Feature: Alex Cambridge Decodes “Rupture”
How does "Rupture" differ from your previous work?
It’s more me! “Rupture” is my first release in seven years, and I’ve grown so much as a person and an artist since then. I’d like to think that’s reflected when you compare my previous work, but more specifically, the first released version of “Rupture” is a stark contrast to this current one. I’m very proud of it and hope listeners can hear that in the recording itself.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for this song?
There are so many moments I’ll cherish, but the ones that stand out are the days I recorded drums and bass with my friends Alex and Delroy. I recorded everything else alone which I’m proud of but getting to collaborate with other musicians is one of the joys of being a musician. Sharing that with friends who genuinely believed in me and “Rupture” was so special. It just felt like friends hanging out who also happened to be musicians making music, it was great!
Is there a particular message or theme you hope listeners take away from "Rupture?"
The inspiration behind “Rupture” has changed since I first wrote it, but the core message has always been about finding closure after a betrayal. In healing, there is always some scar tissue that remains, and I’ve unfortunately experienced some deep betrayals and traumas that ultimately affected both my mental and physical health. Moving on without closure is never easy and I’m still very much on that journey myself so I know how much it sucks! That’s why it was so important for me to restart my career with “Rupture”. Seeing it now re-released into the world offers a small amount of closure which I’ve chosen to hold onto whenever I have triggers and bad days. I hope that listeners going through their own betrayals and traumas can also find solace in the message to “say their peace”. For me that’s been through my music and with the support of family, friends and therapy. The important thing is to find your thing and the people who will help you positively channel negative emotions in a way that allows room for proper healing.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
Oh man if I had to sum it up, it would be the freedom and sense of self it gave me. Growing up, my love for songwriting and guitar melodies really blossomed during road trips in St. Lucia, where my mum and I would sing along to amazing singer/songwriters like Alan Jackson, Johnny Cash, and Neil Diamond to name a few. I was always intrigued by their ability to make me feel so invested in what they were singing about, even if I hadn’t gone through it myself. At that time, I was pursuing a career as a tennis player so being a musician wasn’t even a thought, but I’ve always been a writer. I wrote short stories and poetry growing up, so when my mum and others pointed out that I could sing, and I realised that I could combine my love of both music and writing, it just clicked. Learning to play instruments was the real “I want to do this as a career” moment because I also fell deeply in love with composing music. I then decided to study music and produce my own songs so once I took those steps, it became all I wanted to do. I’m still a huge tennis fan though and play when I can!
How do you continuously grow and evolve as an artist?
Honestly, I think just through living life and going through personal experiences. Many or possibly all of my songs would not exist if I had not gone through whatever led me to write them. I’m also very much inspired by the things I see, read and the experiences of those around me so the more I allow myself to process things, the more I grow artistically. My songwriting has always been a key part of my artistry and musically, I think all artists evolve through their musical inspirations, both old and new. I feel quite lucky to have grown up listening to many different genres and those are all reflected in the music I make today. It also means I can continue to grow into and explore my own sound while keeping true to the root of it all which is honest and vulnerable storytelling.
