A Dirty Dozen with CHERISH ALEXANDER – September 2021

According to a recent press release: “A songwriter whose history runs long and deep, Cherish has been active within the music industry, having played lead guitar with Cyndi Lauper and Josie Cotton among others, collaborated with John Shanks (Goo Goo Dolls, Jane’s Addiction, Alanis Morissette), Gregg Alexander (New Radicals) and Billy Steinberg (Madonna, Demi Lovato), and released a number of records with The Painkillers, Bella Bazzaria as well as a handful of solo albums. Her music has been used in many TV and film soundtracks such as the theme for The Crow, E! Entertainment TV, Lifetime Television, has been covered by pop artist Tiffany, and landed a top 10 single with Korean singer Sally Yeh in Taiwan.” We get Cherish to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

My latest single “CHANGE CAN START WITH ME” was written the summer of the pandemic. The lyrics are based on the events that happened during that time. For ex. The line in the 2nd double chorus “no observing the violence” in particular in regards to the girl (hero) who caught the George Floyd murder on her iPhone. If she hadn’t of done that, we may not have known. All of the lyrics from my new single are based on the events that happened the Summer of 2020 starting w the first line “Streets filled with hope…” in regards to all the protests. The music video I directed, when my part comes up before the last chorus and also at the end of the song. We are using the stars video background to create a ‘third eye’ on my forward pertaining to a higher message coming through from another dimension. Also the morphing effect is to highlight that we are all one.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I know it sounds cliché, but I do feel like I was born to be in music. I started singing and playing piano at the age of 7, wrote my first song “Love Will Find A Way” at the age of 9. Then proceeded to play guitar and bass at 13 and kind of never stopped and now will never stop.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Even though their success was way before my time, early exposure to The Beatles quickly enlisted me as a Lennon/McCartney fan. Paul McCartney was my first LIVE concert and I still consider that concert a turning point in my life. Also, being from the south ie: Dallas, Texas, Dolly Parton was a HUGE influence on me wanting to focus on being a songwriter.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Dolly Parton, and Patti Griffin.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I was just talking about this the other day with a friend. I heard recently that Joni Mitchell is having songwriting circles at her home right now. I would DIE to be able to be part of that… would be a DREAM. Guilty pleasures: I would love to write a song with Taylor Swift or Britney Spears.  And on the complete other side of the spectrum, do a duet with Tom Waits or John Mayer. (I’m really into all types of music).

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

This actually has always been a really hard question to answer. Because throughout the years my instruments have changed depending on the season of life I’m in. In my early 20s, I was fronting the alt rock band The Painkillers’ so the music was more angst emotionally charged rock. Then went on to front the band Bella Bazarria and although that was still rock, I played bass so the intensity was a bit more alternative. When I started to evolve a bit in my early 30s my music became more piano based, softer more spiritually evolved – and fast forward to now – more spiritual, more searching for peace. Thus, my music is more based on my soul journey and less on a genre. (if that makes sense).

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I’m definitely the barista!!! I’ve become famous for my coffffeeeee throughout the history of being in many different bands.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

A few years ago I was walking into a restaurant and they were filming something outside. As I’m walking in, out the blue I feel someone take my hand and drag me onto the patio where they were filming an Amazon commercial. It was Drew Barrymore; we proceeded to have a mini photoshoot walking down the sidewalk and then she sat me at her table to be part of the commercial. The whole thing lasted about an hour, but I was buzzing from her energy the whole day. She was such a bright light and I felt an instant connection to her.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

I feel like songwriting has been the one thing that has kept me sane. It’s been my companion, my best friend, my therapist, my comfort, my medicine. It’s been a way for me to work out my emotions, let go of things that hurt, find resolution with complicated situations… even heal from a broken heart. If I wasn’t a musician, I always thought it would be fun to be an Astrophysicist. I’m obsessed w the galaxies.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Can’t really think of a question I’ve wanted an interviewer to ask, but I do know what question I’m tired of answering lol. Where did your name Cherish come from? We’re you named after that song? (then they start singing it).

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I grew up being in many bands. I can’t tell you how many times I was asked by a Record Co, Producer, Agent, to leave my band and go solo. I do wonder sometimes what my career would’ve looked like if I were to part ways w my band and do my own thing. But at the time, the bands I was in were always like family, and I felt like leaving them would be a betrayal. Now I kind of think differently about that and have wondered ‘if’ from time to time. But not to the point of losing sleep over it. HA.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

John Lennon / Imagine. Just am inspired so much by his conviction for unity and peace. Huge inspiration for me. Also, everyone involved w that album. I would love to be a fly on that wall.

CHERISH ALEXANDER LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

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Category: Interviews