D Alexander’s “Touch Me” is an empowering club track about losing yourself and finding love on the dance floor. It is the follow-up to “Beautiful”, his debut track that launched the young out-artist’s career – however it’s very different from the electronic R&B sound of the first. “Touch Me” is a disco dance romp that allows D Alexander to be flirty and communicate his passion for life, love and lust. “My inspiration for Touch Me was Saturday Night Fever,” reveals the young out-artist from his recording studio in South Beach.
“It’s a modern track about today’s dance floor but I wanted the hook to be vintage disco and have that vinyl record kind of feel. The song’s underlying message is that though the dance floor changes in time, its essence remains the same.” “The dance floor is a spiritual place,” he continues. “It frees us from ourselves and let’s us be someone else for the night. Whether it’s dressing up in something slutty or out of our norm, the dance floor is a fantasy world. “And when someone touches you while dancing, whether its sexual or not, it can often lead to something pretty dirty,” he laughs.
Growing up in Southern Florida, D Alexander attended a performing arts magnet school with a predominantly African-American population. As a result, his songs have been mostly urban. Recently, however, he has begun to incorporate Dance/Pop with basic
R&B rhyming schemes into his songs, creating his own unique sound that he calls Urban Dance Pop. “I have been listening to more European dance music. I’m drawn to its deep emotion: an intensity that is not often replicated in American music. When writing ‘Touch Me’, I aimed to write a song that had American hit potential yet was European dance club worthy.”
“I learned a lot from the release of ‘Beautiful’,” reflects D Alexander. “I have always excelled at being able to explain my song ideas to
producers. ‘Beautiful’ was the first time I had to explain my ideas to media and to my fans. I had to put myself out there and convince the world why they should listen to D. Alexander.”
There are still some things he won’t discuss, though. Like if he, himself, has experienced the passion on the dance floor he describes
in “Touch Me”. To that, he simply answers, “I don’t kiss and tell.” Your new track includes vintage disco elements. Is that a nod to seventies dance floors? My new track is most definitely a tribute to the late 70’s dance floor. When writing this track, I told my producer to incorporate vintage synthesizers to give listeners a decade confusion accompanied with a modern twist. Think of Gaga being warped back to the ‘70s in the middle of her “Just Dance” video. Trippy, huh?
What do the ‘70s mean to you?
The ‘70s paved the way for electronic/pop music to really hit the mainstream. Who were some of the ‘70s dance floor greats? In my opinion, the dance floor queen was and still is Donna Summer. Also, Sylvester’s "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)". Enough said.
The ‘70s were the beginning of the gay rights movement and the gay dance floor. How has it evolved through the years? To be honest, one of the greatest things about the gay dance floor is that the key elements have not changed. What has changed is the
type of guy on that dance floor. The new generation of gay men are no longer hiding.
They are celebrating their identities by freeing themselves and dancing for change. Unlike the ‘70s, we don’t have to keep our eyes peeled for cops trying to raid our clubs because of our illegal homosexual desires. In our social media world, do gay guys still meet on the dance floor? Hardly anyone initially meets at a club. Most meet there after they have checked each other out on their preferred app. It’s bittersweet for me. Thanks iPhone.
Do you remember your first time stepping into a gay club? I was petrified! I was a chunky 18 year-old, walking into a room full of greased up abs and half naked men. It was the first time I felt like a girl in one of those dreams where she finds herself naked in front of the entire school. It was also the moment where I decided what kind of guy I was going to be. The greased up abs isn’t really my scene, although it can be fun sometimes. Funny thing is, even now, I am still very shy when I walk into a club. As much as I love attention, it scares me to death.
What does the new generation want from their dance floors? The new generation wants to have fun! We have come so far in the struggle for equality, we just want to throw our hands up and dance in celebration of our accomplishments. Lets take a shot to progress! Is there a dress code? Guys wear what represents them most. The dance floor is a place to be the person you never thought you could. Welcome to wonderland, Alice!
What’s your take on the trend of guys wearing six-inch pumps to clubs? I don’t judge anyone. I think any expression of individuality is important. They claim not to be drag queens; that they do it to make a statement. They are saying that they will not acknowledge a line that divides masculinity and femininity. Instead, they will blur that stupid line and be as much of a woman as they are a man. It is an awesome statement.
Are drugs still rampant on today’s dance floors? Yes, and we need to cut that shit out already. Is it still ok to rip off your shirt on
the dance floor or is that just tacky? I want to say it’s tacky, but in reality, I don’t really care. It’s the dance floor. We’re all
there to have fun! There shouldn’t be rules. Are you gunning to be the next male Disco queen? (Laughs) I can’t say that. My sound has never been exclusively electro, R&B or pop. I like to think of my music as a harmonious unity of all three genres. Sometimes, you can even hear elements of rock in my songs. I think I am musically ADD.
Find D. Alexander on Facebook at facebook.com/dalexandermusic
“It’s a modern track about today’s dance floor but I wanted the hook to be vintage disco and have that vinyl record kind of feel. The song’s underlying message is that though the dance floor changes in time, its essence remains the same.” “The dance floor is a spiritual place,” he continues. “It frees us from ourselves and let’s us be someone else for the night. Whether it’s dressing up in something slutty or out of our norm, the dance floor is a fantasy world. “And when someone touches you while dancing, whether its sexual or not, it can often lead to something pretty dirty,” he laughs.
Growing up in Southern Florida, D Alexander attended a performing arts magnet school with a predominantly African-American population. As a result, his songs have been mostly urban. Recently, however, he has begun to incorporate Dance/Pop with basic
R&B rhyming schemes into his songs, creating his own unique sound that he calls Urban Dance Pop. “I have been listening to more European dance music. I’m drawn to its deep emotion: an intensity that is not often replicated in American music. When writing ‘Touch Me’, I aimed to write a song that had American hit potential yet was European dance club worthy.”
“I learned a lot from the release of ‘Beautiful’,” reflects D Alexander. “I have always excelled at being able to explain my song ideas to
producers. ‘Beautiful’ was the first time I had to explain my ideas to media and to my fans. I had to put myself out there and convince the world why they should listen to D. Alexander.”
There are still some things he won’t discuss, though. Like if he, himself, has experienced the passion on the dance floor he describes
in “Touch Me”. To that, he simply answers, “I don’t kiss and tell.” Your new track includes vintage disco elements. Is that a nod to seventies dance floors? My new track is most definitely a tribute to the late 70’s dance floor. When writing this track, I told my producer to incorporate vintage synthesizers to give listeners a decade confusion accompanied with a modern twist. Think of Gaga being warped back to the ‘70s in the middle of her “Just Dance” video. Trippy, huh?
What do the ‘70s mean to you?
The ‘70s paved the way for electronic/pop music to really hit the mainstream. Who were some of the ‘70s dance floor greats? In my opinion, the dance floor queen was and still is Donna Summer. Also, Sylvester’s "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)". Enough said.
The ‘70s were the beginning of the gay rights movement and the gay dance floor. How has it evolved through the years? To be honest, one of the greatest things about the gay dance floor is that the key elements have not changed. What has changed is the
type of guy on that dance floor. The new generation of gay men are no longer hiding.
They are celebrating their identities by freeing themselves and dancing for change. Unlike the ‘70s, we don’t have to keep our eyes peeled for cops trying to raid our clubs because of our illegal homosexual desires. In our social media world, do gay guys still meet on the dance floor? Hardly anyone initially meets at a club. Most meet there after they have checked each other out on their preferred app. It’s bittersweet for me. Thanks iPhone.
Do you remember your first time stepping into a gay club? I was petrified! I was a chunky 18 year-old, walking into a room full of greased up abs and half naked men. It was the first time I felt like a girl in one of those dreams where she finds herself naked in front of the entire school. It was also the moment where I decided what kind of guy I was going to be. The greased up abs isn’t really my scene, although it can be fun sometimes. Funny thing is, even now, I am still very shy when I walk into a club. As much as I love attention, it scares me to death.
What does the new generation want from their dance floors? The new generation wants to have fun! We have come so far in the struggle for equality, we just want to throw our hands up and dance in celebration of our accomplishments. Lets take a shot to progress! Is there a dress code? Guys wear what represents them most. The dance floor is a place to be the person you never thought you could. Welcome to wonderland, Alice!
What’s your take on the trend of guys wearing six-inch pumps to clubs? I don’t judge anyone. I think any expression of individuality is important. They claim not to be drag queens; that they do it to make a statement. They are saying that they will not acknowledge a line that divides masculinity and femininity. Instead, they will blur that stupid line and be as much of a woman as they are a man. It is an awesome statement.
Are drugs still rampant on today’s dance floors? Yes, and we need to cut that shit out already. Is it still ok to rip off your shirt on
the dance floor or is that just tacky? I want to say it’s tacky, but in reality, I don’t really care. It’s the dance floor. We’re all
there to have fun! There shouldn’t be rules. Are you gunning to be the next male Disco queen? (Laughs) I can’t say that. My sound has never been exclusively electro, R&B or pop. I like to think of my music as a harmonious unity of all three genres. Sometimes, you can even hear elements of rock in my songs. I think I am musically ADD.
Find D. Alexander on Facebook at facebook.com/dalexandermusic
Written by Contributing Writer, Michael Nelson. As featured in Connextions Magazine, Issue 6.
Be sure not to miss future issues of Connextions Magazine! CLICK HERE to subscribe to the digital edition, FREE; order your print
subscription; or purchase a copy of this issue.
To find the latest issue of Connextions Magazine in stores nationwide: Click here
Be sure not to miss future issues of Connextions Magazine! CLICK HERE to subscribe to the digital edition, FREE; order your print
subscription; or purchase a copy of this issue.
To find the latest issue of Connextions Magazine in stores nationwide: Click here
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