Alex Wilson didn’t start learning the guitar or writing music until he graduated from Key West High School in 2022. (Yes, he’s one of the “COVID kids” whose high school years were disrupted by the pandemic.)
This past October, while a senior at University of Florida, Wilson, who performs under the name Alex Willow, released his first album, “Willow.”
While managing to juggle the senior-year demands of a double major in French and English, Wilson has also been making his mark on the Gainesville music scene with support from Swamp Records, a student-run artist resource agency. It offers marketing, advertising and booking services for musicians and bands in the Gainesville area.
“I was part of a show presented by Swamp Records and the university’s student government,” said Wilson, “and I had an album release show with an organization called the Listening Room and they’ve worked with some amazing artists.”
Whether on stage, or recording a YouTube performance from a couch with a guitar, Wilson is instantly likable in his authenticity, relatable topics and natural voice that’s both haunting and convincing.
The online press kit for his first album, titled “Willow,” includes a biography that reads:
“When Alex Willow began to sing, he crossed over into a world he knew he’d never leave. The visions, fears and testaments of faith that began as blue ink in his leatherbound journal transformed into sonic histories of his own experience. A 20-year old singer-songwriter from the Florida Keys, Alex weaves wisdom and prose into a sound that’s at once comforting and provoking, mythical and real.
“Inspired by the swirling instrumentation of Ryan Beatty and the atmospheric vocals of Conan Gray, Alex Willow communicates sensitive stories through powerhouse melodies. Exploring questions of loss, love and his queer identity, Alex Willow transmutes his shame into beauty, his anger into love, and his confusion into hope for a vivid future. Advancing the tender songwriting of the Gainesville music scene, his talent has pierced the community through live performances, recorded sessions and conversations with local journalists.
“With wispy vocals and subdued strings, that single reveals his promise as a musician and storyteller. ‘Willow’ … will further cement his status not only in his community, but far beyond as one of the great communicators of his generation. Whether on stage alone, performing with a band, or talking after the show, one thing is certain: you’ll find yourself asking where he might be next. Alex Willow’s enchanting and ethereal melodies will curl up in your mind, craft a home in your heart, and like a willow, stay.”
The lead single “Shin Splints” is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/qVArpceLBbM.
