Brooke Alexx took first place in the Pop category in the 2023 American Songwriter Song Contest with her song “All My Exes’ Moms.” Since then, she has been able to quit her day job and work as a musician and social media content creator full-time. She released her debut album Big Mouth last Friday (October 4). Her first headlining tour kicks off tomorrow (October 12) in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Before all the excitement of the new album and the tour, Alexx sat down with American Songwriter to discuss her life since the Song Contest, her tour, the importance of social media, and more.
[RELATED: Meet the 2023 Song Contest Category Winners]
Brooke Alexx Has Been Busy
Brooke Alexx has been on a rollercoaster since learning that she won the 2023 Song Contest but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s like I’m on a train with no stops but it’s been good. It’s just been full speed ahead especially with the album coming out and the tour all at once. I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off but this is what I signed up for so it’s good,” she said.
Alexx on Her Debut Album
During her chat with American Songwriter, Brooke Alexx explained the title of her debut album. “The album is titled Big Mouth. It’s my first album and I wanted it to be a title that felt all-encompassing,” she said. “We landed on Big Mouth because, throughout my entire life, I’ve been told I have a giant mouth. I get hate comments on social media videos all the time but I’ve also gotten positive comments saying I have a great smile and stuff like that. So I’ve decided to own it,” Alexx explained. “Also, big mouth is an idiom that means spilling tea, gossiping, sharing secrets and that’s exactly what songwriting is. Also, you use your mouth to sing. So it just feels like the perfect title to start off my album career.”
Brooke Alexx Prepares for Tour
Brooke Alex is no stranger to touring. However, the Big Mouth Tour will be her first trek as a headliner. “This is my first headline. I’m really grateful for opening for Lostboycrow and Arrows in Action and Nicotine Dolls and having that experience and helping me gain fans on the road. Now, I’m going to be able to headline my first tour which is super exciting,” she said.
“My roommate Rosemary Joaquin is going to be opening for me which is really sentimental and special. We went to college together and we have been grinding it out together here in Nashville for the last six years or so,” Alexx said of her opener. They’ve been “Posting TikToks together, filming content for each other, supporting each other, going to each other’s shows,” and generally hyping one another for years. Now, they’re able to take their music on the road together. “I’m really excited to take her on her first tour and have her be my opener for my first headline. It will be like having a bit of home with me out on the road,” Alexx added.
The Importance of TikTok for Independent Artists
Social media in general and specifically TikTok is important for independent artists today. Brooke Alexx explained how the app has been instrumental in her career.
“TikTok changed the trajectory of my career, I would say,” Alexx said without hesitation. “In 2019, I was working at a record label as a video editor where they told us ‘TikTok is the next big thing. Get all of our artists on it.’ So, I went home that night and told all of my independent artist friends. I said ‘We have to get on TikTok immediately.’ Some of them listened some didn’t,” she recalled.
“I did it and I’m so thankful that I did. I got on the platform a little earlier than some people and that helped me grow my numbers faster and create a name for myself earlier than other people,” Alexx added.
“When ‘All My Exes’ Moms’ came out which is my biggest song to date, I posted a video of my roommate, Rose, reacting to it and it went super viral. That was the beginning of me touring and the industry started looking at me. Things started to take off for my career. I am very grateful to TikTok for that.”
Reflecting on “All My Exes’ Moms”
Brooke Alexx won the Song Contest with “All My Exes’ Moms.” The song also brought her a viral video and is currently sitting at more than 27 million streams on Spotify alone. During her conversation with American Songwriter, she recalled how the song took shape.
“I am half Japanese and I was invited to L.A. to be part of an AAPI (Asian and Pacific Islander) songwriting camp during AAPI Month in May, two years ago. And I walked into a room with a bunch of guys I’d never met before and I had just, on the way there, gotten a DM from one of my exes’ moms saying, ‘I love your music. I’m rooting for you.’ That was really sweet. I hadn’t spoken to her for many years,” Alexx recalled.
“I went into that session and they asked what concepts I had and I said, ‘Maybe we can write a song called something about all my exes’ moms love me.’ Crickets in the room. I was super intimidated. It was all boys in the room and they were like ‘What else do you have?’ I went down my list of concepts and thankfully Will Jay vouched for me and said ‘Let’s do the exes’ moms concept,’” she said. Alexx co-penned the song with Jay Jondren Hwang, and De’La who also produced the track with Hwang.
“I stayed there until 2 am finishing the song. The vocals I recorded that night are the vocals you hear on the final version. The next day, I listened to the demo and thought, ‘This is a good song. I think I like it,’” Alexx recalled.
”I went back to Nashville, played it for Rose in the car, filmed a reaction video, and that was the moment I knew it was more special than I thought, maybe. That video of her went viral on TikTok overnight. That was the beginning of the rest of my career.”
The Big Mouth Tour
- 10/12—Saint Paul, Minnesota @ Turf Club
- 10/13—Chicago, Illinois @ Schubas Tavern
- 10/15—Denver, Colorado @ Larimer Lounge
- 10/16—Salt Lake City, Utah @ Kilby Court
- 10/19—Seattle, Washington @ Madame Lou’s
- 10/21—San Francisco, California @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall
- 10/23—Los Angeles, California @ The Echo
- 10/24—Phoenix, Arizona @ Valley Bar
- 10/26—Austin, Texas @ Mohawk Austin
- 10/27—Houston, Texas @ House of Blues Houston
- 10/29—Nashville, Tennessee @ The End
- 11/03—Atlanta, Georgia @ Center Stage
- 11/05—Washington DC @ DC9
- 11/06—New York City, New York @ Mercury Lounge
- 11/09—Toronto, Ontario @ Drake Underground
Featured Image via Brooke Alexx
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