I definitely think I have a long way to go in terms of “success” (even though it’s so subjective), but I’d encourage other artists and creatives not to be afraid of sharing. Be proud of your art while also open to advice and criticism. But always be authentic!
As a part of our series about stars who are making an important social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alexis Lynn.
Alexis Lynn is a singer-songwriter from Surrey, British Columbia. A captivating performer with a honeyed vocal tone and an edge underneath it, Alexis crafts deceptively sweet pop anthems that never shy away from her ethos of honesty and empowerment. Inspired by the worlds of hip-hop and R&B, her music radiates confidence and examines our insecurities in equal measure. With an ambitious year ahead of her, Alexis Lynn’s fans know that ultra-catchy hooks and radio-ready production are a given; the stories she’s telling with them just might surprise you.
Growing up outside of Vancouver, Alexis Lynn knew from her earliest days that she wanted to be a singer. It was when she took up songwriting as a teen that she knew she was destined to be an artist. Having always loved writing, Alexis found that speaking her truths through music came naturally, and her family roots in Canada’s First Nations further inspired her commitment to storytelling and her belief in the importance of sharing our life experiences. With unapologetic greats like Amy Winehouse and Rihanna as guiding influences, Alexis developed a raw style of songwriting that belies her sweet demeanor, confident in tackling any topic that she feels passionate about. An unabashed feminist and an advocate for mental health awareness, Alexis writes songs that cut the small talk, helping people of all stripes to feel heard in their struggles and inspiring listeners to know their own worth and to never settle. And with a work ethic like hers, settling isn’t on the table for Alexis Lynn: with a hand in the whole creative process, from art design to music video editing, Alexis has the drive and artistic clarity to make her aspirations a reality.
Thank you so much for joining us on this interview series. Can you share with us the backstory that led you to this career path?
Thank you so much for having me! I’ve loved music and have been singing for as long as I can remember, but I started taking piano lessons and writing songs when I was 16. For me, that really changed my outlook from only wanting to sing to wanting to become an artist and songwriter with stories to tell. Since then, I’ve been writing and performing and started releasing music in 2019. It’s become my full-time career and I honestly couldn’t love it more.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
One of the things I look back on that I find funny now is how terrified I was to start collaborating and co-writing with people! When I started writing it was just me and a piano and the thought of being vulnerable in writing and sharing with other people scared the hell out of me! I think it’s funny because it’s one of my favorite things now. I think I learned an important lesson in vulnerability and how amazing it is to collaborate with other creatives, its really what art is all about.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
I definitely think I have a long way to go in terms of “success” (even though it’s so subjective), but I’d encourage other artists and creatives not to be afraid of sharing. Be proud of your art while also open to advice and criticism. But always be authentic!
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
I don’t know if I can name a singular person. I believe everyone you meet is for a reason and I’ve been inspired by everyone in one way or another that’s been involved in my life and career. Every time I work with someone new, I’m inspired. Every time I hear someone else’s story I’m inspired. And every person who’s believed in me or taught me or been involved in my music has inspired me.
How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you’re working on right now?
As an artist, a lot of my work is centered around creating spaces to have tough conversations and talk about real issues that we may not always want to shine a light on. My current project “Real Talk” is a multi-faceted exploration of mental health that talks about everything from depression and addiction to eating disorders and recovery. So many mental health issues can be hard to talk about, but they’re important to shed light on and my goal with this album and all my writing, honestly, is to make people feel seen and heard.
Can you share with us a story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
I’ve struggled with my own mental health in various aspects and have seen so many people I love have struggles of their own, and the stigma that revolves around having these conversations is something that’s always bothered me. So many people share the same struggles and being open in talking about it has made one of the biggest impacts in my opinion. Feeling heard, seen, safe to share, and knowing you’re not alone has been one of the most important parts of healing for me and so many others I know.
Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?
There’s one song on my album called “Ana” that I wrote about my battle with anorexia. After I wrote it, I really didn’t know if I was going to release it. It’s so personal and raw, and it terrified me to think about other people hearing it and seeing so deeply into my life. I had kind of decided I was going to release it, because I felt it’s an important conversation to have and so many others have struggled with disorder eating as well, but I truly knew I was going to release it after I played it for a friend. We were in my car, and I played it for her without giving any context, and as soon as she heard the lyrics and understood what it was about, I just saw this wave of understanding and sadness, but also relief, wash over her face. It was the exact embodiment of “feeling seen” and that’s the whole purpose of being a songwriter to me, and that was the moment I knew I was going to release it.
Are there three things or are there things that individuals, society, or the government can do to support you in this effort?
I think being a part of the conversation, getting rid of the stigma, and supporting others are so important. There’s so much support needed at a government and health care level, but there has been so much progress already made.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”
1. Don’t be afraid of failure
2. Make the art you want to make regardless of what other’s think you should make
3. Enjoy the process
4. It’s okay to be bad at something at first!
5. Collaborate!!
You’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I think kindness and compassion go the farthest for everyone. There are so many individual movements I’m passionate about, but they all boil down to being kind and compassionate to ourselves and others. You never know someone else’s story.
Can you please give us your favorite life lesson quote? And can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
I’m sure this isn’t the original or fully accurate quote, but “don’t let the fear of failure stop you”. I spent so long as an artist, writer, and creative being scared of failing, when in reality it’s a necessary part of the creative process and success itself. It’s okay to make mistakes or to be bad at something, it’s a part of growing and improving. You have to fail to learn and improve, it’s natural, and being scared of that is really just stunting your success.
Thank you so much for these amazing insights. This was so inspiring, and we wish you continued success!
This is such a hard but great question! I would LOVE to meet Rihanna. She’s such an icon and interesting person, I feel like we would have a cool conversation.
Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Alexis Lynn Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.