George Alley
... is a musical maestro, a master of melodies, a professor of punk and a podcaster of comedy. He has lent his musical genius to various media projects, from film to television to other artists. He has also dazzled audiences with his own singles, such as “Summer Trophies”, “Smoke”, and “Just Leave Me Dreaming”, at festivals nationwide and at the Collage Festival in Philadelphia.
As a professor, he imparts his wisdom and enthusiasm on punk and creativity, inspiring his students to unleash their potential. He is also a co-host of several podcasts, such as Queerona and the hilarious comedy podcast “I’m Going to Kill You!”. Moreover, he is the creative director of Alley Ink Dance, a dance company that exhibits his artistic flair and choreographic skills. George Alley is a dynamic and inventive artist who constantly seeks new modes of expression and creation.
With a stunning cover of the '80s hit “Doctor! Doctor!” by the Thompson Twins, George, the elusive and mysterious singer-songwriter, gives us a taste of his upcoming self-titled album, dropping digitally and on vinyl in April 2024. The cover, produced by Ian Romer of Pavo Pavo and Frank Musarra of Hearts of Darknesses, reinvents the classic with a dark and eastern twist, while preserving the nostalgic vibe.
George’s vocals are spellbinding and haunting, expressing a desperate and passionate plea that echoes the lyrics. The cover also samples Amanda Lepore, the legendary model and performer, who worked with George on a commercial by Marco Ovando that used a fragment of “Doctor! Doctor!” as the soundtrack. George expanded the fragment into a full-length cover, creating a dazzling and unique homage to one of the most unforgettable songs of the '80s, and a sneak peek into his musical universe.
Q&A
What inspired you to create your musical style as George Alley and who are the main artists that influenced your sound?
That’s an interesting question as I feel like my musical style is always in flux, with common threads including a somewhat autobiographical prose-poem writing style and my voice. When I started playing in a chaotic band called Alien Flavours at 16, my influences ranged from Hole, Suede, The Breeders, Shudder To Think, Siouxsie and Banshees, The Cure, Diamanda Galas, Throbbing Gristle to Sonic Youth.
Additionally, my mom, Norma Alley, a musician in the '70s Detroit rock/blues band Electric Sh*t, exposed me to Glam, Psychedelic , Motown, and Disco. Growing up, I remember dancing to T.Rex and Donna Summer records on my Fisher Price record player. My maternal grandparents, 2nd generation Lebanese immigrants, listened to Arabic artists like Fairuz, influencing my appreciation for Middle Eastern music and scales.
I love your rendition of “Doctor! Doctor!”, it’s a brilliant tribute to the original. How did you choose that song for a cover?
A few years ago, I was asked to record the first verse of "Doctor! Doctor!" for the fetish company Slickitup's commercial, directed by Marco Ovando. This starred NYC nightlife legend Amanda Lepore. I wanted to highlight its percussive nature and eastern melodies. Working with producer and musician Ian Romer on my debut album, we also explored "extracurricular" material like this, and re-recordings of older singles (like “Undivided Attention” which was released in September, and “Just Leave Me Dreaming” which will appear shortly.) In the case of "Doctor! Doctor!", I had inherited my paternal grandfather’s banjo, took lessons, and wanted to include its sound in this version.
I heard that you have a new album coming out next year, what can we look forward to?
Yes! A self-titled album, featuring 11 musicians, spans pop punk, electronic dance, and psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll. It consists of 12 tracks, and besides primary production from Ian Romer(Pavo Pavo), it includes additional production from Frank Musarra (Hearts of Darknesses), known for his work with Girl Talk and 30 Seconds to Mars.
What is the most challenging part of making a new song, and how do you overcome creative blocks?
Through actively writing music 3-5 days a week since 2020, I’ve learned to honor where the song wants to go. If you try to alter it too much from its natural state to fit your agenda, it loses its soul. You have to get out of your own way.
I’m interested in the Situationist movement, and one of their tracts is “We demand games with great seriousness.” I enjoy playing games with songwriting, cutting words up, having long conversations with ChatGPT, or bigger schemes like writing a song that starts with every letter of the alphabet, as seen in the song “XRAY” on my upcoming album.
Do you plan to perform live on stage after releasing your album?
We are filming an in-studio live concert film of four songs at Ground Floor Studios in Philadelphia in January, accompanying the album release and featuring light installations from @electroromantic. Additionally, I’m filming two promotional music videos with Adam Peditto and Toby Celery.
If you could have a conversation with anyone about music, who would it be and why?
Immediately my mind goes to musicians that have passed away; self-possessed artists that used music as a channel to play and challenge ideas of identity. People like John Lennon, David Bowie, Darby Crash (of the Germs), Pete Burns, Poly Styrene, Amy Winehouse, and Billy Mackenzie of The Associates.
When I listen to “Doctor! Doctor!”, I think of some other great 80s songs. What are your top 3 favorites from that decade?
There’s way too many to name, but three that are less known include: “Bird Song” by Lene Lovich, “The Damned Don’t Cry” by Visage, and “You Don’t Love Me” by Marilyn.
What are your goals and aspirations for the near future?
It would be fantastic to take the “George Alley” album on the road this year with a full band, including Ian Romer and drummer Jack Reilly. I have an MFA in Choreography so, I would also like to collaborate with my friend Abigail Zbikowski, Bessie-Award winning choreographer, on a wild live show
