Alex’s Answers to Some Questions!!!

Hey,

I hope you’re doing well! We’re already Monday morning again, the last one of this month of August… How incredible! September is knocking at our doors, the first step leading toward the last stretch of the year! I’m sitting in my mini studio room at our new place in Tangier, and while Jimmy Hendrix nicely reminds me why The Wind Cries Mary, I’m trying to recollect what the past few days were made of since so many things happened here in Tangier. 

I’m just recovering from three days of being completely sick, which I think is a clear message from my body telling me to slow down and switch gears a little as I’ve been full throttle for way too long, I can’t even remember...! I’m very blessed to be very healthy, but this time around, if I didn’t get the message, I’m clearly the dumbest person in the room! 

That being said, it’s so great to be back on my feet and especially to feel the vibrant spirit taking place here more and more as the studio is coming to life and sounds and noises are being heard more and more! I can’t wait to bring you down that alley with us, the place simply looks stunning!!! 

So, since I got really ill, followed by the fact that Alex released an amazing journal summing up everything around what we went through all summer long as we toured Europe, I thought that a Q&A with Alex would end up this summer with a bang and give us wings to hit September with something fresh!!!!

Such a privilege to host this Club! Enjoy this amazing read! 

Let’s be great to one another! 

Your Host and Friend,
Jeff 

How would you describe your trip to Tangier so far?

I would say that it’s pretty much aligned with the uniquely free spirit of Tangier, which is designed by moments made of improbable encounters, fascinating new discoveries, impossible-to-follow schedules, and daily plans that are reshaped by all sorts of sudden invitations. The beautiful blue sky, the fresh and inspiring evenings, the traditional live music played everywhere, the joyful wedding processions lighting up the streets at 3 am, and so on. Oh, and dealing with the customs to release our studio gear. But mainly having the blessing to meet fabulous guests coming from all over the world to reside at La Maison de Tanger, the boutique hotel I own. That’s a short summary!

You wrote in your most recent journal entry that you hate departures as much as you despise unsettled transitions. What keeps you aligned with your vision?

I would say it’s my faith and the perspectives it provides. Being grounded in my community and human values helps me avoid nurturing cynicism and negativity, which in many ways are rooted in selfishness and narcissism. Keeping my heart focused on the purpose of everything I do helps me stay aligned with its meaning, which is greater than myself to begin with. Walking around Tangier keeps me humble in that regard; to witness the pure measure of joy that is shared by those who look like they don’t have much reveals the magnificent riches of the soul and reminds me to cultivate a grateful spirit no matter how worrying I believe my personal challenges might be… Especially since it’s never truly as terrible as I want or need those issues to be. Laughter is a great eye-opener in that sense.

You always like to reflect about life when you’re writing or sharing with others. Is there anything you heard or read since you are in Tangier that made you meditate?

I had dinner at a friend’s about a week ago, a man of incredible openness and generosity. We talked about human nature all evening, about the impact it has on our respective lives, the necessity for each and everyone to face their disruptive paradoxes and emotional deceptiveness in order not only to be free but to be able to truly connect with others regardless of how disjointed we may be from one another. Somehow, our conversation evoked within me some words from “Mural” by the late poet Mahmoud Darwish: “We still live as if death mistakes us. We — who are capable of remembrance — are capable of liberation.” This was published in 2013 in a selected poetry collection titled “Unfortunately, It Was Paradise”.

We know how avid a reader you are. Of all the books you probably brought to Tangier with you, have you started reading one already?

I did bring quite a few books with me, but the one I already started is a gift from Miss Isabel titled “Los Perros De Tànger / Les Chiens de Tanger” by Isaak Begoña. It’s a trilingual (Spanish, Arabic, and French) poetry book about the nature of the city published in 2020.

Back to your latest journal entry: you mentioned that you were in Tangier mainly to start (or “restart” as you said) writing music. What albums are you listening to as you do that?

I rarely listen to music when I’m in a writing phase myself. I don’t want to be influenced by other people’s creations, even unconsciously. However, I still haven’t started just yet, so I’ve been listening to the latest releases by Midwife, Yannis & The Yaw, Laurie Anderson and the Thurston Moore album “Spirit Counsel” among others.

You used to often recommend a specific drink along your musical sit downs and inspirational moments. Which ones may you be into lately?

I stopped drinking alcohol a little before leaving for our latest tour. A very close loved one started having significant alcoholic problems and I wanted to offer my full support towards their emotional fight. This made me realize that, without being at a dysfunctional point myself, I was drinking way more than I thought I was. So it was physically and emotionally beneficial for me to stop as well. And when I say stopped, I mean greatly reduced; I still take a glass of wine or a splash of scotch once in while. All that to say, my suggestion would be to take a glass of Moroccan mint tea or Japanese umeshu. Both are very enjoyable and comforting.

Besides considerably decreasing your alcohol consumption, how do you work on your heart surgery recovery?

Walk, walk, walk. I’m obsessed with steps ever since we started a chat group with my bandmates and my manager. We all need to do our daily 10k steps, otherwise we have to eat a habanero pepper, which is both ridiculously funny when it happens (as Sef will do one of his crazy video production to remind us all of the high importance to remain faithful in our collective engagement). That group support, essentially established to tag along with me during my recovery, has a real impact on me. Everyone’s commitment towards my health is a tremendous leitmotiv for me to maintain a healthier life routine. I might also be green-lit to lift up to 10-pound weights soon. This will be crazy!

From lifting weights to a lighter type of question: We saw a picture of you sporting a surfer look. Are you into water sports?

Wow, that really is a lighter question! But no, not really. Well, as much as I would like to do so, especially here in Tangier where you can find amazing surfing spots, I don’t know how to swim. So until I learn or am willing to humbly wear floating devices designed for kids, I guess I’ll enjoy the look rather than risk drowning. One day I’ll hit the waves… One day!!!

If surfing is off the hook until you learn how to swim, besides the number of steps you must make every day, what other obsession have you been feeding yourself with?

I would say that cultivating deeper peace of heart and mind is pretty much where my focus lies right now. It helps me navigate all my different ventures and projects, and God knows there’s quite a lot going on in my life right now. One thing at the time, breathe in then breathe out. Let’s just say that I’m not too good at relaxing, chilling out, and zooming in on my inner chakras just yet… Maybe I should take swimming lessons after all!