The passion echoes like a snare drum in a boundless cavern within Ian Axel’s voice… its clear music is more than pastime to him, and more like a means of breathing. The piano has been an extension of his fingertips since the age of 3, and now with time, experience and exertion, Axel has released a collection that reflects the distance he and his music has traveled since those childhood sessions. The album is called “This is the New Year”.

You may be familiar with prior work from Ian, including the 2007 EP “I’m On To You”, which actually caught on quite well across the Pacific when Japan’s Tower Records got a hold of the work, and here in the states when MTV picked tracks off the record for inclusion on episodes of "The Real World" and "The Hills". Apple even featured the EP in the "What We're Listening To" section on the front page of iTunes.

“This is the New Year” is a more personal effort for Axel: “It’s the first batch of songs I’ve written for my voice. Its 24 years of figuring out life. It’s fun and dramatic, has high and lows, and comes from a pretty honest place. It’s hopeful. I feel like I woke up when I started to sing and write for this album… We often get stuck – stuck in these unnatural routines and following other people's agendas. You have to hold yourself accountable to make changes and live in the now. The world responds to what you give. That’s what I hope people can take from this record. It's as simple as saying that if you smile, you are going to have a better day." 

If you can catch Ian live – do so. The NYU man is always in the area (other than when he’ll be out on the road in support of the new record). Check out his schedule, “This is the New Year” and the rest of the XXQ’s for what the future holds for Ian Axel.

XXQs: Ian Axel  

PensEyeView.com (PEV): What goes through your head the minute you walk onto stage? 

Ian Axel (IA): Oh, crap. Am I really doing this?! 

PEV: What made you first jump into the music industry and what were you listening to when you were growing up? 

IA: I didn’t ask to play music. Before I really thought about much, I was playing “Tequila” on my grandmother’s piano because I liked Pee Wee Herman. I can’t imagine my life without the piano. Growing up, I’m proud to say that my parents brought me to Yanni concerts. I also loved Phil Collins and CSNY because of my dad. And I always listened to the music in films that I watched. If I didn’t like the music, I didn’t like the movie. I started singing when I was in college, and it’s paved a little path for me. I’m excited to see where it’s taking me. 

PEV: What kind of environment do you surround yourself in to create music? 

IA: I like writing in my room on my keyboard. My room absolutely needs to be clean, and the lighting dim. Feng Shui! Inspiration also dawns on me when I’m tired and flickering in and out of consciousness. But every once in a while, I need to play on a real piano, and for that I’ll go to NYU practice rooms. I went to school there. I also have a baby grand piano sitting at home in NJ where I grew up. It’s mine once I move into an apartment large enough.

PEV: What can fans expect from a live Ian Axel show? 

IA: I stomp my foot a lot. You can expect to dance and sing. It’s dramatic. Lot’s of up sand downs because I’m an emotional wreck. You’ll have fun, I’m pretty sure. Maybe even smile. 

PEV: Tell us about your first live performance. How have you changed since that first show to where you are now? 

IA: Oh wow. I’ve been performing since I was 5, at my first piano recitals. My stomach used to hurt so much right before it was my turn. I would cry and be pulled out of the bathroom to play. And then it would go away. Today, I still cry and get pulled out of the bathroom. Just kidding…sort of. But I’m definitely not in the mood to talk to anyone before a show. Performing is not a natural thing. I never really know what to say, I just play the songs and trust that I’m living the life that was meant for me and doing my service to the universe. When I’m in the zone, something takes over, and I surrender to it. 

PEV: What do you find to be the hardest part about breaking into the music scene? 

IA: There are so many forces in place to hold you back. But the hardest part about breaking through is facing yourself. The biggest enemy is fear. Fear will keep trying to kick your ass. It never goes away. 

PEV: How have you evolved your music from when you first started out? 

IA: I was writing these mushy new-age pieces as a kid, probably inspired by Yanni and the Disney movies I was watching. But my music has always been dramatic and based upon themes. My style changed a lot in high school. I was in this student-run rock band called the Boptones, and I had to learn all these covers (Boston, The Doors, Ben Folds, Elton John, etc.) Being the OCD person that I am, I would listen to their cassette tapes 3 seconds at a time - rewind, listen, rewind, listen - until I got the piano part right, note for note. It drove my sister mad. 

PEV: Tell us about your latest release, “This Is The New Year”.  

IA: This is the first album I’ve ever released…the first batch of songs I’ve written for my voice. It’s 24 years of figuring out life. It’s fun and dramatic, has high and lows, and comes from a pretty honest place. It’s hopeful. I feel like I woke up when I started to sing and write for this album. So in that sense, it represents the beginning of something new for me. I wrote pretty much the whole album with Chad Vaccarino. It was produced by Dan Romer (Ingrid Michaelson, Jenny Owen Youngs) over a 6 week period or so. Adam Christgau and Chris Kuffner are supporting on drums and bass. Parts of it are pretty orchestral, a direction I definitely am and will be exploring more of. 

PEV: How is “This Is The New Year” different than other albums out right now?  

IA: What makes this album different is that it’s my story. It’s unique to me, and no one else is me. I kind of put it all on the table. I’m being scary honest, and the album has serious implications in my life because of it. The songs are about specific people and situations that I’m still working through. When I started to sing almost 4 years ago, everything began to fall into place. My life became synchronous. I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe that we get what we put our energy into. That perhaps we all have these unlived destinies to fulfill, and that there are greater powers there to encourage you once you make a decision in the face of fear. I feel like I was supposed to make this record. I was guided. And I can hear the muses cheering me on.

PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about Ian Axel? 

IA: My hair wasn’t always curly. 

PEV: Was there a certain point in your life when you knew that music was going to be a career for you and you were determined to make it happen? 

IA: It was pretty much when I first sat down at the piano at my grandmother’s house. I was 3 years old and writing these Eastern European-sounding melodies. I understood the piano. It is an extension of my spirit. I feel like I’m getting plugged into an outlet when I play. When you start to breathe, do you think to yourself that you’ll be doing it your whole life? You don’t, because it’s so obvious. And without sounding too dramatic here, music is life or death for me. 

PEV: What one word best describes you?  

IA: Outer space. Is that two words or one?

PEV: Traveling is now a large part of your life as a musician. How is life on the road for you? Best and worst parts? Any fun stories? 

IA: The hardest part about traveling is eating. I’m obsessed with food. When there’s structure in my life, I can eat healthy because I just eat the same thing everyday. It becomes a boring routine. But the second I start traveling, I eat anything and everything, except for fish and weird animal organs. And then there’s the sleeping part. I have sleep anxiety, so this comes in second to eating. 

The best part is that every second is a brand new experience. Actually, I guess that’s true generally in life. But touring is the type of routine that invites so many new things into your world, one that doesn’t really get old. It invites you to live in the present. I haven’t done too much of it yet, but this is the year. 

My favorite memories are simple. The first one that comes to my head is driving through the California dessert in the middle of the night, exhausted, high on life, with the windows down and moon roof open, looking at the stars. Things like that make me feel lucky to be alive. So cheesy.  

PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your musical career? What’s it like when you get to play at your hometown? 

IA: You can see the skyline from the town I grew up in (Fair Lawn, NJ). So NYC is kind of my hometown. At every show I play here, I see someone else I went to elementary school with. It’s kind of awesome, but brings me a little extra anxiety. People I grew up with, for the most part, never knew me as a singer. And when your entire social network and hometown shows up to a show, it gets to be a little nerve-racking. My family comes to every show. They come in large numbers and sing all of the songs. I’m responsible for monthly family reunions. It’s awesome. 

PEV: What can we find you doing in your spare time, aside from writing and performing? 

IA: Seriously, not a whole lot. I’m kind of a loser. I stay in a lot. If I go out, I usually go to friends’ shows. I try to exercise a few times a week. Honestly, I don’t have time for much. I don’t want to regret the first part of my life. Maybe I work too much, but I’m okay with it at this point.  

PEV:  Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now? 

IA: I just played a bunch of shows with Greg Holden, Joey Ryan, and Amber Rubarth. It’s amazing being a fan of your friends. I listen to their music and go to their shows and sing all of the words. I just started to write with Greg, and we’re doing some touring in March. He’s my long lost English brother, and a big inspiration to me. 

PEV: If playing/writing music was not your perfect career, what would you most likely be doing? 

IA: I’d probably be some sort of mad scientist. Maybe an astronomer of sorts. Either that, or I’d be chasing tornadoes in Oklahoma. Or a Food Network celebrity.

PEV: If we were to walk into your practice studio/space right now, what would we find? 

IA: Ok, so I’m in my space/cave right now. I spy my very modest studio setup which includes my keyboard and laptop, an empty coffee mug, a picture of my dog Mozart, a Kermit the Frog poster, a copy of The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a birthday cake-scented candle, a pile of unopened mail, and a box of tissues.

PEV: So, what is next for Ian Axel? 

IA: I’m definitely going to be touring a lot this year to support the album. This is phase one of my career. I’m ready and willing to evolve. I’m getting better with my little studio setup. I’d really like to start scoring…a lot of the ideas swimming around in my head are orchestral. I’m also going to learn some guitar and accordion. We’ll see what happens!

For more information on Ian Axel, check out: www.myspace.com/ianaxel