Alexandra Bachelier sits down with Latinaroom and takes us on her journey through two reality show appearances, a few bad record deals, to where she is today; unleashing her “Alter Ego” for the world to see. She tells us what to look forward to on the album and further more gives us a glimpse into her background and personality so that fans new and old can better understand the treat they’re getting from her as an artist and an everyday person.

Latinaroom: Did your career change after being on Popstars and American Idol? How have you been able to use those experiences?

Alexandra Bachelier: It absolutely changed. I think that after Popstars…Popstars was really the beginning of everything, it was pretty much where I realized the kind of industry that I was getting into. Then, shortly after that once I started working a little bit harder, and I got into the whole American Idol thing, it definitely was a huge turning point at that point in my life; everything began. I use every single experience to build and to mold who I am today…to grow as an artist to better myself. I realized that there was a lot of talented people out there and that it wasn’t going to be as simple as I thought it was going to be. So, it definitely has made a huge difference. And it opened a lot of doors for me.

Latinaroom: How do you characterize your sound and where do you pull your influences from?

Alexandra Bachelier: I would say I characterize my sound as soulful-pop with an edge. (giggling) I grew up listening to all kinds of music. My mom was big into musical theatre and big into classical music…I grew up listening to a lot of Classic Rock; bands like: Chicago, Journey, Genesis, Phil Collins, people who, to me, really have impacted the music industry and they’re going to be around forever. I took that, then once I started doing the whole pop thing, and being on TV shows and getting more into pop culture, then I started taking bits and pieces of pop music and R&B definitely was a big influence I grew up listening to Mariah Carey. So, I’ve had a little bit of everything and now I actually listen to a lot of Country music because I’ve been writing for a couple of years and I think Country music has some of the most beautiful lyrics. So, I’ve taken a little bit of everything and put it together and used it to create my sound.

Latinaroom: Cool! So you’ve said you’ve been writing for a couple of years so you’re a songwriter also, Correct?

Alexandra Bachelier: Yes Ma’am, I am. I started writing at an early age, but I would write like little short stories and poems and stuff when I was younger. And then, once I got into the music it was one of those things where I always wanted to write I just wasn’t sure how to do it. So, the first producer I had in California, we sat down and he said, “Can you write?” I said well, I’ve played around with ideas before but I’ve never really written a song except for this one thing I did. He said, “Let me hear it” so, I played him this one demo that I did in Miami and he said “It’s not bad, you can work on it.” So, we just sat down and vibed a little while and within probably about 3 hours I had written my first song. And it just got easier from there and it’s something I really enjoy doing. It’s to the point where I developed pretty good songwriting skills, I’m not the best writer yet, but I feel like that comes with time, everything with time. I may never be the best songwriter but I think that my songs are pretty good. (Laughing) But I feel like there’s always room for growth, you should never settle.

Latinaroom: What made you sign with DMS and Mase?

Alexandra Bachelier: Well, I had actually had offers in the past and I had signed other contracts with other people and been involved in projects that went nowhere. You know, a lot of empty promises, a lot of people…maybe they had really good intentions, but they just never were able to follow thru with them. I had a recording contract with Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys who also happened to be my ex-boyfriend and then a good friend. So, we kind of tried that out and that didn’t really work because he was really involved in his music and still with his career. So, it was a legitimate situation and it was something that definitely would have worked, but unfortunately it just wasn’t the right time.

When I met Mase…I felt like a lot of times in life, timing is everything. And I think that I was in a good place emotionally, physically, mentally and career- wise to where I was able to make the decision and say: “You know what, this is what I want and if you can give me this, then I’m going to go ahead and sign.” And I was very firm in what I asked for and what I wanted. I guess he just kind of felt like you know what this is someone I can work with and I felt the same way about him. I laid everything down on the table from day one and I was given everything that I wanted and it’s been a great relationship ever since.

Latinaroom: So the debut album is titled “Alter Ego.” Why that name?

Alexandra Bachelier: It’s taken me such a long time to get here. And I feel like I almost have an alter ego…I live two lives (laughing). For a long time I felt that way, I felt like I was this girl trying to take over the world of music, but then at the same time I still had to hold a job; I still had to do a lot of things that most people who are not in the industry have to do. So, for me it just all started to become this thing where like: when I would get into the studio, or when I would perform; An alter ego would come out, and I would become this girl and it just kind of stuck. I said I’m a music vixen when I’m in the studio and it just became a big joke “oh, well you’re the music vixen, that must be your alter ego then…So, I decided I wanted to name the album “Alter Ego” because it just kind of fit.

Latinaroom: Any collaborations on the album?

Alexandra Bachelier: As of right now, we are in talks with some people, we’ve spoken to Pitbull and we’ve spoken to a couple of other people but, we don’t have anyone on the album yet.

Latinaroom: What should current and new fans expect from this album?

Alexandra Bachelier: I think that they should definitely expect something new and funky. I think that my voice…the last time that I came out with something was probably about 5 years ago and it was never a finished product it was just demos and stuff that I had worked on. I think now they should expect to hear vocally I’ve matured and I think that people can expect to hear a totally new sound from me. Something that they can just enjoy, have fun [with], like everytime I play an album in my car I just want to jam and that’s what I want. I want people to listen to this and have fun. I want people to relate to it. That’s what I hope for, that people just pretty much get a feel for who I am, because it’s pretty much my heart and soul.

Latinaroom: Is you first single going to be a dance track or a ballad?

Alexandra Bachelier: No, my first single is called “Atten-Hut” and it’s a really fun dance song. It’s basically about a war on the dance floor. It’s really upbeat, it has some really hard drums in it, it’s [like] something Gwen Stefani would put out. It’s very along the lines, musically of Gwen Stefani but vocally as Christina Aguilera. That’s the best way I could describe it.

By Lauren M. Walker