Swiss artist Alexia Thomas is a whirlwind of creativity, blending sound art, songwriting and production into a sonic tapestry that defies easy categorisation. Her music, much like her personality, is an exploration of spontaneity and emotion, shifting with the seasons and drawing inspiration from diverse genres.
With the release of her latest single, 'Lost in Space', Alexia invites us to contemplate the contrasts of life, the search for meaning in a chaotic world, and the delicate balance between reality and utopia. In this interview, we dive into Alexia's creative process, her diverse influences, and her aspirations for the future. From her early days playing classical piano to her current explorations in sound design, Alexia shares the experiences that have shaped her artistic journey.
So great to meet you, Alexia. Let's dive right in - how did you first start making music? Where did it all begin?
"The first true relationship I had with music was with the piano. I started playing classical music on the piano when I was nice. A friend inspired me, since she was also playing. So I visited her piano classes and was instantly hooked. In school I always loved to sing and as a child I was always encouraged by my teachers to sing solos. In my teens I started actively writing music. Just me and the piano. When I was 18 I taught myself how to produce with Ableton by writing a thesis about producing and from there on I found a new love - music production."
How would you describe your sound?
"A bit of everything for everyone. My aim is to fuse different music genres instead of imitating something that already exists. That’s the reason I can hardly define my music into one genre or say my tracks sound like a certain musician. My sound truly comes from my heart, as clichéed as that might sound. It’s organic, it moves and it touches souls if you really pay attention to the whole piece and the details."
"If I had to put it in a box, I’d say there are some electronic aspects, alternative-pop, dream-pop, neo-soul, alternative R&B and indie tendencies. Some of my songsThe general mood of my songs leans more on the nostalgic, melancholic and contemplative side. The sound-aesthetic is quite unique and specific."
Do you have any influences that have defined your music?
"Probably playing piano and knowing how harmonies work. From there on creating my own aesthetic of harmonies and tones in my songwriting. Also the interest of percussion and the diversity of polyrhythms captivates me and most probably also have an influence on my more experimental music. I’m really into Psychedelic Rock from the 60s and alternative R&B and Indie from today, so that also probably influences my music a lot. The artist/producer who also had an impact on my producing was James Blake with his minimal production style and emotional effect. Kelsey Lu also inspires me with her layers upon layers of reverb voices."
Can you tell us about your new single and what it means to you?
‘Lost in Space’ is one of my more accessible songs. I’ve probably never tried to write such a 'normal' song in my life as this one. Putting in the effort to create a normal song structure was a bit of a challenge. I normally prefer a more free form of songwriting and not to follow the 'rules' of structure, arrangement etc. At the same time I also planted my own seeds of originality in the song."
"The meaning of this track is filled with contrasts in life. Contrasts of an individual and the universe. Contrasts of light and darkness. Everything is indeed relative. But it all belongs."
"How important is an individual in this endless cosmos of existence? Where do we find ourselves and when do we get lost?"
"The song is about people feeling lost in this society. A society in which all people worry about what the meaning of life is, instead of appreciating the simplicity of life. People experience so much from day to day that it feels like living multiple lives. The desire of people is to escape from this bleak life. In a life that is negatively influenced by society in an energy-depriving way. How people face (or not) worldly problems in a superficial way and resort to comfort. And the world has a heavy heart. The love of people has been lost and is being sought. And maybe people will find love again with time."
"Among other things, the story is told in metaphors that can have a variety of materialistic or spiritual dimensions. Comparisons such as “just a drop in the sky” (star) or darkness (the sadness and problems of the world), light (comfort connoted negatively because it is abused by ignorance and superficiality of society) and “living life on the right side” (empathy and community love)."
What is your songwriting process? How does it all come together?
"For this single, it started when I was learning to play the guitar and trying out chords. From there on I was improvising the song lyrics and the melody and it got catchy really quickly. I then went to a friend in the summer of 2023 who owns a studio and told him that I wanted to record thing song in his studio when it’s finished. I then decided to select a couple of half written songs to create an album that I recorded in his studio with a couple of other friends/session musicians in February 2024."
What’s the most important thing for you when you’re writing a song
"Definitely the production part. Taking time to mindfully place every element it’s right place with detailed intention. My goal is to fuse the instrumental and lyrical part into something that awakens some sort of emotion in people."
"I’d love to ask people how they feel after listening and if they’re really committed to actively paying attention while listening to the song."
What has been your best moment as a musician so far?
"Even though I’ve made incredible connections, had great opportunities and have an extremely supportive community and label, I must say that the best part as a musician is making the music in the studio. Being completely embedded in the craft while in the studio by myself, forgetting the world and doing what I do best -producing. In those moments I’m the most vulnerable, emotional, free and safe. An incredible feeling."
The big questions - what’s next for you as an artist?
"I’ll be going on tour from November on with a new live formation. Instead of solo shows I’ll be playing with a band for most of the tour."
'Lost in Space' is a captivating journey through atmospheric soundscapes, introspective lyrics, and a unique blend of electronic and acoustic elements. Alexia's experimental approach to music has garnered comparisons to neo-soul, alternative R&B, and dreampop, but her sound ultimately remains distinctly her own.
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