♪But I have this dream♪ ♪where I run and I feel fine♪ ♪And I have this dream♪ ♪where I'm running all the time♪ I'm Glenn Richards, and this is Amplified, showcasing some amazing artists for your listening pleasure.

On this episode, we're going to meet singer songwriter Alex Willow on guitar and vocals from his 2025 EP, “Willow”, here's “Shin Splints” from Alex Willow on Amplified.

♪♪He said be calm♪ ♪Just be patient♪ ♪Life will hold your hand if you let it♪ ♪He said it's all overrated♪ ♪But I can see the solemn path where I’m headed♪ ♪It's like the greatest written work♪ ♪It takes time♪ ♪Well, I'm a great big worrier♪ ♪I don't have time♪ ♪I have this dream Where I run and I feel fine♪ ♪And I have this dream♪ ♪where I'm running all the time♪ ♪Oh, shame to say♪ ♪that I'm obsessed with longing♪ ♪And I'll bathe in daydreams♪ ♪Oh, shame to say that summer's dawning♪ ♪And goddamnit, I remain♪ ♪in the same place♪ ♪I have this dream♪ ♪Where I run and I feel fine♪ ♪And I have this dream♪ ♪where I'm running all the time♪ ♪It’s hard to reconcile what you wanted when you were young♪ ♪I'm scared if I can't reach my dreams that I’ll keep changing them♪ ♪And most nights I’m terrified♪ ♪But I have this dream♪ ♪Where I run and I feel fine♪ ♪And I have this dream♪ ♪where I'm running all the time♪ ♪I have this dream♪ ♪Where I run and I feel fine♪ ♪But I’ve held this dream♪ ♪And I'll bury it tonight♪ ♪I'll bury it tonight♪♪ ♪And I could tell you when♪ ♪the thought first crossed my mind♪ ♪Bare chest painted blue♪ ♪by the light from between the blinds♪ ♪I wish it were a scene♪ ♪a motion picture show♪ ♪Crossed the courtyard naked♪ ♪Dodged between shadows below♪ ♪And I lost everything then♪ ♪Lost the fountain choked in weeds♪ ♪Cause when you are 12 year old♪ ♪12 years old’s all you wanna be♪ ♪12 years old♪ ♪Oh, I should have known♪ ♪A kingdom that you’ve built in vain♪ ♪I know now how the glass is stained♪ ♪the visionary, a guiding light♪ ♪who takes the eyes to restore the sight♪ ♪In my parents age♪ ♪they might have killed us♪ ♪Now they just turn and laugh♪ ♪So when I beg for existence♪ ♪I don't think it's a big ask♪ ♪But I'll beg no longer♪ ♪for sameness in the crowd♪ ♪If you use blood to build your temple♪ ♪I will burn it to the ground♪ ♪If you use blood♪ ♪If you use blood♪ ♪A kingdom that you’ve built in vain♪ ♪I know, I know how the glass is stained♪ ♪a visionary, a guiding light♪ ♪Who takes the eyes to restore the sight♪ ♪I've seen the mantle on the wall♪ ♪The things you speak of I’ve seen it all♪ ♪Appease the power of the right hand♪ ♪You know they never stood a chance♪ ♪But I must tell you it is not true♪ ♪Glory be, cause god looks like you♪ ♪The reason that you cry at night♪ ♪may be the thing that makes you kind♪ ♪Some day in the future♪ ♪you'll thank him for all he did♪ ♪Because the which is forged in fire♪ ♪grows a love stronger than sin♪♪ Yeah.

Good.

Oof!

That’s “Stained Glass” from Alex Willow on Amplified.

“Shin Splints” ahead of that, both tracks from his 2025 EP, “Willow”.

Alex Willow, thanks for being here.

Thanks for having me.

This is, like, the coolest thing ever.

So you are, originally from Key West?

Yes.

Yeah.

So I assume you came to Gainesville for for college for UF.

So what's keeping you here?

You graduated?

Well, I did just graduate with my undergrad.

However, I'm actually doing a master's program as well.

Okay.

I majored in, English as well as French.

I did some music stuff as well.

But.

So now I'm doing a master's program in French, which I'm really excited about, which has been a really great opportunity to, continue working on my music here and continue learning.

Because I'm very inspired by what I'm learning.

And I'm always like, trying to be reading and learning about new things.

So yeah, so I'm just hanging out.

It's a good place to be.

That's helpful for a songwriter.

Oh, absolutely.

Does, you know, growing up in Key West did that.

How did that affect your music?

Yeah, it's kind of funny.

I always say, like growing up in Key West, people always ask, like, growing up in Key West was kind of just like a regular home town.

It's just that the we had one McDonald's and it was across from the Gulf of Mexico.

So like you'd be sitting there and just across as like the most gorgeous blue ocean and like just knowing that it's like this kind of legendary body of water.

But I really wasn't even into music until I actually got here.

I, I started doing choir when I was in high school so that that kind of jump started it, but I didn't really take the leap to start learning, until I came here.

So now it's kind of whenever I go home, I get to kind of experience the rich literary and cultural history that Key West has, and I find that really inspiring.

And, it's such a- -yeah, there's some famous writer guy from there, right?

- Yes.

Hemingway.

Yeah.

Just one.

No.

Many Yeah.

Hemingway.

Elizabeth Bishop, Jimmy Buffett, musician obviously- well, actually not say anything about Jimmy Buffett.

No, I mean, it's it's a place that inspires stories.

Yeah.

You know, so many stories about Key West and stories that have come from people that have lived there.

So where do you take your inspiration for your stories?

I mean, on the level of writing, most of it is it's pretty biography, autobiographical or just kind of dramatized, but I think, as I was mentioning, like kind of like what I whatever I'm like, reading or learning about, I always like, managed to find mirrors or insights where the content really connects with my own life, which is always kind of a really weird but, invigorating experience at the same time.

So I think with my writing, I just kind of like live through things, and then I whatever I'm consuming kind of teaches me how to, like, hone that voice and, like, take influences, like, I feel like you can always hear, like, how my, listening has changed.

Like what I'm listening to based on, like, what I'm writing.

Because I feel like I start singing like the people I listen to when I start, writing like them, like, and just different pieces.

Because you can't really completely emulate it, right?

Yeah.

Well, it's it's hard to to not wear those influences on your sleeve.

I mean, they become a part of your DNA.

So tell us about “Stained Glass”, an interesting story behind the, the meanings or the imagery in that song.

Yeah.

I, when writing that song, I was feeling very kind of, betrayed or like, like, kind of like, like something had been taken from me.

And what happened was, I grew up religious.

I went to religious school, and, the schooling I had by no means was, like, super intense or harsh.

That's kind of the Key West of it.

Is that there's still like a certain level of openness, but, I think unfortunately, just within the culture and, wherever you get your religious influences, whether it be online or, groups, that kind of thing, it can be so harsh and restrictive and hateful and close the doors on a lot of people.

And so it felt that as I came into my identity as, like a gay person, that I, lost access to that.

And I was like, I lost that voice.

Like, that voice wasn't going to be interested in me anymore.

And so I think that song to me was really about redefining what God or religion was to me and realizing that it was actually only ever about how I felt, like it was never about an institution.

It was never about that.

None of those things could ever actually, dictate or control or allow you in or out.

And so I think and that song, the line that's always the most emotional to me, which is inspired by something that I heard somewhere I wish I could say I completely come up with the idea, but I totally didn't.

Of “glory be to God, that looks like you” I think that's such a beautiful idea.

Just that no matter who or what you are, it's.

It's nothing that somebody can take from you.

Well, we've got, another one ready to go.

What?

Anything you want to tell us about this one?

Yeah.

I'm gonna be playing, with my song, “Willow”.

Sorry.

That's the title track of the EP.

It's, one of my favorites.

This is one of those ones that just gets really dramatic and big, so I just love playing it.

And I'm gonna play a couple unreleased ones, which is really exciting.

Right.

Okay.

And we'll talk about that and yeah, what you do have available and your plans for the future.

But first, now playing “Willow” here is Alex Willow on Amplified.

♪♪You look hopeful♪ ♪You look kind♪ ♪And you like when you're mothers nice♪ ♪You love summer♪ ♪and white wine♪ ♪And you hate when your dad♪ ♪Wants to spend time with you♪ ♪I'm lifted now♪ ♪Oh with you♪ ♪It's not around♪ ♪I'm pathetic♪ ♪It's a shame♪ ♪Picking hobbies and numbing pain♪ ♪Overzealous♪ ♪all in vain♪ ♪Cause when I'm gone, it'll all stay the same♪ ♪But when you grow up♪ ♪real tall♪ ♪Tell the truth♪ ♪or tell your mom♪ ♪Take me to bed♪ ♪and bury me there♪ ♪Down by the river♪ ♪where there's a willow to spare♪ ♪And I want you to want me♪ ♪As bad as I want to change♪ ♪You know, that’s exactly what I thought you’d say♪ ♪Like a lover with no name♪ ♪Like a forest out in Maine♪ ♪Like a willow I will stay♪ ♪In the sheets mark my grave♪ ♪Oh, when you could see me now♪ ♪Oh, if you♪ ♪could see me now♪ ♪Take me to bed♪ ♪and bury me there♪ ♪Down by the river♪ ♪where there's willow to spare♪ ♪And I want you to want me♪ ♪As bad as I want to change♪ ♪Oh, oh♪ ♪You said every good thing must come to an end♪ ♪But I've always mourned that which never began♪ ♪I’ll take to the forest my sorrow in hand♪ ♪Dress it in ribbon a gift for the band♪ ♪Cause I could've loved you♪ ♪And I won't forget♪ ♪No, I'll send the flowers right after you're dead♪ ♪Your wife will be shocked♪ ♪She won't know who I am♪ ♪And if you could talk, you would say♪ ♪”just a fan.”♪♪ ♪♪There is a girl♪ ♪That I've got to see♪ ♪She sounds like honey in tea♪ ♪Her voice reminds me♪ ♪of an adolescense I never had♪ ♪Of a life that feels foreign♪ ♪She's so cool♪ ♪I’m a torment♪ ♪Spinning out♪ ♪I want to fall in love with you♪ ♪Through your childhood bedroom♪ ♪Want to know the way you felt♪ ♪before me or some one else♪ ♪You’ll be young♪ ♪For all of your life♪ ♪You’re a kid all the time♪ ♪I find it charming♪ ♪Compared to me♪ ♪I've been grown for so long♪ ♪I find comfort in calm♪ ♪you find it charming♪ ♪I want to fall in love with you♪ ♪through your childhood bedroom♪ ♪Want to know the way♪ ♪you felt before me or some one else♪ ♪Cardboard boxes under beds♪ ♪Forgotten dreams inside your head♪ ♪Unlock them baby let me in♪ ♪To who you were as a kid♪ ♪I want to fall in love with you♪ ♪Through your childhood bedroom♪ ♪Want to know the way you felt♪ ♪before me or someone else♪ ♪Cardboard boxes under bed♪ ♪Forgotten dreams inside your head♪ ♪Unlock them baby let me in♪ ♪To who you were as a kid♪ ♪And if I could give you peace♪ ♪Do not hide, surrender freely♪ ♪To the way I love you so♪ ♪If I can’t, I'll let you go♪ ♪This is my promise to you♪ ♪Love you now♪ ♪Love you then♪ ♪Love you tomorrow♪ ♪And when I am angry♪ ♪I'll remember♪ ♪you back then♪♪ ♪♪Your mother loves tradition♪ ♪Your father wouldn’t look at you the same♪ ♪You know, I’d never ask you♪ ♪to choose it♪ ♪But I’ll love you until you do♪ ♪ooh♪ ♪ooh♪ ♪Until you do♪ ♪I've given up tradition♪ ♪You know I don't expect you to do the same♪ ♪I know that you want children♪ ♪Well I can't give that to you♪ ♪ooh♪ ♪Youu♪ ♪Run, run♪ ♪river boy, down toward the sea♪ ♪You’re much too good a thing to be a part of me♪ ♪Run, run, River boy, get out while you can♪ ♪Before I make you think♪ ♪some things they wouldn’t understand♪ ♪Run, run, river boy, if you want usual tastes♪ ♪Cause I plan on living a life that they can’t replicate♪ ♪ooh♪ ♪You mother wants tradition♪ ♪If you do too♪ ♪I won't blame you♪ ♪I wont blame you♪♪ That's “Tradition” from Alex Willow on Amplified.

“Adolescence” Ahead of that, and “Willow” started things off the title track to his 2025 EP.

And also your stage name.

How did you choose that for your stage name?

I, I kind of actually just tried a bunch of different things, and even like in my head, I didn't actually really try.

The second I started actually doing anything music, I decided on this and I didn't really love it, but now I really love it.

It's really similar to my actual name, which I'm not going to share with you right now, but I was kidding.

But, it's really similar, but I think, well, the trees are just so beautiful, and, I like Google that when I, when I came up with it and I was like, represent emotion and nature and passion and I was like, well, I have all those things.

So yes.

And I really like it.

And then this song, when I was the song Willow, when I was writing it, it wasn't planned to be like a song that would refer to my, my stage name or the that would become the EP name.

But I just, it kind of became a hallmark of, like, or a symbol of, like, staying, I think because trees are there's, they're, they're, they're long lasting.

And that song is just kind of about like all these people maybe like, will leave, but like, I will stay and watch them.

And, there's a beauty to that.

But it's also kind of, there's like a loneliness.

And so, I don't know, I think it kind of just all tracks to like, now I just see myself as like, being like a historian, like a documentary or somebody who, like, I'm just trying to write things down and, and notice people and, like, notice things.

I think that's like the biggest thing.

So the English major in you is quite evident.

Oh, right.

Yeah.

Again, how does the French, play into it?

So I actually just, like, I'm Hispanic and I, I don't like, fully speak Spanish.

I can, like, understand, but I don't speak Spanish really well.

But when I came to school, I already had, like, my language credits because I did, like AP in high school, but I was like, well, I want to do, like, a language maybe.

And my mom, she also came here.

My entire family, our gators and my mom, studied French here.

And I was like, I let to try French.

Like, French is cool.

So I started I started, it for the first time, my freshman semester.

And I just started loving it, and it's it's been such an amazing, way to practice other parts of your brain, and really teaches you just to say things in different ways, because, not every phrase in English is like, let's say, like, idiomatic meaning, like, it doesn't translate, in French or, and really in any language, obviously.

So it really just challenges me.

But obviously there's such a massive, and like, rich cultural history to kind of pull from.

So I, I love learning about like, French film and music and all those kinds of things.

So that's what I'm really excited to do with my masters, is to kind of continue exploring those things.

Just because, as I mentioned, I take so much inspiration from, what I'm studying because I've been fortunate that studying is what I'm doing for most of the day.

So, yeah, it's really, kind of exciting.

You're like the start of your, you know, professional career and, you know, in the middle of your educational career and songwriting career, and performing career and all that.

And you think that's so much to draw on from the past and can go, like, in so many different directions in the future?

It's really kind of neat.

What are some of your musical influences you said you didn't really get into?

You were in choir, but music, but, because you were doing different styles, you know, strumming and also fingerpicking.

What are some of your musical influences?

Yeah, I think, whenever I like to start the, the, the journey, I always like to start with Conan Gray, which is like, I know if you're familiar with him, but he's a really awesome pop star, who is really big to me in high school and really was by watching interviews with him, I like, started to learn about what the idea of songwriting was and just hearing him talk about it.

And he also is just like, so like free with his, like, identity.

And he was really somebody that I really looked up to.

So and I also like, probably grew out my hair for good reason because of him.

Like it, like it was just such a good he was such a model for me.

And of course, I do love his music as well as I as I've stated, but he kind of like, introduced me to like, the pop songwriting sphere.

And then from there, like, I've gotten into so many amazing, like, contemporary songwriters, for the most part.

I do love like, a lot of, like, the oldies, but I'm not nearly as well versed just because I just love, like, the feeling of new music coming out and like the new excitement of it.

But I love, I love Boygenius, I love Adrianne Lenker.

I love Ryan Beatty, who's putting out an album soon.

I'm so excited about it.

But I don't know, I, I do really, really love, like, pop folk rock.

Yeah.

I love rap, too.

Really been.

I get into 80s music.

I would love to do like a synth 80s album whenever I'm done with all these, like, emotions and things, I could never.

I'm done with all this, like, folk sadness stuff and not getting, well, whatever I'm like, I don't know.

Or if I like, have like the resources to do that.

I would love to do like an 80s, synth pop like album that you can, like, dance around to.

That would be awesome.

Yeah.

I read, something about you.

I guess it was on your, your website.

You cited, David Bowie as an influence as well.

And he's somebody who checks all those boxes.

Yeah, yeah.

My, my, I just adopted a puppy like a few months ago.

His name is Bowie.

Nice.

Yeah.

So, the EP came out, and you're associated with, the University of Florida, artist label, Swamp Records.

How's that going?

And what are your plans moving forward?

Yeah, it's literally been the coolest thing ever.

I think I said the coolest thing ever, like three times, but I actually mean, it's the coolest thing ever.

It genuinely, when I either we're the coolest thing ever.

Okay.

But you guys are, like, all, like, the same entity.

Awesome entity, though.

Fine.

You can be okay.

You're Glenn Richards are the coolest thing ever.

Next is Swamp Records.

Well, next is WUFT.

Sorry.

And then it's Swamp Records.

But no, when I came here, I literally, when I found out what Swamp Records was I was like, I want to do that.

And it took four years.

It took until my senior spring to be signed, which was like the coolest full circle moment that I never could have believed it would happen.

And I'm so grateful.

It is the coolest thing having like, people working with me and just seeing, the talent of like, people who doing camera work and graphic design and then helping with social media, like there's just so many amazing things, like amazing talents that I do not have and that I do not have the motivation or drive to, like, really better myself out.

And so it's such a blessing to be able to connect with people, so that they can do their best work and I can do my best work.

And then we make something that, like, we're both proud of.

So that's been like the biggest lesson.

And I'm so excited to keep it going and to be, here for the next two years, as I do my masters.

I think it it gears up really nicely for me to keep working on new stuff and then figure out what comes after that.

So the EP had six songs and you've done, three of those, but you've also got three songs that you're performing that that aren't released now.

Are these songs that you've had and didn't make it onto the EP, or are you just prolific?

And no, these are new ones now.

Yeah, I kind of don't shut up.

It's it's pretty constant.

Not we're not constant.

It's like every month I would say there's like a new one.

Sometimes there's months of, there's not.

But it's like I definitely I'm not like the person like like whenever, like I write a song every day.

I'm like, I would really be so bored and I can do that.

Whenever something is going on, that's normally the way that it comes out.

But no, these are all songs from like the past year, year and a half, because the songs that are on that EP are like two years old.

So the two that I just finished playing, “Adolescence” “Tradition”, I'm working on producing right now, so I'm my hope is to put them out for the fall.

It's prospective, but I'd like to do it.

I just want to make sure that, like, we're really ready and have all of the materials necessary to really give it, like, a good chance.

So it's singles or you're going to try to, I think, want to do a full length album.

Yeah, I yeah, I do want to do an album.

It's way too, like I have so much of the music written, but it's, that's kind of my goal is kind of like over these next two years that I'm here, I want to have done that.

But I'm not going to say how soon it is, because even, like working on the two track so far, it's like you think it's going to go one way and then it's like, oh, actually, I have no idea where I want to bring these songs, right.

So if you multiply that by like five to have like 10 or 12 songs, like it's a lot of, complications, but good complications, like a lot can happen between now and then.

Yeah.

Cool.

Well, we'll keep track of you.

Where can people find out more about you and, find out where you're going to be appearing and and things like that.

Yeah.

So my social media is, Alex with the music on Instagram and TikTok.

My YouTube is also discoverable as, like Alex Willow.

And now I have a website, which is freaking awesome.

Thank you.

Swamp records.

Thank you small brain development team and everybody.

You guys are awesome.

AlexWillowMusic.com It's super cute.

My face is all over it.

There's another artist out there named Alex Willow, but that Alex Willow is like an artist artist -Like a physical artist.

- Oh, I'm not an artist, Okay.

[laughing] Really?

That's crazy!

You know, Alex-Willow-Music -is where you want to find... -Well hey, it was taken on Instagram.

I couldn’t just do Alex Willow.

Yeah.

No, that's good, because you want to make the distinction between you and- Thank you for insulting me.

-painter or sculptor Alex.

All right, well, all right, time for one more.

Here's Alex Willow with “Virginia” on Amplified.

♪♪She sends me♪ ♪A letter♪ ♪just to tell me she loves me♪ ♪And I smile♪ ♪She leaves me♪ ♪A note on the windowpane saying♪ ♪I could do anything♪ ♪Be anything♪ ♪I think I would like to be like her♪ ♪Even when♪ ♪You don't understand♪ ♪I love you♪ ♪And even if♪ ♪I can’t let you in♪ ♪I love you♪ ♪For as long♪ ♪As you're in this world♪ ♪I will know what it's like to be loved♪ ♪You told me♪ ♪I could always recognize how♪ ♪you were feeling♪ ♪from the very first day I arrived♪ ♪Your power♪ ♪Is in how you turned to gold♪ ♪What should've killed you♪ ♪Or at very least turned you to stone♪ ♪You've got something♪ ♪that can't be defined♪ ♪The greatest gift of my life♪ ♪has been being your child♪ ♪Even when♪ ♪you don't understand♪ ♪I love you♪ ♪And even if♪ ♪I can’t let you in♪ ♪I love you♪ ♪For as long♪ ♪As you're in this world♪ ♪I'll know what it's like to be loved♪ ♪Oh even when♪ ♪You don't understand♪ ♪I love you♪ ♪And even if♪ ♪I can’t let you in♪ ♪I love you♪ ♪For as long♪ ♪As you're in this world♪ ♪I’ll know what it's like to be loved♪♪ That's “Virginia” from Alex Willow.

Find out more about Amplified at wuft.org/amplified You can also see past episodes there.

Thank you, Alex Willow, for performing for us.

I'm Glenn Richards.

Thank you for checking us out.

We'll see you next time.

♪Your mother loves tradition♪ ♪Your father wouldn’t look at you the same♪ ♪You know, I’d never ask you♪ ♪to choose it♪ ♪But I’ll love you until you do♪ ♪ooh♪ ♪ooh♪ ♪Until you do♪