Stevie Wonder, India Arie, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Musiq Soulchild, John Legend, Kirk Franklin, Soulive, Israel & New Breed, Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, John P. Kee, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Boyz II Men, Take 6.
With his soulful voice and passionate message of justice and brotherly and sisterly love, this Boston-area native has been writing music since age 12. Starting out as a guitar player, his early influences included many Motown artists, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and many more. As he grew, both as a person and a musician, he came into contact and fell in love with gospel and soul music. He taught himself to play the piano and in one year after playing, was writing solo pieces and songs for his gospel choir. Listening to artists like Stevie, India Arie, Kirk Franklin, Israel and New Breed and many other soul and gospel artists, his music is a fusion of all those influences.
His voice and influences continued to grow, earning him comparisons to Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. During his four years at Tufts University, he continued to pursue his passion for gospel music by being the Assistant Director of the Kuumba Singers of Harvard College and co-founding his school’s only other all-male a capella group, S-Factor, both groups dedicated to singing music of the African Diaspora. He also continued to write his solo songs, which reflect both his introspection as he continues to grow and learn about himself and this thing called “life,” and about the way love has touched him in his life.
Alexi also has a strong passion for social and racial justice that comes out in much of his music. Being white and living in a nation (and world) where whiteness equals privilege, he is a dedicated anti-racist and white ally. Race and racism are so rarely talked about by whites but are still so prevalent in our society (see Katrina, the Jena 6, or Oscar Grant). He believes it crucial for those in the dominant groups to begin to redefine those terms so white becomes synonymous with anti-racist, masculine with anti-sexist, and straight with gay rights’ proponent. This message of love and passion for true equality across each of those lines comes out in much of Alexi’s music.
He hopes you enjoy what you hear and that you not just listen to the music but also to the words being said. Music can and should be the bridge that connects people. He hopes his music is able to connect with you.
Enjoy!
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