Conversations with Alex Mabey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Mabey.

Hi Alex, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I’m an independent Singer/Songwriter and podcaster (Leaving Egypt) from Washington State originally. I grew up singing in voice recitals, and theater and did all things creative like dance and choreography from the time I was little into college. I grew up in a small town in the Olympic Rainforest (think Twilight). I always wanted to come to Nashville to do country music so I moved here to go to Belmont University for a “hot minute” until deciding to leave and go travel the in the US and internationally. My heart was in mission work and I wanted to see what my “sound” could be if I didn’t have any pressures too soon from the music industry or influences. I wanted to get to know the people of the world– who I would be singing to. So I worked odd jobs and played/released independent albums for the next 10 years in my twenties. Some of my favorite experiences were: missions trip to Africa and Guatemala, working on a National Geographic Expedition ship as a steward and musician, working as a hiking guide and wilderness trip planner for a youth non-profit in Alaska, rafting the Grand Canyon for a month, and working on a ranch in Colorado.

During this time though, I was struggling majorly with my health and was diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases– none of which doctors could figure out how to heal. I became so desperate and didn’t want to take their only suggestions to get on steroids and anti-depressants so I started learning about alternative health options and basically had to become my own doctor. During this time, I also got married and went through a divorce right before moving back to Nashville in 2019. I had so much experience working with kids that I got my master’s online in Elementary Education and taught in Nashville and in Washington during my separation and divorce. All while pursuing my music.

The songs I wrote about my failed marriage are in this upcoming album, set to release on February 17, 2023. It’s called “The Waiting Room” and was funded partially through a Kickstarter I raised $46,000 from in 2021. That was such a miracle in my life that truly propelled me and my career forward to be able to share this message of finding freedom from spiritual and emotional oppression with as many people as possible. Along with that, I started a Podcast called “Leaving Egypt” where I share my stories and thoughts about finding freedom from all sorts of chains.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My physical and emotional health have for sure been my biggest challenge in continuing to pursue my music and message. Early in my twenties I remember not being able to get out of bed for five days at a time and would have to be carried to the bathroom because my neck hurt so bad. I would play a show and my neck would go out immediately after that. No doctors could figure out what was wrong with me and I had about 20 symptoms ranging from migraines and skin rashes to depression and neck pain. I had to learn so much on my own to help me heal because doctors didn’t have helpful suggestions. In 2020 I got my Holistic Nutrition Consultant certificate to be able to legally help other people.

The other aspect of my emotional health that I struggled with was “un-doing” or unlearning some emotional survival techniques I learned as a kid and young adult that got me into relationships and made my life harder. I was bullied severely as a kid until I was eighteen and those patterns of being abused but also trying to fix the abuser was what didn’t serve me in my future and made things harder for sure. I ended up getting a divorce because of a lack of wisdom in the first place to even get involved with someone who hadn’t gotten their behaviors together. My podcast and my album are all about that and processing the lessons and grief of it all.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an independent musical artist that writes the most honest music possible. Because of my decade away from Nashville in my twenties, I did not mix in with contracts, pressures, or commercialism, and was actually off of social media for over five years– and I think it reflects in my music. I’m not afraid to write about real issues; issues I’ve experienced personally like abusive relationships and health struggles and also my experience with how God has walked with me and healed me. My upcoming and sixth album “The Waiting Room” is a project that I am extremely proud of as well as my podcast I started this year called “Leaving Egypt”. Both are ventures that aim to help bring clarity and boldness to other people going through similar things that I did. A big sister, in a way– someone who walked the path right before you did and has some advice.

The album is called “The Waiting Room” because it captures the period of time before my answer, miracle, or dream come true that I was waiting for with my marriage. To stay or leave. I want to sit with others in their waiting rooms and let them know they’re not alone– validate their experience. Then, help them feel empowered to find freedom. Locally, I have been able to work with women who just got out of prison by co-leading self-help book study groups with an amazing local prison ministry organization “Leaving the Cocoon” as well as bring my music and story to other outreach organizations in town. I plan to continue to bring my message to as many people as possible on whatever size platform the Good Lord gives me. I’m so thankful.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I can apply Zoolander/Stepbrothers/The Hang Over/Blades of Glory quotes for almost any scenario in real life and do so almost daily. I can thank my older brother for that influence!

Contact Info:

• Website:www.alexmabey.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_alexmabey
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexmabeymusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexmabeymusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/alexmabeymusic
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/alexmabey
• Other: https://linktr.ee/alexmabey 

Image Credits
Katie Sura, Jacie VanBlaricom