'Alexa's Huge Appetite For Success!'

In Alexa's Own Words:

"I don't like formal Bio's. So if you don't mind I'd like to ramble for a bit. My last name is Wilkinson. I was born in Cherry Hill, NJ but moved to Park City, Utah when I was 12 years old. I first got into music because of a boy. Yes that's right. I was about 10 years old and I had myself a little elementary school boyfriend who was taking trumpet lessons. So I decided I would take them too. sadly for him, I got good really fast and he just kind of stayed bad."

"So I started playing the trumpet in band. Then I asked my dad for a guitar for my birthday when I was 11, he got me one, and the first song I ever learned was "Hotel California" (which my dad taught me). My family was a huge influence on my love for music. My sister who has always been good at finding awesome music taught me everything I know about alternative music."

"I realized I could sing around 13 when moving to a new state not only spurred new emotions but talents as well in writing. I started writing poetry and fell in love with free form. One day in the shower I think I started humming a tune and turned a poem into a song. Everything pretty much evolved from that moment when I fell even more in love with song writing."

Taking it from the top and what were your musical influences growing up and how many still factor into your music today? "My musical influences growing up was everything from my parents CD collection, to the music I played in jazz band and orchestra, to the music I wasn't really allowed to have, lol. I listened to A LOT of Shawn Colvin growing up, along with The Eagles, Beatles, Don Mclean, Jonatha Brooke, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, the list goes on. The interesting thing I have noticed about my songwriting lately is that no matter how hard I try to emulate the more modern artists, I still find that people make some mental connection with Joni Mitchell or Cat Stevens. Those artists defiantly have a profound impact on my music. You'd be surprised whats on my ipod."

For the Average Joe who may not have heard of you and was thinking of buying your CD, how would you yourself describe your sound? "This question for me is always so hard to answer. I have so many influences in my music that I never like to limit myself to one genre or one specific sound. 'Lullaby Appetite' is a mix of jazz, pop, rock and folk. I never sacrifice lyrical depth in any song. So for the average joe, I would say if you like any of those genres please don't hesitate to go to iTunes and buy my album because I believe I deliver a little something for every person."

Your album title 'Lullaby Appetite' is an interesting choice, but perhaps it originates from a more personal standpoint for you? Is there a theme to it? "For me, 'Lullaby Appetite' means an array of things. Whether it be a piece of music I'm craving, another person perhaps? I'm always looking for peace of mind. The title track Lullaby Appetite is about a dear friend of mine who lives across the country. He is also a musician and so in the song I'm basically asking him to sing me a lullaby so I get my fix of both loves at once. I think every single person has a different way of obtaining peace of mind, for me its music and good company."

Also, please reveal to us what it means to you to be able to write (or co-write) all the songs on this album - instead of having to sing songs written for you, etc. "I have a strict policy of total involvement in every song from start to finish. Music is such a personal thing, and lyrically I want people to be able to listen to my music and truly believe that they have learned something about me or even themselves. I love it when people come up to me and tell me how much the words in a certain song brought them to a realization or even brought up a memory. It means I'm doing my job as an artist if I can reach people. That's why it means so much to write at least 50% of every song. If I just sing songs written for me without any input where would the meaning be? I love to tell stories and songwriting is how I do it."

How easy (or hard) is it to constantly create a new, vibrant, wanted-by-the-public sound that both builds on and surpasses the musical wonderment's/accomplishments that preceded it within the industry? "I think it's easy if you want it to be. I believe that co writing and collaborations are ESSENTIAL to how an artist grows in this industry. Don't get me wrong, we are all going to write the occasional bad song, but the more you keep introducing new styles, new people, and new situations the more you'll learn. I wrote some of my best songs on this album because I absorbed what other people were teaching me. So, it's easy if you WANT to create new and vibrant sounds. It just takes an open mind and maybe some awkward songwriting sessions."

Please tell us which one of the new songs on this album is your current fav to listen to, to introduce people to you when talking about the album? "My two favorite songs are 'Of Graves' and 'Lullaby Appetite.' 'Of Graves' is currently the single that's on XM Radio and various stations across the US. That song for me is dark and mysterious and a little but crazy. I loved writing it and I loved the transformation it went through from start to finish. 'Lullaby Appetite' to me is just an ear orgasim. I couldn't be more proud of it. Josh did an amazing job producing it, I'm so lucky he took a chance on the unknown kid."

Has work begun yet on a follow-up album to 'Lullaby Appetite,' and if so, any thoughts on what we can expect? "I'm always writing new material and collaborating. I'm 100% sure There will be talk of cutting a new album within the next year, but for right now I'm still basking in my completion of this one. All I can say is, it'll be amazing, haha."

What '80s (and possibly cheesy!) pop/rock song would you love to cover today if asked ... and why?! "'I Can't Wait' by Nu Shooz, lol. Not only because it's SO classic 80's. I love the lyrics and I think I could do something really original with it. It has a really great groove. That or 'That's All' by Genesis."

Lastly, and throwing in a comedic curve ball here, Exclusive Magazine love Penguins ... do you?! "If you can't love a penguin, what can you love?!"

Interviewed by Russell A. Trunk