By: Sindy
Alexa Ray Joel is a budding musician who just happens to be the daughter of Piano Man, Billy Joel and supermodel Christie Brinkley, but Alexa isn't riding anyone's coattails. We sit down to chat with her about her new EP and her famous family.
Sindy: Hi Alexa! Can you start off by telling me a little bit about your new album?
Alexa Ray Joel: Well, it's not actually an album, it's a six song sampler - it's called an EP. I recorded it last May, so actually most of the material I do at shows now isn't on there, but it's sort of like my very first work that I've done. It's sort of in the style of pop-blues. And I did the whole thing myself - drew the images, and wrote a letter to the listeners and all that. It's very close to my heart. We went into the studio for a week - myself and my band - and some of the stuff was done in one take, so it's a really organic thing. Very live sounding.
Sindy: So your dad is Billy Joel. What kind of influence did he have on your sound?
Alexa Ray Joel: Because of him, I've been playing piano since I was knee high. The house was always full of music, so of course he's influenced me, but I think I've also developed my own sound. He's also been really good about giving me advice, which I think has helped me really stay true to what I want to do musically.
Sindy: You studied musical theater in school. Do you still have any ambitions to do that?
Alexa Ray Joel: It's always been a dream of mine to do a voice for a Disney movie. I think Disney movies and theater are very closely related. That would be amazing. I don't know about doing a Broadway musical, just because I don't really know how people do it. You just work all the time. That's something that I would definitely have to work up to.
Sindy: So what kind of music did you listen to growing up?
Alexa Ray Joel: When I was younger, my dad of course. Also Ray Charles - I was named after him; that's where my middle name comes from - The Four Seasons... I was just all over the place. These days I'm getting more into jazz and Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, but when I was younger, of courseThe Beatles. I had classical piano training when I was younger too, so I was very inspired by Chopin and I used to compose quite a few classical compositions. And now I'm even getting into funk - I could go on...
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