huhssio

1. Trouble maker. Trail blazer. Mad Genius. Heretic.
Hedonist. The press certainly has had some
words to say about London’s rising star over
the past few months. Not all of it good either. It
seems that Alias has elicited both support and
distain on her rise into the industry; however, the
love for her does seem to outweigh the negative
press she has accumulated. The twenty two year
old musician has stirred up controversy within
the past year, what with the infamous Edinburgh
incident and the more recent “Pap attack” that
preceded her album release in early March. She
does appear rather blasé about the whole affair
too, a laissez-faire attitude that I’m not sure I re-
spect or am disconcerted by. After all, her lack of
concern for the social etiquette that comes with
being famous, and unfiltered speech has thrown
ignition into the fire targeted at the star.
I sit and wait in the back booth of the
Seattle diner I’d arranged to meet Alias
at with her publicist. To get an exclusive
interview with the musician, XYNTH
flew me out to the US to meet and talk
with her while she’s on tour. Due to it
being such a major tour and she being a
“rock” star, I had already assumed that the
singer would be running a little late. After
some time, I felt a pang of anxiety shoot
through me- not just because I wasn’t sure
whether shed actually show up, but also
because I recalled the compilation videos
of the star flipping fans off and spitting at
the press. I wasn’t sure if we would clash
heads.
After what felt like a lifetime, I spot a
green head of hair pass through the diner
door. Instantly, the atmosphere in the
room shifted, as all eyes turned to the ec-
centrically clad figure in the doorway that
appeared completely unphased. Luckily, it
seems that id picked out the least popular
spot in the whole of New York, and the
old timers at the bar shifted back around
in their seats, merely glancing over at the
unorthodox character in the back booth
from time to time.
What struck me first about the singer was
her warmth, as she sidled up and shook
my hand; her publicist taking the booth
adjacent to ours. I’m reluctant to admit
that I was surprised by her friendliness,
but I had been hesitant because of the
many rough encounters she has had lately
“I want to be beacon of
hope for those who feel
out of place and a little
alien”
with the press. This bias appeared to be
unwarranted, as she sincerely asked how I
was and we proceeded with the interview.
I couldn’t help but think how innocent
she looked, as she sat and fiddled with
her straw, and as I compared It with her
public image, I was unable to connect the
two people. I asked her what her relation-
ship with the press was. “Press? Like you, I
guess. (laughs) I don’t know. My words get
twisted. It’s rare for what I say to be print-
ed out the same way I said it. Like, I don’t
know how you’re going to portray me in
this, (gestures at my notepad) which is
frustrating.” I asked about the paparazzi.
“Can’t stand ‘em. They’re c****. (she
grins.) Print that.” I ask her to tell me her
side of the February Pap Attack incident.
“Look, this guy, I told him to back off. Id
Alias
anything could, and would, set me off. I
asked him nicely, but he followed me for
over half an hour. I get that its his job,
but, I don’t know, maybe get an honest
profession? Anyway, when he got so close
that he physically touched me, I snapped.
Don’t touch me. That’s not on. So I
touched him. A little heavier than he did
me, but enough was enough.”
I remembered the man’s bloody bruised
face, and the court case. “I don’t regret it.
Why should I? Plus, they’ve backed off
a little now- the way it should be. (she
slurps her milkshake loudly.) I just think
it’s a dishonest job. What do you get out of
it? Besides money obviously. I don’t know.
I’ve just never considered a profession
that I’m not passionate about. Making
music, it’s a way of life for me. And even
though it’s my job now, I still love it. It
like, stimulates me creatively. What do
you get out of following people around?
Are you passionate about invading peo-
ple’s privacy? It’s unlikely. It’s for people
who never found their passion, or failed at
going about it the right way.”
I did understand what she meant. And
even as she was talking to me, I could hear
the passion rising in her voice. I couldn’t
help but think that there is a reason peo-
ple follow her though. Not just her fans,
but paparazzi and the press alike. Some
people are meant to be followed. They just
have an energy about them, that people
envy. A security with self. A clear sense of
direction and a raging confidence. They
were born to be different, and people wish
they were that sure of themselves. As she
said good bye and sauntered off, publicist
in tow, all eyes followed her out. The emp-
tiness that filled the diner in the following
minutes felt overwhelming. I paid for the
check and packed up my bag, heading out
of the door. I wondered what it was like
to own a room, instead of just occupying
it. Like Alias had said earlier on in our
conversation, “I feel like I’m achieving
something. People remember my name.
They remember my music. I want to be
beacon of hope for those who feel out
of place and a little alien. The ones who
people stare at, but don’t talk to. We can
do something different, carve a different
path. I strive to be different.”
- Phoebe Steen
X pg.