Alex Maryol's bio is crazy impressive. This young blues artist has been on the circuit for years, opening for Etta James, Bo Diddley, Ani DiFranco, Michael Franti, Leon Russell, and G. Love and Special Sauce, to name a few. He has shared the stage with artists, oh, like James Brown, Johny Lang, John Mayer, Otis Taylor and Buddy Miles.Alex is on the bill with Todd Tijerina as well as Combo Special TONIGHT at 7pm, at the final Jazz & Blues Under the Stars at the Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater in Old Town. We thought we'd pin Alex down for a short interview:
NMJW:
Why the Blues? What made you gravitate towards this genre of music?
AM:
Blues is a very emotional sounding music... I felt the blues from a very young age... from the first moment I heard it when I was around 4 or 5. Blues is a music -like all music- that is not in the "notes" but rather that is in the person.
NMJW:
You credit musicians like Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Elvis Presley as people who've influenced you. When did you first become aware of these artists and how?
AM:
I first heard these artists on my dad's radio in his truck as he drove me to kindergarten when I was four. He would then play more of these artists for me on his record player in our living room.
NMJW:
You mention being the son of Greek-American restaurateurs in your biographical information. Were you expected to enter the family business? When did it become clear that you were charting your own course through music?
AM:
I was never expected to be or do anything in particular. I always had the freedom to choose what I wanted to do... however, growing up in the restaurant is a very important detail in my life. I always wanted to be involved with music. My mom tells me that I would pick my head up in the crib when I was a baby to "see what was going on" when there was music being played in the room.
NMJW:
Tell us about Face the Day. How have you approached the material on this record, in contrast to your earlier releases?
AM:
Face the Day is an album that deals with my experience of life through my mid 20's.
NMJW:
What's your favorite guilty pleasure in terms of music?
AM:
Kelly Clarkson, Shania Twain, and Cindi Lauper.
NMJW:
Who would you most like to share the stage with?
AM:
Leslie Feist
NMJW:
If you were not a musician, where else might you focus your creative attention?
AM:
Running, Bicycling and Swimming.
