This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:25] Jason A. Coombs: Beautiful people, welcome back to Where the Light Lands. I'm your host, Jason A. Coombs, and today I'm joined by actor, singer, musician Alex Arlotta. I shouldn't, I should ask you that. Is it Arlotta?

[0:37] Alex Arlotta: Arlotta.

[0:40] Jason A. Coombs: Arlotta. Dang. Alex Arlotta. And a New York City artist whose debut album, Gotta Start Somewhere, is now out on all streaming platforms. Alex is someone who's been building his creative voice across music and theater. And like I said, I'm so excited to talk with him about your journey. Alex, I'm talking about you in third person, even though you're here. Welcome to the show. Welcome to Where the Light Lands. This is like a new podcast. So thank you for bearing with me.

[1:11] Alex Arlotta: Yeah, of course. I'm so excited to be here.

[1:14] Jason A. Coombs: So, like I said in our intro, you're an actor, singer, musician, and now you just released your album Gotta Start Somewhere, which I've been playing since yesterday. I'm addicted. I was saying that before we pressed record, that reminds me of Jason Mraz kind of meets Jason Robert Brown. So yeah, I'm curious. What are some of your inspirations for your album?

[1:33] Alex Arlotta: Well, you collect a few of them, both of the Jasons, Robert Brown and Mraz. Another J I want to throw in there is the lovely, incredibly talented Janine Tesori. Especially some of her, you know, the beginnings of her work, you know, where she like I love being this kind of chameleon that she sort of inspires me to be. She can like write anything, so yeah, I look up to people like that who can really just, you know, throw anything at the wall and, you know, try different genres and things. It's truly incredible what I'm hoping to follow up with, you know.

[1:52] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, for sure. I love that so much. So let's think back to before, back to the beginning of your journey, before you created your first album and before it's been streaming everywhere. What was like the first thing that kind of sparked your interest in being a storyteller, a creative?

[1:52] Alex Arlotta: It was probably when my parents went through the regimen of figuring out what to do with this child that runs around and sings all day. And they're like, oh, he should play baseball. And like I would literally be sitting in the, I think it's called the outfield—you can see how good I am at this—sitting there literally picking flowers. And they're like, okay, I think he needs to do something else. So it kind of, it was a little bit of self-discovery. It was the partial, like let's throw this kid in the theater. Partially, we had like a family piano that was passed down from generations, and I would just sit down. Okay, and it was kind of like just like the whole thing with like a monkey and a typewriter where I sat down and eventually churned something out where I was like, oh, you know what?

I kind of like doing this. Let me keep doing this. And so I've sort of kept that with me throughout theater school. And when I decided not to be an actor, I was like, oh yeah, I want to keep creating things. This is kind of fun.

[3:23] Jason A. Coombs: Oh my gosh, okay, cool. I love that. I love that. That's so—I didn't love that your parents are able to kind of help guide you, right? They had the piano in the house, they saw that baseball probably wasn't your thing, and they were like, didn't force you to do it, you know.

[3:38] Alex Arlotta: Oh, exactly. They were so supportive.

[3:41] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, that's incredible. That's incredible. So you said you're in New York, boy. I was reading something because I've been doing a deep dive, and you said you're never leaving.

[3:50] Alex Arlotta: No, I'm New York. I've been pretty much New York adjacent. Hudson Valley kind of counts. You know, I would always take the train up, have this beautiful view, and then get to the city and be just so overwhelmed in such a positive way, where it's like, you know what? Everything's expensive. I'm like gonna cry every day about figuring out if I can get a bagel, but like there's—I feel like there's just nowhere else I can be. It's like truly is the cliché, like, you know, I'm the new girl in New York, but I don't want to leave. Like, I really do love it.

[4:18] Jason A. Coombs: Yes, you're in your thoroughly modern Millie era.

[4:22] Alex Arlotta: Exactly. You know that show? I feel like all people don't know that show anymore.

[4:26] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[4:27] Alex Arlotta: I'll even wear the outfit just to make sure. Like I truly am in the era.

[4:31] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, your 1920s. We're gonna go back a hundred years to the other 20s. No, I love that. New York is such a special place. Like, I was born here, but I didn't get to grow up here. But I've got to live here for, you know, a couple years now, and you know, there's something about here. It's like the energy here is incredible.

[4:49] Alex Arlotta: I think it's really true. Like, if you can make it here, you can begin anywhere because people here, we grind, right? We're up on the subway at 7 a.m., ready to go to Ripley or wherever we have to go.

[5:02] Jason A. Coombs: Right, right. I lived in LA, and like there's something about living in a place like that, which is, you know, beautiful, of course, but like, yeah, that's not a city where you want to grind in, you know. It's like if I'm living in LA, I want to relax and chill. I don't want to like be on the hustle. But New York, it's like we are hustling here.

[5:19] Alex Arlotta: Exactly. Yeah. Get out of my way. I'm walking—all of that, right?

[5:23] Jason A. Coombs: Right, right. So the title, Gotta Start Somewhere, feels very honest and feels very vulnerable. What does that phrase mean to you right now in this moment of your career?

[5:35] Alex Arlotta: You know, it's so funny. So, like, so I released the album, and then there was a whole mishigas, or you know, a whole fight into get with myself to figure out how I can even encapsulate the album, and then that titular song came out. And I'm, you know, I'm literally writing to myself, like, don't be impatient, slow the F down. Like, it's okay. Like you have your whole life against you—uh, ahead of you, maybe against me. I don't know. No, um, and you know, I just—I feel like maybe I thought I knew something back then because I'm being so repulsed at it, and I'm like, you know, I'm sure you feel this too where you go back against yourself. Like, is this really for me? Like, am I really meant to do this? Like, you know, are you struggling this week? Like, should I just try something else? But right, you know, I really try to look back at it and just really use it as momentum to keep going.

[6:26] Jason A. Coombs: I love that. Thank you for sharing that. I feel like a lot of people do come to that crossroads, and I feel like because I'm a little bit older now, and I feel like I never understood that. It's like, ah, I've always wanted to be an actor since I was like six years old, you know. I saw Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard, I saw Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Like, I was like, I have to be—I have to make people feel like how they made me feel as a kid. But I feel like, you know, post-pandemic, the world has changed so much. And sometimes I'm like, oh, do I really want to keep grinding like this? I still would want to be pushing it. And then like nine times out of ten, I'm like, yes. But there are some moments where I'm like, oh, is it worth it? So I feel like that's something that doesn't go away, right? It's just something that's a kind of a question. But if it's what you want to do, what you're meant to do, then you're gonna find a way to do it.

[7:11] Alex Arlotta: Yeah, absolutely. The voice will be lingering in your head. You know, you have the two angels, but hopefully one of them just, you know, had a bigger breakfast or is just a little bit louder.

[7:19] Jason A. Coombs: Right. So you recorded most of your album on your own, right? You kind of did you crowdfund for it? Like how did you get it produced?

[7:27] Alex Arlotta: I was—it was an interesting situation. So I was in grad school, and I went to a graduate school where they had this built-in recording studio.

[7:39] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, and so you know. Where'd you go to grad school?

[7:42] Alex Arlotta: I went to—I went to Berklee. It's called Berklee and YP. It was like—it was 10 months, and it was the craziest 10 months of my life.

[7:49] Jason A. Coombs: Oh my god.

[7:50] Alex Arlotta: Yeah, you know, we were writing an entire show and had got to like fully produce a little chunk of it, a little snippet. I was, you know, writing things for classes, you know, here and there. And then on top of that, I'm like, oh my god, free studio space. I'm gonna go make something.

[8:05] Jason A. Coombs: Right. Why not?

[8:06] Alex Arlotta: I don't know. Like I wanted to leave with something tangible because like who knows? It could be 20 years until something I write sees the light of day. So I'm like, why not push it out?

[8:15] Jason A. Coombs: I love that. And what did that process teach you about trusting your instincts, right? Kind of like figuring it out because I feel like—I mean, I never made an album, I'm not a singer, but I feel like it's not something you can just do overnight.

[8:27] Alex Arlotta: Oh no, and I really try to—trust me. If I had your friend had to calm me down and be like, it's okay. You have the full term, you have nine months, like it's okay. So I—it was—I, as somebody, you know, who has ADHD and trouble focusing on top of, you know, being a college student, and you know, even then, like I really had to like be able to trust the balance of everything and like it's okay, you know. I might only get a little bit of a song, I might only get just the basis to record that day. You know, they might cancel on me and I might try something, but like trust the process, it will happen. I promise.

[9:02] Jason A. Coombs: Trust the process, be flexible and adaptable, it sounds like.

[9:06] Alex Arlotta: Exactly. Yeah, yeah.

[9:07] Jason A. Coombs: Wow, I love that. And you collaborated with some pretty incredible people. Alexa Green, Diego Enrico, Julie Banco.

[9:17] Alex Arlotta: Yeah.

[9:18] Jason A. Coombs: I've known for a long time.

[9:20] Alex Arlotta: Oh, no way.

[9:22] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, we did a show together a very long time ago when I was young and fresh in Connecticut, where I'm from. So we go way back. But how did you get—how did you make those connections to get such an awesome roster of people to collaborate with?

[9:35] Alex Arlotta: I was with Julie Banco, you know, I just ran right on the stage and like no, I wish she not. I think I, you know, I was just hearing ramblings about her and I saw her in Funny Girl, and I was absolutely blown away. And you know, it's like this kind of like up-and-comer voice that I really need. And so I emailed her and like to my surprise, she emailed right back, was happy to do it. We got on a little Zoom, she like played it out on the piano and sang it. And then I would—that was sort of one of the moments for me where I'm like, okay, like this is what I'm meant to do. Like look, like look at what she can transform my words and music into. It's just—it's incredible. And then Alexa and Diego were both—I met them when I was in undergrad as an actor. Diego was in the class below me. This scrappy little guy. And Alexa was one—is still one of the faculty voice teachers there.

[10:29] Jason A. Coombs: Oh wow.

[10:30] Alex Arlotta: I've gotten to work with them since, and like I can't let them go. They're too amazing, but you know, whatever Broadway, it's fine. Whatever, it's, you know.

[10:42] Jason A. Coombs: So but I had him first. I had him first.

[10:43] Alex Arlotta: I'm just—yeah, yes, yes, you did, you did. Um, I guess how does collaboration kind of shape the way you approach your music? Like, are you someone who's like, okay, I wrote this and it kind of has to be sung like this way? Like, are you open to collaboration? Are you open to people interpreting your words in a different way? Like, tell me all about that.

[11:06] Alex Arlotta: Oh, I'm so open for it. Especially, you know, when it was the first time, like other than like a scratch demo with friends, like when I really brought in these professionals with me, I didn't really know what to do. I was so scared, I didn't want to overstep my boundaries. But it was like, I don't know. It was like we found this nice—I don't know what I'm thinking of, like table tennis, but we really found a nice rhythm of like going back and forth and oh, I really like this, or sometimes like I've had so many moments where not only singers but like musicians will riff or do things that are different than what I wrote, which first I'm like, come on, but yeah, it's like it wouldn't be the same without them. I really sometimes I don't think of it as like my album, like it's my foundation, and like everybody else brought the roots and the fruits and oh, the rhymes, you know, and they really brought everything on top of it that I could not do on my own.

[11:59] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, yeah, that's how I feel about—because I'm a filmmaker too. So I feel like that's how, yeah, making a film, you can't make—it's not a one-person job, you know. And I feel like even though I guess you can sing and play all the instruments and it's recorded yourself, but I think there's something special about being open to collaboration and hearing people take their own riffs on things.

[12:20] Alex Arlotta: Yeah, wait, you do—I need to know about your films and things, and after this, you do so many things, this is crazy.

[12:26] Jason A. Coombs: I do too many things.

[12:28] Alex Arlotta: I'm trying to cut back on things to be honest.

[12:31] Jason A. Coombs: But we'll definitely chat more. But yeah, I've always wanted to be an actor. And then like, you know, I moved to New York and I was acting, and I was auditioning for like under fives a lot. And then I had a really cool teacher who was like, "You're funny, you should write more."

[12:48] Alex Arlotta: And I started writing more. And then I started like filming things I wrote. So, um, I became an independent filmmaker, and I'm still still doing it. I'm doing a lot more writing now because filming takes a lot of money. Um, as you probably can imagine. Um, but uh, you know, it's fun. I I I in everything that I do, and no, it's not about me, it's about you, but I just try to like I'm all about just really I love collaboration and love storytelling. I love being able to uplift uh people who need to be uplifted, you know. That's why I really wanted to start this podcast. And I love working with people, I love telling us telling stories. It's just like I'm gonna be like a hundred years old, hopefully, and still hopefully just like jumping around, bopping around, doing shit.

Exactly. You'll be in the chair with the camera, like I'm gonna hold this until the day I die. Right. Right. Life is life is weird, man. You gotta enjoy it, you gotta like do stuff that brings you joy. You gotta find your light, bringing it back to our podcast. Exactly. Find the light, gotta start somewhere. It's all exactly all on there. It's very true. So, I mean, I don't have kids yet. I'm not sure if you do, but uh I have two little fur babies. I don't know if that counts, but are they kittens? The cats. Let me see if I can get the camera. All right, this is the world. Your first time you're seeing. Oh, this is yeah, this one's Martini, the little tuxedo, and then this one's finale. Um, I got them with my girlfriend about almost three years ago now.

And it's like it's uh I like grew up with cats, but man, it is a real testament to like what children are like. At least maybe like children light. I don't you know, it's not the same, but right definitely gonna um give me a lot of uh ideas of what it might be about. So funny, they're so adorable. Um, I was going to try to transition into a question about choosing your favorite song, and I went on a tangent about children. Yeah, yeah, I kind of messed up that transition. I was gonna be like, is it it's probably like trying to choose your favorite kid, but do you have like a favorite song on the album or a couple favorites that you you know you want to highlight today? Oh man. All right on the spot.

It really I can tell you mine if you want to hear mine first. Oh, you know what? Yeah, let's turn it around here. Well, what is it? So uh the one with and I'm gonna get her name wrong, her last name wrong, probably because I ruined I ruined your last name. But Kaylee Capaldi? Yes. Yeah, I say that right. Yeah, is that don't say goodbye? Yes. Love, I I mean that one was just like this is the real deal. Like this guy's the real deal. I love how epic it sounds, and it was like so uplifting and her voice, like you know, so I'm a fan of Whitney Houston, right? And she has like she has that diva voice. I was like, I was in, I was in, you locked me in uh in a weird way. I feel like oh yeah, I'm a weirdo, so I I connected to that.

And that was that one was like giving me a lot of Jason Mira's vibes in a way. I was like, yeah, I was feeling it. I was feeling that. Then I guess the memories with Julie Benko, because I mean her voice sounded incredible. And it was like it was giving kind of movie theme song in a way. Like it definitely was pulling at the nostalgia for me. Oh my god, that's all right. Maybe maybe I'll say those are my favorite three today. I don't know. Um thanks for uh those are you picked you picked some some nice highlights. Um I um a little thing about like each of them, don't say goodbye. I was talking about in the show I just did at the green room. Yes, you know, as I mentioned, you know, as somebody who's a little neurodivergent and is, you know, is you know, sort of, you know, when I was on the precipice of like grad school or you know, adulting or adulthood, I'm like, what you know, what's going on, what do I do?

And you know, all these negative thoughts flow in, you know, as you know, as we feel. And so this was sort of my homage to you know, trying to figure out how to move forward and be positive. And it was that it was it was I couldn't have done without Kaylee. Oh my god, she like went like did whistle tones and everything. I'm like, this is like I was like, girl. Hopefully, this can become an anthem for something there, you know, or hopefully people can feel uplifted by it and you know, yeah, not be like my friends and make fun of the lyrics like don't live till you die, yeah. Duh. Duh. Like that's not the point. It's just feel the moment. Um feel the moment and tell your friends don't be haters, don't be haters.

Um and then in a weird way was was sort of you know, wonder who it was based on. Um, but it was it was about meeting my partner and like meeting the one person who you know, because I'm meeting people or flirting, and you know, I do it in a very that's a way that only she would accept. So it was nice being able to find the person who you can really vibe with. And I I thought she deserved a little, maybe a little something um and then and then I gotta say the memories was one of those songs that and like one of the country songs which like crazy I don't know why there's country in there it's but just things oh I like that I like that one like a little double entendre oh okay um but it was uh um sorry brainfire you you made me sound smarter than I feel and so I was like oh I need to come up with something nice and smart to see um but it it kind of just came out of nowhere it was you know I it was maybe sort of pulling from my own but just seeing other relationships and you know at at various stages in their lives and I'm just I think I just I just caught a melody on the L AR and I just kind of I just kind of ran with it and it's has never been the same since.

And a big shout out to my collaborator from grad school Josh Iger who made my crappy tunic or you know whatever the term is bot back of the shampoo bottle lyrics into something that was a little more palatable. So again collaboration I can't love that yeah no thank you for sharing that like I am someone and I hate this about myself where sometimes I get into that negative talk right and it's like it's hard to stop it sometimes. It's like you know it's wrong and I tell other people not to do it. But like sometimes it's like oh fuck like this is this is how I'm feeling today. So I think that song just really like resonated with me for that it's like hey stop being a jerk to yourself you know like yeah thank you thank you for that yeah yeah um let's talk about green room 42.

Oh, oh yeah, that uh I guess the New York uh New York City has like so many great just like spots for for cabarets and for like artists like yourself to like get in front of an audience, right? And like develop new work and and and you know, I'm sure people have thoughts I want to share with you, but I guess what does performing in an intimate cabaret space allow you to express differently than like maybe being in like a traditional musical theater show? Um that's a great question. What is that a stupid question? I don't know. Hello, I love it. No, oh good, okay. Because I don't think it was in the press release or I mentioned it anywhere, but I originally did it a couple years ago at 54 below.

And I I was like so excited. The album just released. I went a little overboard. I hired an eight-piece band. So many people came, you know. I was like wedding, I was like Niagara Falls in my suit. I got like a low suit and everything. I was and I was like, God help me if I get through this. Like I'll see you on the other side. Niagara Falls in my suit though, that's hilarious. Yes, maybe that's that's like a that could be a song title or something. We'll get on that. Um But so going so that felt a little bit closer to a theatrical piece because I really was I think I was really just trying to to push and you know make everything as big as I can, but then there's the green room. I was I like I got to do all that, and then I was figuring out like, you know, as like my professors who would sort of talk to us about theater, like can you do this on a zero dollar budget, a ten dollar budget?

Like what is the minimum amount you need to really be able to convey all that's you know that you want to say, right? And so it was just me and a couple of friends, you know, a good amount of people showed up, and I really just wanted to get um into the weeds of not just the album, but like why I'm doing this, you know, a little bit more about who I am for those who don't know, and sort of like what is my journey leading up to this, and you know, and here's kind of the bookmark and what's going forward after that. So it was a real nice contrast, and now I sort of it was a nice barometer of knowing, okay. This is this is how we're gonna do it next time. We don't have to go crazy. Oh, I love that for you.

I'm like so I'm like so impressed with you. Like, I don't know, and I hope that's gonna sound condescending. Because I'm not trying to love that for you. Like, oh no, I do like because I mean secretly, like who doesn't want to be like a uh a singer, right? Like who doesn't want to like be on stage in front of people? So, like the fact that you get to do that and the fact that you're like creating like your own music, like music that's gonna be here like longer than you probably will be, you know. I feel like that's so incredibly meaningful and special and impactful. And I'm like, wow, I can't wait to see what's next for you because you're killing it. Isn't it like crazy though how we sort of end up going back to a roots, like you know, we both want to be actors, you know.

I had to or I had to somewhat perform to some extent because like you know, being egged on and like being encouraged to do all this, and like yeah, talking on the podcast, like it's it's kind of cool how it's you know, we carry the training with us. It's not just like we spend four years like you know, rolling around on the floor and reciting Shakespeare and similar or something. I don't know what we did, but you know, it's kind of nice that it carries on. Right, for sure, for sure. So you described your album as an album of oh, it's the story of persistence, if I if I got that correct, right? Oh, is that what I said? Yeah, that's what I've read so many things. I was on your LinkedIn, I was on your Facebook.

Um, not the LinkedIn, I forgot. I was doing a deep dive. Uh who uses that, but yeah, okay. Um maybe you can share maybe some moments um along your journey where being persistent, right? Not giving up kept you going. Like what kept you going? That's a great question. What kept me going throughout all of it? Um I'm sure I'm sure it's you know not easy to do what you do. It I think just the the very fact that it was happening, like you know, up until then, I hadn't really created anything, like, or really put anything out there. And I know it's not like a multi-million dollar film where it's like, you know, I created this avant-garde piece that hangs in the moment, but I was I was so excited to have something that was mine and that I get to share with the world sooner than I thought.

Like I was so happy writing theatrical pieces, and I'm still working on it. I can't wait to show it eventually. Um, or you know, other things here and there, but it was just I think just the pure momentum and just the very fact that I was like no longer afraid to kind of share with the world, like this is how my mind works. I just yeah, just the the gosh done spirit of it all kept me going through it. And I feel like the songs were a good reflection of you know, there's like a you know a mix of like random things that I wrote and things that are you know, but it's I feel like it's a good I feel like the album itself kind of describes like how I was feeling and right how I was trying to keep myself going forward with it.

Yeah, thank you. Thank you for sharing that. Um so on this show, it's called Where the Light Lands, and this is a question I ask all my guests. Can you take us back to a moment in your personal life or or maybe in your career where you kind of felt the light land on you, and you realize like this is the path I have to take, I have to step into my light, and this is where I'm going. This is what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna stick it in New York. I'm gonna like hit the pavement still. I'm gonna produce my own show at Green Room 42. I'm gonna release this album. I'm gonna email Julie Benko and be on to be on my album. I mean, that's like that's that takes courage, you know. So what was that moment for you?

Okay, so there maybe there was more than one, but the one that's that's sticking with me right now, and I was so happy I got to tell this story at the green room. Um I was writing, it was the very beginning of when I was writing Don't Say Goodbye, and I was in that moment of like this whole whirlwind of figuring out what to do. And I was sitting at my piano, um, and my roommate at the time, who was also writer, you know, um, was like across the hall. And I just for some I just it came to me the very first little sort of melody or phrase um in the beginning of the song, and I heard him get up, walk around, look uh get to me.

[25:34] Alex Arlotta: And at this point, we had shared like a couple of things back and forth, but I played it, he looked at me, and he was like, Alex, that feels like a real song. Of course, like oh, it's so sweet, but also like what I had shared more things with you, like were those like was that just for fun? Some of those things were on the album, so but it was just that double entendre of like I just you know what? Yeah, this is where I'm meant to be, and like it's gonna be an interesting road, but it's the only one I want to take.

[26:07] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, who's what you gotta shout your roommate? What's his name?

[26:11] Alex Arlotta: My roommate, yeah. Your older, yeah. This was when I was in undergrad, it was my roommate um Danny, Danny Bay. Um shout out to Danny. You know, honestly, he was um we haven't spoken a while, so I hope he's doing okay. He's just he's busy getting real jobs and things, and like not trying to do the artist path but um you know it's it's people like that who sometimes you you know cross paths with a couple of times but they really like they change your life for the better so it's I'm happy it happened love that shout outs Danny Bay thank you.

[26:25] Jason A. Coombs: All right so this part of the interview is called scoring the moment we're gonna do a quick segment uh if your life was a movie right now I want to know what this what songs would be scoring the scenes of your movie that make sense I say that I say that right okay like is it like the overall arc or like this moment in my life like what yeah I'm gonna ask you like for specifics I think.

[26:25] Alex Arlotta: Okay okay so like what song would be playing during the opening credits when it's like title Alex's story I don't know whatever it is something more interesting than that but you know I think I I really I really want to grab people's attention so like the classic whatever the Fox or that da da da da da sorry if you get confident right uh but like if there was like a a nice little remix of it maybe like a little like Boston over remix or you know you get a little techno with it like it's you know those movies where it's like slightly different and you're like oh okay we're in for a ride so I think right a little a little twist on a classic intro would be kind of nice.

[27:49] Jason A. Coombs: Okay I love that I love that how about a song that was maybe playing when you got into grad school what's the um I can't remember that?

[28:06] Alex Arlotta: Um I don't know, it was just that's what came to mind. It's the the classic.

[28:11] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, the celebrate. Um I can't remember who wrote celebrate good times, come on.

[28:17] Alex Arlotta: Oh, okay. I don't know. We're we're yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, that's what we're talking about. You know, we're not pulling out the deep cuts. I love that.

[28:28] Jason A. Coombs: Um, how about how about the song that played when you decided that you gotta record, gotta start somewhere? Like you're like, okay, I have the I have this time. I'm in grad school, I got this free studio. I'm gonna make it happen.

[28:42] Alex Arlotta: There's um I think I'm pretty sure I'm getting the orders right. There's a song called Will It Go Around in Circles by Billy Preston. I wanna say that's his name. Will it go around in circles? Yeah, uh, and he's like, I have a dancer, has no steps, I have a sing with no melody. We're like, we're kind of flying in blind, but you know what's it's gonna happen. You know, we'll go around in circles, sure. But we'll find we'll find a way. We'll find a way.

[29:04] Jason A. Coombs: Oh yes. Okay, that's a good that's a really good one. How about I don't wanna I don't wanna like blow up blow up your spot and drop names if you don't want me to, but how about when you first met your girlfriend?

[29:17] Alex Arlotta: Oh man. I told you I was on your Facebook because I did a little stuff. Like, oh there, she's real. Um I promise. Uh I know it's a newer one, but I I have been absolutely obsessed with Bruno's romantic album. And I think um I think it's called Risk It All is like the the first track. It's it's I guess as soon as I met her, I was like, I would do anything for you. Like I will probably annoy the hell out of you, but like I promise this is all from a place of love.

[29:46] Jason A. Coombs: I reverse it all.

[29:48] Alex Arlotta: Oh, I love that. Okay, I got three more. What song would play after finishing your first 50? Wait, was 54 below was a recent one, right? Was your most recent one?

[29:58] Jason A. Coombs: That was uh Green Room. Was the most recent one?

[30:00] Alex Arlotta: Okay, let's do that one. What song would play after finishing your your Green Room 42 show?

[30:09] Alex Arlotta: I know it might sound uh not what's the word not in the way that it's intended, but um all by myself because I was like I was so happy to perform, but I'm ready to be all by myself writing and give me out the spotlight for a little bit. I need to reach recharge, yeah.

[30:31] Jason A. Coombs: Wait, when's your birthday?

[30:33] Alex Arlotta: Uh December 8th.

[30:35] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, okay. Sagittarius.

[30:36] Alex Arlotta: Yeah, got it. Whatever that means, I don't know. I don't believe in most of that, but sometimes I do. I know a lot of Sagittarius, so that kind of tracks.

[30:47] Jason A. Coombs: Okay. Um, what song would play during the hardest part of your journey so far, or the most challenging part of your journey?

[30:58] Alex Arlotta: Hmm. That's a good uplifting.

[31:02] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[31:05] Alex Arlotta: Or it might be a self-plug, but yes, but maybe don't say goodbye. Or you know, I'm sure something will come to me right after the interview, and I will send you 40 emails like please put this ADR, like write this in and add it. But something, something along the lines of that were, or even gotta start somewhere. Like, I sometimes you know, play it for myself, not to trust me, it's not to hear myself sing. It's uh it's just I'm really I'm really trying to like ingrain that in me, instill it in me. Like there's a there's a reason it happens.

[31:35] Jason A. Coombs: I love that. I love that so much. And then I guess what what song's gonna play during the closing credits?

[31:43] Alex Arlotta: Um how you're gonna leave people. Is this is the closing credits like now, like the present, or is the closing credits like when I have the cane and you know I'm all depressed?

[31:59] Jason A. Coombs: Either or I'm gonna say now because I feel like you're gonna have some sequels, you know, you're gonna have like I don't I don't I is it a Sondheim song? Wait till you see what's next.

[32:09] Alex Arlotta: The wait till you see what's next.

[32:11] Jason A. Coombs: Oh yeah around the band. What's some I'm if it's not whoever wrote it, the shout out to you. But it's right, it would be that one. A nice little yeah, some something's around the back. I love that. Well, thank you for indulging me in that. I hope that was fun for you, as it was for me.

[32:28] Alex Arlotta: Oh, that was crazy. I know I said no deep cuts, but you know, sorry, it's it's that's whatever, whatever came to mind.

[32:34] Jason A. Coombs: No, I love a deep cut. I love a deep cut for sure. Um so we're almost at the end. I I appreciate you taking time to chat with me today or just being so genuine and open and you know sharing a little bit of your journey.

[32:47] Alex Arlotta: Uh I do like to do this thing called the a light check. And it's just you know, something I want you I want you to share something that's kind of currently fool fueling your creativity, if it's like a movie or a book, a podcast, I don't know, anything.

[33:02] Alex Arlotta: There's a shout out to um one of my professors um when I was an undergrad, um, formed their own little theater company. I'm pretty sure I'm pronouncing it right. It's called the Liminal Theater Company. Um my lovely friend and mentor, Azudi uh created it. And I just got to do a little um it was like a celebration, I think, of one year of the theater company existing, and their main focus is to provide uh Azulie. I'm so sorry if I get this wrong. I don't remember his speech entirely, but it was to get like um collegiate level training for underprivileged kids, as well as developing new works um for BIPOC voices and those who might not get the chance to do it. And it was like it was I was like, it was so nice to be to be there, and like we were in like the a church in like the basement of Manhattan, but and you know, there there might have been 20 or 30 people there, but that was like the most energetic crowd I've ever seen.

And like the group of people I got to work with, you know, we're doing this on like a shoestring budget, and I'm like, if this is what theater is, like I'm so happy I get to be a part of it. Like we're just being messy, throwing pain at the wall, and it's just it. I I wish I could chase that feeling again. It was so nice. And so check them out if you can, they're incredible.

[34:16] Jason A. Coombs: Can you say the name one more time?

[34:17] Alex Arlotta: Uh the limital theater.

[34:19] Jason A. Coombs: The limino theater, yeah. So shout them out. It's it's that's go support.

[34:23] Alex Arlotta: Yeah.

[34:24] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, go go stalk them after me. And then just one word for where how are you feeling now? Like post-interview. Give me a word, uh like uh a word to describe where your light is right now.

[34:36] Alex Arlotta: A little sweaty, I'm gonna be honest. Just a little bit Niagara Fallen right now. A little bit. I'm a little bit. The rivers make it its way, but it's a good sweat. It's uh it's uh I'm I'm I always with the interviews and performances. I'm like, this is why I chose not to be an actor, but it just I don't know. When I get to like talk to people like you who just make me feel like so warm and welcome, it just it makes the whole thing worth it. And so sweaty but happy.

[35:04] Jason A. Coombs: That's okay. I still give you a hug if you if you're cool in person, you know.

[35:07] Alex Arlotta: I wouldn't mind.

[35:10] Jason A. Coombs: Um cool. So as we close out, tell me really quickly. Um as people discover your album who are gonna like listen to it now, because I feel like you did a really good job talking about it, getting people pumped for it. Uh, what do you hope they take away from listening to the album for the first time and where can they find it? And where can they find you to support you?

[35:32] Alex Arlotta: All right. Um the first part of um I I mean, listen, if a couple producers or some higher ups listen to it, want to hire me, I won't be mad, but it's really for for anybody, whether it's like you're just a casual music or theater lover or somebody who might be neurodivergent or you know, a little different from the crowd, like that just don't you know don't be afraid to be yourself and you know and let it let it out. Some people might not like it, some people will say things, or some people just flattered ignore you, but there will be somebody who you know who will connect to it. And so as long as that happens, that'll make me happy. So to all the all the weirdos out there, all the everyone who feels like you know they might not belong to be a little different or you know, a little crazy, but it's if this is for you. Anyone and anyone who's not a who's afraid to start something, just do it. The truck agrees, like just do it.

[36:29] Alex Arlotta: Oh, and uh oh, sorry, forgot. Um, I'm pretty sure it's out anywhere anywhere where you stream music, Spotify with Deezer. I don't know who uses that, but like anywhere, any anywhere you can pull them. So it's definitely there.

[36:45] Jason A. Coombs: Okay, cool, cool. I'm gonna go. And where can people find you? What's your social media website? All the good things.

[36:52] Alex Arlotta: Uh it's just my name, Alex Holada.com, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn. If you want to, it's just my name, Alex Orlada. So good.

[37:01] Jason A. Coombs: Okay, profession.

[37:02] Alex Arlotta: Yeah, gotta keep it clean, you know. One name, you know.

[37:06] Jason A. Coombs: Yes. So I'm finding I love that.

[37:10] Alex Arlotta: I love that so much. And for those of you who are Alex fans who are just tuning in and discovering me, my Instagram is Jason Acums. I am also on LinkedIn. For some reason, uh it's also the same. Well, you can find me, Jason A. Coombs on on all the social media stuff and where the light lands pod on Instagram and Facebook and on YouTube. And yes, thank you so much for sharing your story with us today, Alex. Hearing about your journey. It was just so cool to like listen to the album and then get to talk for you. Uh that's really really really special. So just you have such a great reminder. Your album is such a great reminder that every artist begins somewhere, and persistence and passion can just lead you to really beautiful places and make some really beautiful connections. So thank you, thank you, thank you, and thank you all for tuning in as well.

[37:57] Alex Arlotta: Thank you. Thank you so much for having me.

[38:04] Jason A. Coombs: Of course.