Spotlight on Alex Abati
Meet Alex Abati (she/her), a rising artist whose music blends heartfelt storytelling with influences from both classic and modern sounds. After studying marketing and completing Yellowbrick’s Music Industry Essentials course with NYU and Billboard, Alex has been carving out her own path in the music world. With her debut single out and more on the way, we spoke to Alex about her journey, creative process, and what’s next.
How did you discover the Music Industry Essentials course, and what convinced you it was the right move?
I have always wanted to pursue music, but since it is a very uncertain and competitive industry, I focused more on marketing first, as a backup plan. During my last semester of college I was looking to an internship in the music industry, and since my degree was more generic, I thought having a certificate more music related would make me stand out. I started looking into courses and came across Yellowbrick’s Music Industry Essentials. After looking more into it, seeing its association with NYU and Billboard and comparing it to other courses, I thought it seemed like the perfect fit!
Your debut track is out! Tell us about “The Boy Who Cried Love”, what inspired it and how did it come together?
“The Boy who Cried Love” is my first released single! After finishing college, moving back home, and getting out of a particularly rocky relationship, I needed an outlet to express all my emotions.
I started writing songs, and one day while strumming mindlessly, I came up with this particular melody. My intention was to write a song that took you on a journey, and I kept thinking back to the story “The boy who cried wolf” and how it could be applied to my past relationship. After that the rest of the lyrics came easily enough, and it’s now become one of my favourite songs I’ve ever written.
In terms of music, I initially wanted the song to be more acoustic, but in production, we ended up giving it more of a punk rock vibe for the chorus, a mix between nostalgia and anger.
Influence wise, I’ve been very inspired by The Cranberries and modern artists like Gracie Abrams and Olivia Rodrigo.
Was there a lesson from the course that really clicked for you while working on this song?
I tend to think back to the “Building your image & Marketing” module. I love songwriting and producing music, however, if you can’t market it right, it’s hard for it to reach the right audience. Even though I studied marketing, this module was much more specific in matters of music marketing. It helped me structure my ideas, come up with strategies to get my music heard and on different platforms, and also decide how I want to market myself as an artist (what archetype am I, how will I talk to my audience, etc.).
As well as more technical information such as royalties, split sheets and writing riders for concerts.
Since finishing the program, what’s been the most exciting part of working in music so far?
Everything really. It’s felt like a dream ever since I first started looking for a producer. Going to the studio, seeing your vision come to live, sharing it with the world both through social media and through live performances… It’s all equally exciting to me. I guess since this is my first single there is the novelty aspect too, but even the small things such as seeing my name on Spotify, being able to use my songs as a sound for reels and stories, or playing it in the car for the first time… It all feels surreal.
At the end of the day however, the moments that bring me the most joy are being able to talk to people about my music, hearing their opinions and seeing their reactions… Having people say that they relate to my music has always been my goal, so comments like that always make my day.
Looking ahead, what’s next for you?
Right now I’m working on my first EP. Five or six songs to be released in the coming months. My next song “Nightmares,” will be released in September and I’m super excited since it’s actually one of the first songs I’ve ever written.
I’m actively trying to grow my platform, performing at live shows throughout my country, working on my socials and promotions, and of course, trying to improve my songwriting.
Spotify: Listen here
Instagram: @alex.abati
TikTok: @alex.abati
There are countless career opportunities in the music industry. To explore them, download Yellowbrick’s Ultimate Music Career Guide. For a sneak peek into the course Alex took and more details, check out Music Industry Essentials from NYU Tisch, Billboard, and Yellowbrick.
