Covered: Alexa Harley
For the second instalment of Covered - the interview series talking cover versions and sync - No Sheet Music Cover’s Elle Lord and Dan Altendorff sat down with Alexa Harley; solo artist and one half of jazz/soul-pop duo Equal Echo. No Sheet Music Covers is a go-to collection of reworked classics created by a diverse pool of artists, arrangers and out and out music lovers, just for Sync. Alexa has teamed up with Hector Plimmer to release new music this month, which is out now on all digital platforms, and we caught up with her to find out what influenced the EP, what she thinks about cover music used in Sync, and what’s next on the agenda.
Q> Equal Echo recently released Dynamite EP, how has it been received?
Alexa Harley> Really, really well. The lead single ‘Dynamite’ got added to the Spotify ‘Jazz Pop’ editorial playlist, which led to a lot of listeners in Japan; we had about 15,000 plays in one week! Hector and I are really happy to finally have the EP out in the world after two years!
Q> That’s great! How would you describe the EP to those who haven’t heard it?
Alexa> When people ask what our sound is I usually say neo-soul, jazz/pop/electronic!
Q> That sounds really cool – I’m sure you have lots of influences. Do you have a favourite film or TV soundtrack which has influenced you at all?
Alexa> Yes, I have three! Garden State, Blade Runner and Wolf of Wall St. They are all so different those soundtracks, but I definitely take influences from parts of all of them. I like the Latin and jazz stuff that you find on Wolf of Wall Street, the folky stuff you find on Garden State and the electronic sounds you find on Blade Runner.
Q> Great choices. You’ve worked with us on a couple of covers designed for soundtrack – why is it you think that covers have become more prevalent in soundtracks recently?
Alexa> I think it’s because you are combining something familiar with something new. The familiarity provides a comforting element for people when they hear it and although they might not recognise the arrangement they think ‘Oh, I know this song!’ The new arrangement then completely changes the feeling of the song, making it work for a whole new setting or scene.
Q> Can you remember the first cover that you heard?
Alexa> The cover I first remember hearing on an advert was an amazing version of the Pixie’s ‘Where Is My Mind’ by Sunday Girl.
Q> You did the vocals on our cover of Mercy by Duffy, which we all love! If you were going to sync it, from your experience, where would you place it?
Alexa> Pim Mulder’s production makes it really dark, moody and mysterious, which I think would compliment either a BBC Drama such as Killing Eve or an ethereal perfume ad.
Q> Do you think there are certain advantages, or does it add value when artists cover each other?
Alexa> I think so, for sure. It’s the familiarity of a well-known track re-invented as I said before, combined with a nod of respect between the artist who covers and the original artist. For example, look at Radio 1 Live Lounge or Like A Version in Australia. They are amazing to watch and you are familiar with the original song, but it showcases the talent of the covering artist and the respect and appreciation they have for a genre different to that which we are used to seeing them perform.
Q> When you are picking tracks to cover, is there anything in particular you look for? Or do you have a real guilty pleasure you’d love to cover?
Alexa> I usually find it has to be a song that I feel a personal connection to and then my process would be to arrange it in a way that is different to the original whilst make sure that it still feels natural for me as an artist.
Q> If you could perform a cover with the original artist from present or past, who would it be?
Alexa> I am really into Aldous Harding, I saw her perform at the EartH theatre last month and it was insane! She’s got a really weird and wonderful style. If you don’t know who she is, or haven’t seen a performance then you have to look it up - she gets really lost in her music and makes all these facial expressions that are mesmerising. Even to do backing vocals for her would be amazing.
Alternatively, as Equal Echo we actually did a cover of the Thundercat’s ‘Them Changes,’ and it would also be a lot of fun to have him play bass on that!
Q> That’s a performance we’d love to see! Thanks for talking to us; before you go tell us what is up next for you personally and for Equal Echo?
Alexa> Solo, I have just recorded a track called El-Train, which will be out in the future sometime. With Equal Echo, we are currently recording our second EP and you can find us playing the main stage at Brainchild festival on the 13th July at 2pm or at NT’s Bar, Netil House, Hackney on 25th July.
If you would like to see Equal Echo live, tickets for Brainchild can be found here.
To listen to their Dynamite EP you can find it here.
Or to support them further, you can purchase the EP or any of the singles on Bandcamp here.
@equal_echo – Instagram & Twitter
Read more about No Sheet Music Covers here.
