Copyright The Independent Florida Alligator
Alex Wilson has a lot going on. The 20-year-old UF senior is at a turbulent time in his life: He’s grappling with the recent loss of a pet and upcoming graduation as a double major in English and French, all while growing his own career as an indie singer-songwriter. On Oct. 17, he released his debut EP, “Willow.” Wilson, who uses the stage name Alex Willow, integrates everything in his life into his art. From classes on Plato’s “The Symposium” to a semester-long spiritual dissection of John Milton’s epic “Paradise Lost,” Wilson pieces together the puzzles of his life for each song. He compares his songwriting to some of his classwork. “It's not that different from writing a paper,” Wilson said. “I'm a writer in general, I like doing that kind of stuff. And I definitely love songwriting the most. It's the most fun to me. It's like a puzzle.” Wilson is solving that puzzle with the support of fellow musicians. The Gainesville music community has welcomed Wilson with open arms, and he’s grateful to be surrounded by such talented people, he said. Creating with a community is like grafting a branch onto a plant, Wilson said. He attaches his branch of artistry to the tree of the local music scene, joining the larger organism. This collaboration inspired Wilson to write a song about creating a garden with somebody, an act of creation that isn’t sexual but still a product of love. The track is currently unreleased. “There's something so beautiful about being able to make something, no matter who you are and whatever your situation is,” Wilson said. Kevin Bruchert, Wilson’s producer and one of his main collaborators, said part of what makes Wilson so special is his open-mindedness. While in the studio, that means trusting the producer to add strings to a track. Besides being a producer, Bruchert works as a minister for Gainesville’s Meizon Church, known for its progressive nature. One of Willow’s tracks, “Stained Glass,” features religious imagery. “A kingdom that you've built in vain / I know now, how the glass is stained,” Willow sings. Although he’s a church leader, Bruchert understands Wilson's rocky experience with religion. Wilson, who identifies as queer, struggled to come to terms with his identity while raised in a conservative environment. Bruchert said he celebrates that complicated relationship. As a minister, Bruchert has met many queer people who have felt rejected by religion. But he sees Willow’s song as a discussion of the church, not as a critique. The song reveals what the church could be versus what it has been, he said. “He's exuding a lot of the characteristics of Christ … to be loving and to be accepting, and to be able to love himself and to be able to share that love with others,” Bruchert said. He’s excited to see where Wilson’s talents will take him. A key focus of the “Willow” EP was to reveal who he is as a singer-songwriter — a raw look into his current psyche and sound. Bruchert shared plans for future music that will involve more “risky production.” Wilson tries to bring clarity to muddled topics through his lyrics. His debut single, “Shin Splints,” especially connected with his photographer and manager, Lena Krone. The song’s title stuck out to her as a former athlete. But its message is what really blew her away. “He made it this super amazing metaphor for life, where it was like, ‘I have a dream where I run and I feel fine, as opposed to being anxious all the time and worrying,’” Krone said. For Wilson’s close friend, Macy Brown, a 22-year-old UF criminology and psychology senior, his lyricism sets him apart from other musicians. Brown was skeptical of Wilson’s music when she first learned about it, citing the often lackluster lyricism many college acts possess. She admitted she had her doubts when going to his first show in 2024, but was quickly proven wrong. Now, she’s seen almost all of them. “I was just blown away from that moment at his songwriting and his presence and the passion that you can see in his music,” Brown said. But it isn’t just Brown who’s been deeply moved by Wilson’s music. Brown recounted her experience at the midnight launch party Wilson held for his debut EP with some friends. “After the EP finished, everyone was talking about how they were holding back tears, and they were feeling really strong emotions about both the songs itself and the broader representation of the EP,” Brown said. Whether it’s the death of a pet or a discussion of classic literature, Wilson connects with fans by drawing inspiration from all aspects of his life. He’s spreading his roots deep into Gainesville’s music scene, and as his email signature reads, “Like a Willow, I will stay.”
