Development

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Music Magazine First Draft.

The new indie sensation Alec Bradley takes time out from the studio to come and tell us how and why he has become a HUGE UK HIT. When he recorded his first video of himself online he was not to realise his talent and how much of a star he would become...

So Alec, you started making music at what? 14 am I right? However we understand that it was not easy for you in your early days?

Haha well you’re not wrong, basically when I was around 11 years old my parents got divorced and I started to go off the rails a little bit. What I mean is, I was skipping school allot, and I kinda of got in with the wrong crowd, you know the type of boys who your ‘mother’ doesn’t won’t you mixing with, you could say I was under Pier pressure, however I didn’t see it that way. Well anyway I then began to smoke and got in a few fights, hard to believe at such a young age right? So after around 3-4 years of becoming a slacker, I then became interested in music.


You said you became interested in music? How did you become interested init whilst you were out breaking the law with your mates?

When I was out at the weekends, well I went out in weekdays as well, it was mostly weekends. I listened to allot of music. When we were on the buses, going places, playing football someone would always play some music out loud. I like mainly most types of music, so I was a fan of anything being played most of the times and I seem to know the words to many songs, so I always used to sing along. I used to sing in the shower, at school (when I went), at home you name it, I was singing. I wasn’t embarrassed or scared. I wasn’t afraid to be myself. Ever since I was little I always wanted to be a ‘singer’ or ‘performer’ I just never really had the chance at the time, or I never thought I was good enough. Most of my pals said I was a really good singer, but I always thought they were just being me mates you know.


So you say you’re ‘Mainly into most types of music’, but really what types of music are you into? And what genre of music would you say you fit into?

well if I had to chose I would say I’m into ‘Indie rock’ I like the casual R & B from time to time, but my favourite I would say yeah is indie rock. I would like to think that I would fit into that category, well I hope. When I started singing properly I always wanted to be on the front page of ‘Kerrang’ ‘NME’ and ‘Sound afex’ all these magazines contain indie rock bands or singers, I like I said wished I would be in one issue one day, and now it’s happening.


From streets to the studio? How, tell us how, this all came around.

At school this one time, we had a talent contest; they called it Stars in their eyes I always found the name abit cringe seeing as they nicked it from a TV programme. So anyway I signed up to sing with 3 other lads, who were my mates at the time, you would think that a group of 13 year olds singing on stage at a school talent show would be shambles. However. It was pretty good. Well I mean I played my part, I can’t really say much for my friend john who played drummer at the time haha we won’t go there. What we didn’t know was that we were being filmed, not by the school but by one other student in my year, he really thought I had potential, I never believed him. Whatever. Well he wanted to prove me wrong by filming me and putting it on YouTube. I never knew that he did this until he had put it online. It kinda went from there I mean, the video got 500,456 views and tons of comments saying ‘THEY WONT MORE!’ I couldn’t believe what I was reading! So anyway from then on I started playing locally in halls, parties etc. I then went on to sing in front of larger crowds and that was kinda when I got noticed. This man named ‘Jack Adams’ who is now my agent came to one of my little gigs, and said I could be a national superstar with abit more training, so I worked with him, he got me studio time and a chance to sing live on BBC Radio 1. And this is where I’ve got to so far in my music career.


What must of it been like going from ‘a teenage boy who was involved in crime’ to a UK sensation, it must of been a great feeling right? I mean no one had ever heard of you, then suddenly you get a chance to sing on the radio? Was it always your dream to become a singer?

Well coming from a teenage boy who WAS involved in crime to a well known singer, it was kinda hard in away. I mean don’t get me wrong music has saved my life. I wasn’t doing very well in school my grades were lower than expected. I get a 4 minute clip on YouTube, and now I’m earning money from my dream. It’s an emotional rollercoaster which I’m riding with a huge smile on my face. Although it was hard leavin the lifestyle that I live even thought it was a bad one. I mean I had my mates a few houses down, I could go see them, we would play football. I used to take it easy. Now I have no time to take it easy. Which is good. For me. I like to be very busy and music is very busy, I mean now I’m expected to release my new album ‘Fighting for survival’ and once that has been released, I’ll start working on my new one as soon as possible. The chance I got to sing on the radio was a huge part in me being here today. I mean my agent jack had helped me hugely and I can’t thank him enough. Seriously. And yes I think it was always my dream and ambition to become a singer, although I had the dream of becoming a footballer. Well aint that every other boys dream? I knew I wasn’t any good to make it big time in football, so I always had my eyes on singing.


You said you’re expected to release your new album ‘Fighting for Survival’ how do you think it will perform in front of the nation? Are you nervous?

Well I can tell you for free, I’m more than nervous. I mean I was nobody a few weeks back and now I’m being topped for the ‘newcomer of the year’ I mean this is exciting stuff however its playing with my nerves. Also I think if people can understand me and my music then maybe they will come to like me. It’s all in good time, I really wish I could predict the future but I can’t so we will just have to wait and see what happens.


How much would you love to play at venues such as READING & LEEDS?

Wow well I haven’t even thought that far ahead, I mean if the opportunity comes. I wouldn’t think twice about it, I mean I’ve been reading a few times well only twice and I absolutely loved it, listening to all my favourite bands whilst getting smashed with my pals. I mean it’s great. But to perform there would be something else. My dreams are coming true as we speak; maybe this one might as well.


You’ve said you have so much work to do now you’re a star but when you have free time what do you do with it?

Before I became famous I played football allot with my mates every Wednesday and Sunday, I did it to stay in shape and also because I love the game. Now that I have short time on my hands to do other things I still play the occasional game of football however I don’t play as much as I used too. Believe it or not I also sit down and right things that come into my head for future lyrics, I have pages of notes that will help me with my next album, I always keep a notepad handy in case I’m in the mood for making music.


So its full steam ahead with your music career then?

Haha full steam ahead, well I hope so. I mean like I said we will see how the first album sells out, and we will go from there. Obviously I would love to carry on making music and producing it, although if the people of Great Britain don’t like my shit. Then I have no hope in hell, as they are my target audience and I really won’t to please the public with my music. Hopefully as I get older and more into the music business I will get better and more confident. I mean I’m confident now, however in a few years maybe if I play at bigger venues like reading etc. I would become extremely confident and if I can play at such venues, then this is a sign that I’m doing well.

Front Cover
Final Cover Development

The picture above is the one I started with Un-edited. I had an idea that the this picture would be one of the contenders to be on the front cover. However after much thought I decided to develop on this picture, because I thought it was the best to represent the 'Indie Style'.


I then added the Title 'Sound AFEX'