Alex G

A songwriter specialising in everything

Philadelphia’s Alex Giannascoli has more ideas in each song than most writers do in their lifetimes. New album Rocket (out 19 May on Domino) mashes folk, indie, psychedelia and sampleslicing into a 14 song playlist. “I admire Aphex Twin,” says Alex, when we ask him to pick a hero. “His ability to make moving music while still challenging the listener – his attention to detail.”

You can hear that challenge in Alex’s own output: blending unexpected sounds into one collage at a pace that feels like you’re on a high speed train, whipping through towns and landscapes. “I am always thinking of how the part I am playing will contribute to the atmosphere of the song and not how the part stands on its own,” explains Alex. “But there is no greater statement than I gave each song what I thought it needed.”

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