Interview with

ALEX SINCLAIR

A Multi-Dimensional Artist

A few months ago, while diving into a K-Pop binge on YouTube, I found myself venturing into the world of reaction videos. As the hours slipped into the early morning, Alex’s reaction videos appeared on my screen—and I was instantly hooked. His responses felt refreshingly genuine, and his deep knowledge of music was undeniably impressive. Unlike some creators who pause excessively and stretch their commentary, Alex strikes the perfect balance—offering insightful takes while maintaining an engaging rhythm. His energy is simply contagious.

Intrigued and eager to learn more, I decided to reach out to him on social media. After a series of messages exchanged post-holidays, we finally set a date for our virtual meeting. This interview quickly became one of the most anticipated conversations on my list—I was excited to delve deeper into Alex’s world and connect with this remarkably talented artist through our screen time.

Vessel: Hello, Alex! Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today. We’re excited to dive into your journey and learn more about your experiences. To start, could you introduce yourself to our readers?

Alex: I’m Alex Sinclair—a singer, rapper, and producer based in Canada. I create music and K-Pop reaction videos on YouTube. In a nutshell, I’m a bit of a jack of all trades, but my main platform is YouTube.

Vessel: Did you always have a passion for music growing up? Did you learn to play any instruments at a young age?

Alex: I grew up in a military family—both of my parents were in the military—so we moved around a lot when I was a kid. No matter where we lived, I was always putting on shows. I remember staging performances in our garage, where I would dance—not even sing yet—at seven or eight years old. I’d be dancing to Backstreet Boys or NSYNC, and we’d go all out. We had lights, my brother would handle them, my sister would sell popcorn, and we even charged admission for the neighborhood to come watch me and my friends perform.

I always knew I wanted to be an entertainer, a performer in some way. I also took piano lessons as a kid, and songwriting became a big part of my life early on. By six years old, I was already writing songs on the piano. The moment I realized I could pick any notes I wanted, arrange them however I liked, and create an entire song—it felt like magic. The idea that I could control the mood, make it sound happy or sad, was fascinating to me. That’s when I knew music was something really special.

In high school, I played in a few bands, but pursuing music seriously still felt like a far-fetched dream. Looking back, though, I was already laying the foundation for where I am now.

Vessel: At what point did you decide to pursue a career as a singer, rapper, and songwriter? What sacrifices have you had to make to follow your passion?

Alex: My journey was probably different from a lot of artists. I used to think, “If I get signed to a label, I’ll have made it.” But after finishing university in Canada, I had a choice—either follow in my parents’ footsteps and join the military or move to Toronto and pursue music more seriously. I chose Toronto.

I still had to work a nine-to-five job to pay the bills, but I spent every spare moment working with producers, photographers, and engineers. Then, I had a realization: A lot of what I’m paying producers to do, I could probably learn to do myself. That’s when I got into producing. Then, I thought, “I can shoot my own music videos.” So, I started doing photography and video production.

I knew I didn’t want to stay in a nine-to-five job forever, so as soon as I had enough money saved, I quit. From there, I explored every possible way to stay creative while making a living. I started by producing music videos for other artists and gradually built my career from there.

It’s still an ongoing process—you always have to be creative in how you make a living because this industry isn’t easy. I’ve heard people say, “You can’t have a backup plan; you have to go all in.” That approach wasn’t for me. I needed to build up to it gradually because music is a tough business. It’s not something you can just jump into without a plan.

Vessel: Who have been some of your biggest musical influences? Are there any artists who continue to inspire your style and creative choices today?

Alex: Oh man, that’s a great question. My influences have shifted over time. There was even a period when I was really into country music. If you listen to some of my early releases, you’ll hear that influence.

I think the music you listen to in high school stays with you, and for me, that was Linkin Park and Incubus. Looking back, I realize I was drawn to artists who blended different genres—hip-hop, pop, and rock. Both Linkin Park and Incubus had turntablists, and I remember thinking, “What is that record-scratching sound? How do they do that?” That curiosity led me to explore hip-hop.

When I started writing songs, I naturally included rap verses because I was influenced by Linkin Park. I didn’t know any rappers at the time, so I just started doing it myself. That’s how I ended up incorporating different genres into my music.

K-Pop fascinates me because it follows the same genre-blending approach. Before I even really listened to K-Pop, I was already making music with that kind of mix. BLACKPINK was the first K-Pop group I heard on the radio, and their music blew my mind. They had rap, unique scales, and unpredictable beats. That was the moment I thought, “Whoa, you can do this?” I dove in from there, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Vessel: With everything you’ve learned along your journey, what advice would you give to your younger self? Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?

Alex: That’s a tricky one. I think I’d tell myself, “Be confident. Don’t care what other people think—just do what you love.” Honestly, if I could go back, I’d say, “Start reacting to K-pop now—get on YouTube and make a channel.” I would’ve started everything way sooner so I’d have more time to do it—and maybe skip the nine-to-five grind altogether.

That said, I wouldn’t change anything major because I’m incredibly fortunate and happy with where I am now. But if I could do it all again, I’d just start earlier and move faster.

Vessel: Just for fun—if you had to choose a TV or movie character that best represents you, who would it be and why?

Alex: Wow, that’s a tough one—I’ve never been asked that before! People have said I look like Ryan Gosling (also a fellow Canadian), which is a huge compliment, but personality-wise, I’m not sure that fits.

One character I relate to is Trunks from Dragon Ball Z. He’s loyal and confident, which I see in myself, but mainly—I just love his style. He’s got the cropped jacket, baggy pants, and cool boots. When I was a kid reading the manga, I thought he was the coolest character ever.

It’s funny—I always assumed his hair was blonde because the manga is black and white, and I was like, “Hey, I have blonde hair too—this guy is just like me!” It wasn’t until much later when I saw the anime that I realized his hair is actually purple. My whole life was turned upside down! But yeah, I’d probably go with Trunks—mostly for the style.

To read the full interview with Alex Sinclair, get your copy of this issue in print or digital format.