Q&A: Parisalexa
Parisalexa on stage at R-Day. (All photos by Jake Hanson)
If you dont know who Parisalexa is, and you haven’t seen her perform or heard her music, the first thing you should know is that she’s talented.
Like, holy-super-fucking-mega talented.
Her voice is stunning — not just technically adroit but emotionally hefty, dynamic in ways that serve her songs rather than merely impress. Like a radiant flower garden, it’s the product of good soil and proper care: when her parents discovered her aptitude for singing as a three-year-old, they immediately led her in a direction that allowed her to blossom as an artist.
The second thing you should know is that, whatever’s she singing, it’s usually from her own pen. In retrospect her debut EP, the conceptually-tight Bloom, was an early indicator of her strengths not just as a vocalist but as a songwriter. Since its release in 2018, others have discovered that prowess, from Charlie Puth on the soundstage of NBC’s Songland to, more recently, Normani by way of Josh Levi. The attention helped spur Paris to leave Seattle and migrate down the West Coast, taking up residency in Portland and L.A. during the early part of this decade. Now that she’s back, we’re excited to she what she’s planning.
On the heels of her performance at this year’s R-Day, I got the chance to do a Q&A with Paris, which you can read below! I’ve also put together a little playlist featuring a handful of the artists she’d like you to listen to, because as is usual in Seattle, there are tons of budding pop artists under the surface. Check it out!
You left Seattle briefly to travel to Portland and L.A. Welcome back! How was the time away?
Honestly, my time away from the city was very informative. I feel like I learned an exceptional amount about myself in new and different environments and about the music climate in other cities. My experience in L.A. was probably the exact opposite of my experience in Portland. But ultimately, I missed the energy that I got being in and creating in Seattle.
You’re playing the tenth anniversary of R-Day, and Rainier’s relationship with Seattle’s music scene is well-known. You grew up here; what’s your history with the city?
Although I moved to Seattle from New Jersey when I was seven, I consider myself a PNW girl. My first drink of alcohol was definitely Rainier in some rainy day studio session most likely in North Seattle lol. I miss those days, being in such a scenic city is what started me on my journey to write my first project, Bloom.
What are your thoughts on Seattle’s pop/R&B scene? Is there anything you think we could be doing more to support that scene?
The people that are making pop and R&B music know about each other. But I don’t think there’s a solid enough connection to fans of that style of music in the city. When other touring artists come here, the shows are packed and artists are supported in mass! I hope that we can do a better job of supporting local artists and getting them to bigger platforms so people know what Seattle ACTUALLY sounds like. That it’s not just one sound.
Are there any local Seattle acts you personally enjoy and/or want to shout out?
Yes! So many dope artists are bubbling right now and this is the perfect time to support! Charles Zaid, Dave Shanae, Daizha, Talaya, Anna Therese, Oble Reed, Jusjada, Yonny, Haben, Cherry Ferrari, just to name a few. Check them out and go to their shows!
Your recent performance of “Gardens” on Fox 13 highlights how adeptly you can transition from speaking to singing. Tell me about your practice routine. How do you take care of your voice?
My vocal health journey this year has gotten a lot more complex. I try my best not to drink within a week of any upcoming show. No marijuana only edibles (kind of forever). I vocal steam for about three days before a big show. I don’t eat citrus the week of a show. And water water water (spring water only). I try to keep my vocal cords as lubricated as possible so they can do their job!
While it’s been a few years since 2Real, you’ve spent a lot of time over the past few years songwriting. Can you tell me a little about your songwriting work over the last few years?
Songwriting has been such an incredibly rewarding journey. Being able to get out my creative ideas and thoughts without putting my name behind everything allowed a freedom of expression that was lacking when I was a full-time artist. I love getting to know people better through songwriting sessions and helping them get across feelings that are difficult to put into words. That makes me feel like my job in this big world is important.
Besides the R-Day performance, anything notable coming up, like new music or shows?
Yes! I’m starting my virtual songwriting master class this month, and please expect new music at the top of next year from me! I don’t plan on stopping now that I’m back in town ;)
