life, go places. Creating something new and unique.
What musician do you admire most and why?
Farin Urlaub managed to keep his private life out of the press, that’s very admirable. He did that in a very elegant way.
Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?
No because there was never anything like a career in my life.
Who do you see as your main competitor?
Noone. Music is not a competition.
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
I do not see any problem there. I just make music the best way I can.
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
I would not know what to change and I am not in the position to change anything since I am not part of it right now.
Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
Title comes from one of my songs, I liked the meaning of the 2 words and the sound of it.
What are your plans for the coming months?
I will continue to finish the recordings of the follower of this album.
Do you have any artistic collaboration plans
Unfortunately not 🙂
What message would you like to give to your fans?
Be yourself.
