Meet Alex Noelle | Music Therapist & Singer-Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Noelle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
For most of my life, I gave into the general pressures and expectations of the music industry (and our society in general) to work as hard as I could at all times. If you’re not blood-sweat-&-tear-ing it, a lot of people in the industry don’t take you seriously! (Eventually, I discovered that the ones who succeeded at making music into a long-term career strongly believe in healthy work-life balance, so I learned to respect the human need for rest (and joy!)

But for better or worse, health issues in my early-to-mid-20s were the forced hand to a better balance, and for that I’m inevitably grateful. I went from 13-hour days, 6 days a week, with 4-5 jobs at a time–to making a part-time career out of going to the doctor’s office. I was lucky to have already garnered a full roster of private students to teach in the afternoon (amongst my other jobs) so that one job became my bread-and-butter while I healed.

Over the past 4+ years of my health journey, I learned that our bodies will always be human, and our bodies will continue to remind us of that until we nurture our needs. My own body collapsed under eternal “go-mode,” so I’ve been grateful to learn early in life that rest, laughter, a deep breath (or five,) and a chance to cook a real meal are ALL necessary for a healthy body and mind. (It’s proven in the research, too!)

I know that making money is a necessary part of most of our lives. I know that great discoveries have come from the blood-sweat-and-tears method. And I’ve somewhat returned to my long days of juggling several different jobs (not just to make a more decent living, but because I will always love having different types of work on my own schedule.)

Thankfully, this time around, my long days include built-in breaks for cooking at least 1.5 real meals, getting coffee with a friend once a week, or watching a movie or reading a book once in a while. We have to find those little moments of peace if we want to keep our passion sustainable–even if it’s a 30-second deep-breathing practice twice a day.

Like my healthcare team says, “You’ll get there faster if you just go a bit slower.”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The most important aspect of my art is its message of vulnerability and authenticity. I write, record, perform, and release original music with tones of acoustic pop, folk, and blues. I also run decompression sessions and therapy groups with somatic music interventions. I even teach private music lessons. But what matters most in all of my work is the honest expression of the human experience.

This theme is all over a current project of mine that I’m very excited to announce: a new EP (short album) in the works for 2024! It has been several years since I’ve released music, and I’m ready to get my story out there in ways that hopefully resonate with a lot of us!

The EP has an upbeat, bluesy-pop sound, with the title “Love, Loss, & Kubler-Ross.” Kubler-Ross was the first big researcher to outline five stages of grief. I’m finally coming out the other side of a long chapter of loss, debilitating chronic illness, and of course the chaos of our planet that we’ve all been experiencing these past several years as a cherry on top. This is my tribute to moving through and shining some more light into the depths of this human life.

If there’s one thing I hope to always share in my art, it’s the courage to fully express and be who you are while growing a little bit each day. I really think that’s what it’s all about. We all have incredibly unique lives, and yet so so many things in common. We all have potential to grow–and we’re all a little bit of a mess along the way. If we could just let those truths live a little louder, I think we’d find a lot more love and tolerance for each other (and ourselves.)

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve started saying “Only in Nashville!” a bit too much lately, but it really shows how unique this town is.

If you really want to get the feel for this city, I’d do some digging on local neighborhood events. There are always flea markets, art crawls, small festivals, parades, you name it! Nashville has incredible community participation (and a gazillion unique small businesses!) Not only is this a tribute to the community’s organization and commitment to one another, but it’s an obvious marker of the widespread creativity in every corner of every block. And it’s really taught me how to be a good neighbor.

Aside from that, I highly recommend checking out some local shows! While The Ryman is still one of my favorite venues, the lesser-known subtle shows at smaller venues can be a unique chance to see ridiculous talent from just a few feet away. Try The Underdog, Station Inn, 3rd and Lindsley (not that small, but definitely underrated,) and even Dee’s Cocktail Lounge a bit farther out from town. You never know what you’ll find but it’s not hard to come across hidden gems anywhere you go.

Some of my other favorite spots to frequent are the lake by the Parthenon (and the Parthenon itself,) the lake at Shelby Park (and surrounding trails), All People Coffee, Americano Lounge, and most importantly, the ample restaurants with gluten free and vegan options, like Sunflower Bakehouse. Believe it or not, Nashville has some fantastic allergy-friendly eateries that I wish everyone with food restrictions could try. I know all the best spots at this point–hit me up if you need suggestions!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m a firm believer that none of us get anywhere entirely on our own, so I have so many people to thank! First and foremost of course is my family. They have supported and encouraged my music journey practically from the time I was born. They still attend my shows and ask me to play carols and covers at the holidays! They taught me a lot about music in all facets.

I also wouldn’t be anywhere without my incredible teachers. Both music and non-music, the people who have shown up to teach me about the world with empowerment and curiosity are another reason for my success! My voice coach since age 13, my piano teacher since age 11, my band teachers from ages 9-19 who didn’t balk at a girl wanting to play the drums… my high school religion-teacher-turned-mentor who helped me through so much. The list goes on, but it’s the souls who have offered me their authentic open minds and hearts that changed me for the better!

Website: https://alexnoellemusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexnoellemusic/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-dovgala-carr/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexnoellemusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/alexnoelle

Other: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/alexnoelle Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3RvU8ecvXodaP45oov0Ud8

Image Credits
Blair Reinlie at Turnstile Productions, Wingman Visuals, Oceanna, Nashville Pop