For a 14-year-old hip-hop artist Alex Bruce, making music has been ‘tough’ at first.
“It’s been a rough journey…dati,” said Alex in an exclusive interview with LionhearTV.
Compared before she was still starting, Alex had to juggle school and doing gigs, which was her priority back then.
“Kasi nung nagsisimula palang ako, no’ng sa Mind as a Weapon era, I was in school that time. And grade 3 or four ata ako no’n. I had to always be absent. As in lagi akong absent. Laging gano’n kasi mas inuuna ko lagi ang songs ko.”
When she made Mind as a Weapon two years ago, Alex used to go everywhere she can perform, basically doing everything to make a name for herself.
“Dati kasi pakalat-kalat lang ako, rap ako dito, rap ako d’yan. Basta kung saan mayro’ng gig para makilala yung name ko,” she continued.
But her passion for creating music and her desire to showcase her craft was supported by her family. Her grandfather and aunt used to take her to wherever she has to perform.
“I really want to show my craft to people. Kaya kahit malayo man yo’n, or gabing-gabi, as in yung lolo ko yung tagahatid-sundo sa’kin. Kapag pagod si lolo, yung tita ko, susunduin niya ako, nanunuod sila sa’kin.”
There were times that during school days, they would leave in the middle of the night and return home early in the morning.
“Minsan umaalis kami sa bahay nang 12 a.m., tapos makakauwi kami minsan ng 6. Ang pinaka-late ay 8 a.m. Ang pinaka-maaga naman ay siguro 2 a.m. tapos may school ako the next day. Gano’n ako lagi,” recalled Alex.
After releasing Mind as a Weapon two years ago, Alex can now say that it’s becoming easier for her as an artist.
“Pero ngayon medyo maginhawa na sa pakiramdam,” she expressed.
This was after she got a manager, making her life a bit easier. However, as a minor, her manager prohibited Alex from performing in bars.
“Madalas akong magkaro’n ng gigs dati eh. Natigil lang nung nagka-manager ako since bawal akong mag-perform sa mga bars and stuff kasi I’m a minor. So pinagbawalan ako sa mga gano’ng gigs.”
When asked why she continues being a rapper, Alex revealed that she is making hip-hop music to make a statement that women can do what men can do… and better.
“It’s pretty fun kasi kapag naririnig mo yung rap, what comes to your mind? Laging lalaki, laging sex, money, drugs, yun lagi ang pinag-uusapan.
“At yun din ang reason kaya tinutuloy ko ang ginagawa ko. Kasi madaming female artists na hindi nano-notice ng iba.
“Lagi lang yung lalaki—at andaming mga rappers na hindi pinapansin, na underrated kahit super galing nila. That’s why I’m here para i-change ang mindset ng mga tao na rapping is only for men. Girls can do it as well. Lahat nang kayang gawin ng mga lalaki, kayang gawin ng mga babae.”
Other than empowering women, Alex is also striving to change the stereotype that rap is all about money, sex, and drugs.
“Gusto ko rin baguhin yung mindset na ang rap hindi lang sex, money, drugs. It can also mean a lot of stuff… like empowerment, inspiring other people. Kaya I’m still here doing this para mabago ang mindset na ‘yon,” she added.
Alex recently has released her latest single, Fake Friends. According to her, she made the song during the early stages of the pandemic and out of boredom.
“Matagal na ‘tong nagawa. Siguro last year, at nung nag-start ang pandemic, tsaka namin nagawa ‘yon. Kasi nga bored tapos nauso pa dati ang 24 bars challenge eh lagi akong sumasali sa ganun.
“So dahil super bored ako, I followed it online kasi I was in a mood to write a song and of course I have fake friends.
“Nung time na ‘yun (2019), hindi pa lockdown talaga na super strict. Pero wala akong mapuntahan kahit sa labas ng kalye. So I was stucked in my room and I need to entertain myself. So I wrote a song,” she revealed.
Alex released her latest single Fake Friends on June 30 via her YouTube channel Alex Bruce and has over 99,000 online views at the moment.
