Meet Alex Newton | Educator I Producer I Session Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Newton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, how do you think about risk?
I like to think of risk as a great motivator for success. All the best things and accomplishments have stemmed from someone taking a risk to say, “f*** it, I’m passionate about this and will see it through no matter what.” Taking risks has played a large part in my life, and has fundamentally shaped my career along with who I am. I mean… come on, I am a musician after all. Even saying it out loud still seems funny to me at times. When I decided that I’d had enough doing odd jobs and working in the restaurant industry, I finally took the leap to risk it all and fully sustain myself solely through music. It took an incredible amount of faith in myself to follow through on my belief that I could make a sustainable living through my work as a educator, producer, session musician, and artist. And I won’t lie, it hasn’t been easy, but what good is anything that comes easy? What else would I even be doing? This is all I’ve ever wanted to do, all I’ve ever done, and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
These days, I would like to consider myself artistically and professionally as a producer. The role of a music producer varies; we are responsible for the creation, capture, and preservation of music. Us producers work with artists to bring their vision to life and ensure that the final product meets the artists’ and, if necessary, the record label’s expectations. This means that we are pretty hands on with the creation of the song, from the ground up. Often times, I am recording not only the vocals, but multiple instruments; building the foundation of the song. I like to think of my role as building the universe that the song lives in. I learned a lot of lessons through the artists I have had the pleasure of working with. Most importantly, I’ve discovered producing is about building a sense of comfort and trust, so that the artist feels creativity comfortable and open to explore every corner of the song’s potential. It may be a difficult search, and can feel like a waste of time, but working through the challenges often leads to the best results that otherwise would have never been explored. I genuinely care about creating a meaningful and great piece of art.

There are a few projects I am super excited about! I am currently in the middle of finishing up two albums with two amazing artists, Cameron Cade & The River. Cameron is an Indie-Pop or Indie-Folk artist with sick textured harmonies and great lyrics. She draws inspiration from artist like Lizzy McAlpine, and Japanese House. We’ve been working together for awhile now, and it’s just so fun. The River is an r&b/pop artist who can sing and rap. We have so many songs ready in the vault currently and set for release, it’s wild. They are both incredible songwriters and I get so much joy working with them. Another project I am currently excited about is my band 2nd breakfast who I play live with every first Wednesday at Zuni Street Brewery. The band consists of me on guitar, Eric Luba on keys & bass, and Tyler Stuck on drums. They are some of the best players and the best dudes; my brothers. Everything we play is made up live on the spot, and it’s a real blast. Come through sometime!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For me, a perfect Denver week consists of three main things; nature, music, and great food. Obviously, the top of my list would be to see a show at the greatest venue on Earth, Red Rocks! It’s simply a must for any music lover. Additionally, Cervantes is such an incredible Denver staple and it is a great place to see some music. Spending time outside at Cheesman Park and the Denver Botanic Gardens is always high on my list. Both are oases right inside the city. When it comes to food, new and trendy restaurants in Denver don’t excite me. Instead, I love bringing my friends to the small mom-and-pop hole shops and restaurants. I often bring my friends down to South Federal to explore all the authentic Asian and Mexican food it has to offer. If you see a kid in the corner doing homework or even lending a hand, you know you have found the right spot and it is sure to be delicious! Finally, I love to cap off my night at one of Denver’s finest dive bars, Dons. Once you are done having fun in the city, getting outside in nature to get rid of all your demons is the move. There are endless spots in Colorado to camp, hike, and explore!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people deserve credit in my story! I have been so deeply loved throughout my life by both friends and family. My parents are absolute heroes; they have always supported my crazy dreams since I was a child. My wife, Alyssa, still puts up with my crazy dreams and who, herself, is a creative entrepreneur. And lastly, all of the professional mentors I’ve had along the way (specifically Dan Schwindt) who believed in me from the start, and with their guidance, really shaped me to be musician I am today.

Website: https://alexnewtonmusic.com

Instagram: @mcnewtster

Image Credits
@Chandlerkim

@sethbeamer (studio photo)