“I’m hoping that this song really encourages people to let go of their worries and just enjoy the moment.”— Alexis Taylor’s “Room Service”
Huntsville, Ontario native. “Both my parents are songwriters and have always been very musical. Music is a part of me — it has always been in my blood.” If you were to jointly write about your hometown, how would the chorus go?
I think if I wrote a song about my hometown of Huntsville, Ontario, I would definitely incorporate how beautiful it is into the chorus! Not only is Huntsville a popular tourist destination for many people in and around the city of Toronto, which is about 2 and a half hours south, but we have so much beauty here year round! Regardless of if it’s fall and the leaves are turning all different colors of red, orange and yellow, or if it’s the summer when all the lakes are perfect for boating, swimming, and fishing. I’m truly lucky to call Huntsville my hometown!
Launched your international career in the summer 2016. “Being able to open for someone as talented and genuine as Doug Seegers along with his incredibly gifted band was an experience of a lifetime. The opportunity truly allowed me to grow as a performer, and I am so grateful that Doug took me under his wing.” What was the best advice Doug gave you that you continue to use in your career?
Doug has given me a lot of advice over the years. But two things that I always remember him telling me, and that he still continues to tell me, is to not give up, and always count my blessings. When faced with challenges or setbacks, it can be easy to become discouraged and want to throw in the towel. But having someone as talented as Doug who encourages me to keep pushing forward truly reminds me of why I got started in music in the first place: for the love of it. Additionally, no matter what career path you have decided on, I feel as though counting your blessings and focusing on what you have, rather than what you lack, can help you develop gratitude. So having Doug remind me of this, is truly much appreciated. Of course, it can sometimes be difficult to remember his advice when things get tough, but when I do, it really helps me maintain a positive outlook and lifts my spirits.
“If anything, 2022 taught me that life really isn’t fair, nor does it turn out like you expected — sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. But life goes on in spite of it all. Earlier in 2022, I released a song called “Rock Bottom” that was very dear to my heart. It has been the most honest song that I have ever released in my career so far. Writing the song itself was my way of taking everything that was happening around me that I had no control over and reminding myself that it’s going to be okay; that it’s always darkest before the dawn and that things will get better.” It’s a dangerous thing to lose hope. Which other artists’ songs do you listen to that help you keep a positive outlook during the most difficult times?
Yes — I completely agree that losing hope can be a dangerous thing, especially during the most challenging times in our lives. Whenever I feel like I’m losing hope, one song that I consistently listen to is “Jesus Take The Wheel” by Carrie Underwood.
The song tells the story of a woman who is driving on a slippery road during a snowstorm, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. She cries out to Jesus, asking for his guidance and help, and in the end, she surrenders control of the situation to him. The song reminds me that no matter how difficult life gets, I am not alone.
“It’s really meant to be an anthem for victims of abuse regardless of if its physical, emotional, verbal or mental abuse. I really want to give young girls out there hope, and courage that even though it feels like you’re stuck and can’t leave… you can. And you’ll be SO much better for it!” “Let Me Leave” is your personal experience. How challenging is it to publicly share such a heartbreaking time in your life?
For me, writing and releasing “Let Me Leave” was really a part of the healing process. Yes, it required me to be vulnerable and completely open with my fans, but I wanted to speak up and give other people the courage to get out of their own bad relationship too. I think when you lower your walls, honestly bare your heart and your experiences in a song to complete strangers it can definitely be a scary thing. But overall, that’s what I love about music so much — it has the power to connect with people all over the world on a deeper level and provide comfort or inspiration to others. At the end of the day, that’s what I want my music to do and that’s how I want people to feel when they listen to any of the songs that I have written.
“Let’s make a reservation, a getaway, a little staycation. Three nights, one king size bed, drink all the wine and then sleep in. Some time away with you would be so perfect. How bout some room service?” These are lyrics from your latest song, “Room Service.” Can you share the song’s backstory?
I got to write “Room Service” with Dave Audé and Jeffrey James a little while back. I had come to the write with a few different hook lines. As I read a few of them off, the idea of “Room Service” really stuck out. However, I had a completely different direction for the idea of the song when I first presented it to them. Dave and Jeffrey then worked their magic with their great ideas, fresh melodies and view points on where to take the song. It kind of just took off after that! We knew we wanted to have something uptempo, fun, and the perfect summer song. Jeffrey started playing guitar, trying to find some chords that would work, and then shortly after spitballing ideas, we all pieced together some lyrics over the chords line by line. Of course, Dave already had a vision for what he was thinking for the overall production which was brilliant, because as we were writing, he was already working on a rough idea for the track. I think overall, that’s what really gave the song energy right from the beginning and allowed us to write something that really suited the vibe of the song. All in all, writing with Dave and Jeffrey and working together for the first time was such a great experience!!
So this was your first time working with Grammy award winning producer Dave Audé. What was that like?
Working with Dave Audé was nothing short of amazing. His ideas for the production of “Room Service” really brought the entire song to life, as I mentioned. He truly brought a wealth of knowledge to the table, from technical expertise in recording, arrangement, and instrumentation. The whole package really! It was also somewhat challenging, because I was so nervous! Dave has worked with a lot of really great artists and the last thing I wanted to do was let him down. So I was definitely trying to nail all of the notes on every vocal take, and do my best in every aspect so that I wouldn’t disappoint him. Looking back, I’m glad I did strive for doing my absolute best because it was definitely worth it in the end! I think that working with someone as talented as Dave really pushed me to give it my all and the song turned out great because of it! Working with him was a really great experience and I’m extremely lucky that he agreed to work with me.
What do you hope listeners will take away from this new single, both in terms of the sound and the message?
I would love for “Room Service” to be a fun and uplifting summer jam that puts people in a carefree mood. I want it to encourage people to sing along and let loose, even if it’s just for a few minutes. We tried to make the sound match the message of the song: capturing the feeling of simply kicking back, ordering some room service, and hanging out all weekend at a hotel nearby for a staycation. I think it can be easy at times to get caught up in life, and our day to day responsibilities. So I’m hoping that this song really encourages people to let go of their worries and just enjoy the moment.
I am really thrilled to share this song with my fans and hope that they will enjoy the different feel it has compared to some of my previously released songs. I believe that “Room Service” is going to be the perfect summer jam to blast while driving with the windows down, hanging out with friends, or simply relaxing by the pool. I can’t wait for more people to hear it and join in on the fun!
“Amidst the sadness and sorrow of the world, there’s still bits and pieces of good. Creating music is that for me. And I’m lucky to be able to do so.” You have shared the happiness can be found in the littlest of moments. What was the last random moment/thing that made you smile?
The last random moment that made me smile was when I was driving home the other day. I was about to get on the highway and I rolled all of the windows down. One of my favorite songs started playing in my car, and I couldn’t resist turning the volume up — I felt the music wash over me, and everything else just kind of melted away. The wind was blowing through my hair, the sun was setting a beautiful orangey red color, and I couldn’t help but feel happy. It was a simple but joyful moment that reminded me of the beauty of life and the power of music. That’s exactly the kind of feeling I want my fans to have when they listen to “Room Service”!!