Artist Glimpse: Mississauga's Alex Michelle

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The journey from the suburbs of Mississauga to the creative hubs of New York City is a path paved with ambition, but for singer-songwriter Alex Michelle, it’s also been a journey of profound self-discovery. After honing her craft through formal study in New York, Alex has emerged as a compelling voice in the indie-pop scene. She has become known for pairing raw, honest lyrics with a vocal delivery that is remarkably sweet and soft. Her music captures a sense of sadness that feels comforting, reflecting the balance between the home she left behind and the growth she has found in a new city.

I was honored to chat with Alex about her growth as an artist, the reality of producing music from her New York apartment, and how she uses her songwriting to connect with listeners on a deeper level.

ROB AGUIAR - You grew up right here in Mississauga before making the leap to New York for school. How did the transition from the familiar streets of your hometown to the fast-paced energy of NYC influence the perspective you bring to your music?

ALEX MICHELLE - My own personal growth after moving here has impacted my writing tremendously, the same way this city has inspired me. I have so many new experiences that I pull from when I write, and moving from my hometown definitely forced me to grow as a person and therefore as a writer. Getting out of my comfort zone has always helped me to create new music, and I’ve felt the same way since moving here.

RA - Music is so powerful in the sense that a gentle melody or a random lyric can vulnerably allow a listener to feel seen in their own story. How do you balance that line between sharing your own "real place" moments and creating enough space for the listener to find themselves inside your lyrics?

AM - Maybe experiences can be unique, but I don’t think that emotions are. Even if what I’m writing about has not happened directly to a listener, the emotions that I hope to portray can come through and impact a listener. I think that music is special in that it allows us to share a feeling. My latest single “Old Money”  from April of 2025 was written about characters from one of my favourite TV shows growing up. I feel so connected to that song, even though I didn't even write it about my own relationship. I think if there’s a good story with real emotion, listeners will feel understood in the music.

RA - With your background in classical music and theory, you have a deep toolkit to draw from, yet your music often lands with a beautiful simplicity. When a new song is beginning to take shape, what usually comes to you first—is it a specific lyric or a line of poetry, or does a melody find you first and dictate the story you need to tell?

AM - Thank you! I try to approach writing in different ways because it allows me to create music that doesn't all sound the same. I will usually start with a chord progression I like and a theme that I’m trying to write about. I will write melody and lyrics overtop and use those as tools to build it. I find that those songs come to me easiest and I enjoy developing them the most, but I’ve also written a full verse and chorus before coming up with any music when an idea inspires me. It is such a privilege to have an education in music, because although I try not to think about theory when writing, it serves as a creative tool to make my music more interesting harmonically. 

RA - Since you produce your own music from your apartment in New York, do you find that your inner voice is becoming more direct and clear specifically because you are the one behind the board?

AM - I think I’m definitely still working on finding my clear sound as a producer, but I’m getting close! I’ve felt overwhelmed having access to so many sounds since I was used to performing with a small live band, but I’m finding ways of producing that work for me with every song I make. With my last single, I received really amazing guidance from my mentors at NYU, and it helped my confidence a lot. I’ve especially loved producing my own vocals in the comfort of my own home. Singing was my first love so I quickly worked on finding a sound I liked for my lead vocals and the many backup vocals and harmonies I put on a track.

RA - We’ve talked about you as a songwriter, but I’d love to know about your experience as a listener. Is there a specific lyric from a song you’ve been listening to lately that hits particularly hard? What is it about those words that makes you feel seen or unlocks that sense of vulnerability in you?

AM - My beautiful songwriter friends have inspired me so much with their writing. My friend Lizzy Campbell has a song called “Hometown” that never fails to bring me to tears. In a line she says “I think of all the things that I wanted and how I got them, But all I want is to be small again”. It so beautifully captures the bittersweet feeling of growing up and realizing you will never be a child again.

RA - You’ve had a busy couple of years with a string of successful singles. What’s on the horizon for 2026? Can we expect a full-length EP, or perhaps a return to a local stage here in Mississauga for a performance soon?

AM - I am so excited for this year and the music that I get to present to the world!!! I have my next single lined up and ready to release very soon, which will hopefully come with an EP afterward in late summer. Being an independent artist, it feels like everything takes so long to get done, but I’m working so hard to finish a collection of songs that I am proud of. I am currently booking shows, doing everything I can to make my music heard, and would LOVE to do a show back home again soon.

RA- It is rare to find an artist who can make "beautiful sadness" feel like a warm embrace. Alex Michelle continues to prove that vulnerability is a strength, and her transition from Mississauga to the heart of the New York music scene is a story that is only just beginning. She reminds us that the most powerful music doesn't just entertain us—it finds us.