Lights, camera, action! Or in Arden Alexa’s case, sing! Arden is a cinematic pop singer-songwriter from California and a rising Gen Z voice in the music scene, and with the release of her debut album, HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING, this is an official invitation to get lost in her world!
HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING is a transition from her earlier pop releases to the more sophisticated sound she is developing now, drawing inspiration from composers such as Hans Zimmer and John Williams, her own background in musical theater, and slick pop music, while also documenting her transition from teenager to young woman.
We had the chance to ask Arden about her evolution from theater kid to pop star, her debut album HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING, and ‘Crush!!!’ that was featured on Love Island USA.
Hi Arden, we’re so excited you’re here! Can you introduce yourself to those who might be meeting you through this interview?
Hellooooo! I’m Arden Alexa, a 22-year-old singer-songwriter making cinematic pop music. I’m always writing about my life, trying my best to process adulthood and love as a young woman living in LA (which can be a very, VERY scary place) while still maintaining a sense of playfulness and glamour.
If you like musical theatre, Old Hollywood, Taylor Swift, or just enjoy a good crash out over chocolate and a romcom, you’ll like my music!
To introduce people to the world of Arden Alexa, which three songs would you recommend listening to? What is their required listening assignment?
‘HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING,’ ‘BREAK MY HEART,’ and ‘Crush!!!’ Those three give a pretty solid introduction to my songwriting, style, and overall dramatic vibe!
Does your experience as a former theater kid help you as an artist now? If so, how?
Oh, 100%. Growing up in musical theatre is the reason that I’m so comfortable onstage and probably the reason I love performing so much. It gave me such an appreciation for storytelling, through both music and onstage performance, and taught me to have fun with every show because although the songs might be the same, each show is different.
With each performance and each project, I’m not just singing. I’m sharing a story, sharing an emotion, and I always want the stories to be cohesive and accessible to the listeners.
Also, given your background in theater, we must ask: If you could perform in ANY production, which one would it be and why?
I love this question, and I’m going to use it to let Broadway casting directors know that I can play any and every role in Hamilton. Personally, I think I’d play Alexander splendidly, but I’d happily take any role!
I must also say that Phantom of the Opera has been my favorite musical since I was a kid. The 2004 movie adaptation was the first movie I ever watched, and to this day remains one of my top three favorite movies, so if a Christine role ever opens up, I’m there!
HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING
You’re no stranger to the studio as you’ve been releasing singles and EPs since 2021. How did the momentum start for HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING?
I knew I wanted to create a project when I started working with my collaborators, Simon Jay and Luke Shrestha, but it wasn’t until I wrote the title track that the idea of the album became truly realized. As soon as I wrote ‘HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING,’ the vision for the album became much clearer in my mind, and I immediately knew the project would be named after this song. After that, I was able to start building the world surrounding the album and figure out how all the songs fit together.
HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING is polished and self-assured in sound and vision. We’ve noticed the inspiration from Hollywood, and the Golden Age specifically. How did that come about? What was on the moodboard while creating the album?
My mom is the one who instilled a love of Old Hollywood Glamour in me! We would watch classic films like Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and To Catch a Thief together and make it an occasion complete with popcorn and treats. She is also the most fashionable person I know and, aside from the two years in high school when I insisted on wearing only baggy jeans and tank tops, has been my fashion guide my entire life. Her classy, timeless style and my favorite outfits from Old Hollywood movies are ultimately what inspired a lot of the looks for this album. Think Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Marilyn Monroe!
HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING saw your transition from adolescence to adulthood. Is there a song from the album that signifies or represents that change?
Waking up in the middle of the night to write the title track was one of the first moments that I felt like I was able to let go of all of the drama and hurt from my adolescence. I was carrying a lot of resentment and anger from my teenage years, but ‘HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING’ felt like a chance to move on and stop holding onto things from the past. After writing that song, I began to heal and transition to adulthood without carrying the weight of my teenage wounds.
Are there moments from the production of HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING that you’ll remember for a long time?
I’ll never forget hearing the full production of ‘BREAK MY HEART’ for the first time. That was the first song that we began playing with a darker, more experimental sound, and throughout the production process, I honestly wasn’t sure if I liked the new style. Hearing the final version for the first time was a true “aha” moment, in which I realized that exploring this new sound was the right choice — that nothing exciting and new can come from a place of comfort.
In ‘Dear Listener,’ you mentioned that ‘Cry Pretty’ “felt too young and disconnected / From who I am today.” How is seeing people’s reactions to it now? It’s a BOP!
I was so unsure about this song for so long, but seeing the reactions to it reassured me that releasing it was the right choice. Fans have asked me to sing it on my TikTok lives, messaged to tell me it’s their new favorite song, and posted videos singing it! The song has been received in the most positive way, and moments like this remind me how lucky I am to have a group of listeners that are so supporting and loving!
Since ‘Cry Pretty’ is at a distance from you now, is there a song from HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING that feels more representative of who you are now?
‘Crush!!! (feat. Sofia Silvestri) [The Yearning Version],’ which is featured on the deluxe album, is probably the most representative sonically of where I am today. I wanted to use this version of ‘Crush!!!’ as a bridge between HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING and the new music that I’m working on now by capturing some of the cinematic and orchestral elements that I’ve been loving lately within the songwriting and stories from HOPE YOU’RE WATCHING!
About ‘Crush!!!’
‘Crush!!!’ has a music video! What was the creative process behind that?
Filming the ‘Crush!!!’ music video with my cat, older brother, and boyfriend was so much fun because I got to work with three of my favorite people (yes, I am including my cat in that count) in a very casual and lighthearted way.
Because the video concept felt so outrageous and goofy, the filming of this music video felt so low pressure and gave me a chance to actually enjoy the process, unlike the filming of the ‘BREAK MY HEART’ music video, which was on a very tight schedule and required lots of coordination. I wanted to create a video that mirrored the light, fun nature of the song while also reflecting the deeper meaning that although crushes are fun, it’s truly been my female friends (and cats) that have kept me grounded.
‘Crush!!!’ was also featured on Love Island USA, one of the most popular shows this summer! How did you react?
This placement came as such a surprise. I didn’t even know that my team had pitched it to Love Island, which my roommates and all of my friends were obsessed with, so when they emailed me the morning of the new episode with the news, I was so shocked. Of course the first thing I had to do was call my parents! I was traveling in Sweden at the time, so the new episode aired around 3 a.m. for me, but I obviously had to watch it in real time to hear the song live. Still the best reason I’ve ever had to set my alarm that early.
What inspired ‘Crush!!! (feat. Sofia Silvestri) [The Yearning Version]?’ Is there a specific image or person or media that brought this to life?
I knew I wanted this version of ‘Crush!!!’ to be as different from the original as possible and showcase a different feeling that can accompany having a crush. We tried to emulate the feeling of deep yearning with the dramatic and cinematic production and paint the very Lana Del Rey picture of driving down the PCH in a convertible with the top down.
We certainly had a Lana Del Rey moment while listening to ‘Crush!!!’ Let us know if you did in the comments below or over on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ARDEN ALEXA:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
