Alexander Lee
After leaving the Korean pop boy band U-Kiss, Alexander Lee thought he was done with music for good. He felt he was getting too old for K-pop, which he saw as more of a younger artist’s playground.
“I intended to just focus on acting. In fact, I swore to myself that I won’t do music anymore,” the 29-year-old singer-actor told the Inquirer.
While he enjoyed his time with the band, Alexander said he needed to chase his dreams by himself, so that he could grow independently as an artist.
“I had my time. There were pros and cons to being in a group—we shared the workload, and it was fun practicing as a team,” he said. “But it would be hard for me to enjoy my solo moment.”
However, while shooting the GMA 7 comedy-drama series “My Korean Jagiya” last year, he met hip-hop artist Marucci, who has composed songs for various Korean shows and commercials. Later on, in Korea, they decided to meet up again.
Inevitably, the conversation veered toward music.
“I was like, ‘Nice vision. Why don’t we do something together?’” Xander related. “I wanted to do music again. So, here I am!”
The product was “Keep Ya Head,” an uplifting track with a midtempo, hip-hop-R&B feel. “Marucci is such a good and passionate musician, so it was the perfect chance collaboration … I wanted to give something new to all the Filipino fans who support me here,” said Xander, who admitted that performing doesn’t come as easy now as when he was younger.
“The last time I did music was when I was with U-Kiss. Back then, I had so much energy. Now, I feel like a lolo,” he jested, laughing. “But I do enjoy myself. I love how I can still have fun singing and performing.”
Along with new music comes a new image. Now sporting bright yellow hair, the music artist—who’s of Korean, Chinese and Portuguese descent—said he wanted to show a new side to him. “I believe I have become more mature—less Korean idol-ish,” said Xander, who calls his partnership with Marucci as AXM.
“They have seen me act on television. Now I’ll show what I can do onstage,” he added. “That’s what I’m trying to achieve.”
One of the song’s inspirations was Korean boy band SHINee member Kim Jong-hyun, who took his own life last year, after dealing with “devouring depression and struggles of fame.”
“I wish that we could raise awareness about depression, because sometimes, people don’t realize that they have it. I believe it (the song) can also help support people in the biz, the younger ones,” he said. “I hope this song tells people that you have done enough and that you’re not alone.”
Speaking of lifting other people’s spirits, Xander said he reached out to his “Jagiya” leading lady Heart Evangelista, after learning that she suffered a miscarriage.
“I just texted her. I believe that things happen in God’s time. When God thinks it’s the right time, she will become a mom. I hope she doesn’t get too sad or disappointed,” Xander said. “This is just going to make her stronger, make her more human.”
Given the chance, Xander said he would love to work with Heart again.
“Working with her, it isn’t just working. I’ve learned so much from her about show biz and about life,” he said. “She gave me so much advice.”