Exposed Vocals Interviews Jann Halexander

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?  

Jann Halexander : I m not sure that my life is so interesting for people, especially before music. I grew up in Canada and Gabon, in Central Africa…with my parents and my sister…music was a brutal decision…i was very young…in 2003…with my first song Alien Mother.

 

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

 

Jann Halexander : Now it’s like my usual name, sometimes i forget my birth first name…i wanted be myself…Jann Halexander is a reference to Jane Alexander, a south african sculptor whose work is very …fascinating. And to the writer Alexandre Dumas too.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Jann Halexander : i knew world of music before internet…what could i say…i live with present…i must say that i like the actual diversity of supports : digital, physical, it’s very interesting. And sometimes i give some of my musics. As an artist, i ve to be generous. That’s all.

 

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Jann Halexander : of course but i want to be clear, i don’t believe in smaller or bigger artists. I just believe in ‘artist’. You’re very famous or not, i don’t care, i m interested in your songs or not. When i walk in streets of Paris, some people come to ask me if i am Jann Halexander, but most of people are indifferent. It’s life, i stay …quiet about that…i love very much Clemence Savelli, we belong to the same generation. Her voice, her beauty, her scenic presence. She’s not only a friend, but a incredible singer, you must listen ‘Pourquoi’, ‘L’Espoir’ or ‘Ciao’…’Léon’…it’s classical french song, it’s…wonderful…

 

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

 

Jann Halexander :Of course…my talent is to…hide this ! Sometimes i keep lyrics in front of mine…sometimes i joke about that and public smile…

 

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about? 

Jann Halexander :People can discover my music about youtube, vimeo, dailymotion…there is a lot of videos, clips, concerts, interview with radios, tv…i sang in a lot of places in France, Belgium, Germany…i’d like to perform in US, it’s a plan for me…cause ok, i sing in french, but it’s very musical and i receive a lot of messages from people in North America, Russia, South Africa…

 

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?  

Jann Halexander : When i a dream…when i a dream i find inspiration. And sometimes, life of people around me. It was the case with ‘A Table’, ‘Aucune Importance’. Sometimes my own life with ‘Papa, Mum’, recently…

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

 

Jann Halexander : my label and my editor make the job, they work very hard for this. On Itunes, Amazon etc…people can see my actuality about http://jannhalexander.blogspot.fr and http://jannhalexanderinternational.blogspot.fr.

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

 

Jann Halexander : Tatata…i keep my secrets…it’s better…

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?  

Jann Halexander : i suppose i will spend it for interesting thing like help people, travel…and for…stupid things…

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?  

Artist:Last time i was in studio in march 2016 for ‘Papa, Mum’. Maybe i will come back to Nagoss Studio, in parisian suburb in september.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

 

Artist:The reality of my life it’s concerts and more generally, public representations in a lot of places : cabarets, associatives centers, librarys etc…i must say that i ve good people around me : my manager Jeff Bonnenfant, my editor Jerome Cosniam, of course Monique Hottier, from my label. Concerts are very important to keep a public, to attract new people. When i tell you about that, i realize how is a so particular life…

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why? 

Artist:Maybe a duet with Tanita Tikaram…or Anne Sylvestre, in an other style. But duet is very difficult. I respect works from other artists, i love a lot of them but each artist usually has his own identity. Not obvious…

 

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

 

Concerts in october in Paris, whose the AFFIDAVIT show with musicians, a new album with 12 songs…and a book…i never stop…never…

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?  

Jann Halexander :Oh i don’t want to think about it…music is really my life, Art is my life…

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?  

Jann Halexander :I think it was an album from the group Aqua…when i was young, i loved so much eurodance music, i know it can be surprising…

 

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?  

Jann Halexander : Your question is right, it’s very strange the artistic life. You’re in and outside the world, the common society. And in the same time, you have responsabilities : your family life, social life…it’s very strange…but it’s my life so…

 

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?  

Jann Halexander : I sing 8 of october in Paris, in Comedie Nation. It’s the last representation of my show ‘Affidavit’. In a beautiful place. It’s very important for me.