Conversations with Faith Alexa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Faith Alexa.  

Hi Faith, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Texas, surrounded by country music. My parents had country music playing in the car and house at all times, and they say I was singing along before I could even talk. My mom played me Taylor Swift’s first single when I was five years old and I have been her biggest fan since. When I realized she wrote her own songs, I automatically wanted to do the same. I started writing lyrics at the age of six, but nothing of real value came out of those early years, as you can imagine. I had notebooks full of lyrics and melodies to silly songs I wrote about everything I encountered. When I was twelve, though, I wrote my first song. I was dealing with really heavy emotions because my little sister, who is my best friend, was in the hospital. I was sitting in my room, listening to sad Taylor Swift songs when I remember thinking, “I need to write.” Growing up as a football coach’s kid in Texas means moving around and having to expect change at any time. Music was truly my one constant and the one thing I felt I could rely on. It was always there for me when I needed it and I knew from a very young age that it’s the only thing I want to do. On my very first trip to Nashville at 15 years old, I learned about Belmont University from an unexpected run-in with Sandi Borchetta. When I asked her what advice she’d give to a young songwriter, she told me, “Go to Belmont University, study the music business, and intern, intern, intern.” So, after graduating high school, I moved from Texas to Nashville and I’m now a Songwriting major and Music Business minor at Belmont. I self-released my first single, “Sunshine,” in April of 2020 and have since released 4 more singles and an EP. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The shutdown happened in the middle of my freshman spring semester and just a couple weeks before releasing my first single. It was heartbreaking to leave Nashville right as I felt I was beginning momentum in my journey. Covid obviously rocked everyone’s world, so it was a struggle adjusting to the new college experience, which for me was online classes in my dorm room every day. But I am very grateful that we’ve reached a place where we can have live music again, allowing me to play my music for audiences, instead of a phone screen. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Songwriters and artists get to tell all kinds of stories; personal, completely fictional, stories of other people, etc. I would say I am most proud of being able to share those stories with the world. It’s a scary thing to take a chunk of your heart and put it in someone else’s hands and, for me, that’s how I feel when I share a song with others. If I had to put a label on it, I would say my style of country is “dreamy/ethereal country.” My favorite thing about writing and releasing music is getting to experiment with and do something new with each song, afterward hearing how other people can relate. 

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I am very fortunate to be at Belmont where we have many opportunities to join organizations that educate you and allow you to network. I am definitely still learning myself, but my biggest piece of advice would be to get involved. For songwriters, go to writer’s rounds! Attend all the writer’s rounds you can, introduce yourself to people, become a familiar face, etc. People will remember you if you keep showing up! 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithalexah/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaithAlexa25
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/faithalexa/featured
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@faithalexah

Image Credits
Margot Pierson
Gina Di Maio
Kimi Carter