GetMusic's artist spotlight features Shadows of my Doubts, sharing the story behind the music, the latest work, and what comes next.
Introduction & Background
Please introduce yourself and share a bit about your background.
I am a somewhat older musician (58) having grown up in the 70's and 80's in Ithaca, New York during a great musical time. I am a one man band based in Berlin, Germany. I am American but have lived in Berlin for almost 17 years. I write, play, sing and record all my own songs thus far.
What's your musical origin story?
I played a little guitar when I was 16 or so but gave up pretty quickly. In my late 40's I saw a street musician playing Stairway to Heaven and I thought I have to learn to play. My wife bought me some lesson hours as a Christmas gift and then I got hooked. I ended up with a different music teacher and she inspired me to not just learn to play guitar but electric bass and to sing.
What were the driving forces or pivotal moments that inspired you to pursue music?
The pivotal moment for me was when I finally learned how to use (or at least sort of) a DAW. I could suddenly change little parts, layer, add effects, change at will, save and listen on my phone to evaluate. Since then I have about 150 songs in different states of completion.
Musical Identity
How would you describe your style of music?
I don't really make songs with an intentional style in mind. I grew up on heavy metal and hard rock but sometimes when I like a riff, it turns into something softer or more ethereal. I guess that while I don't really sound like them my mainstay influences are Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, The Cure, Alice in Chains and Queensryche. But those are just a few and my inspiration is more the "try anything" of New Wave, rock, alternative etc. of the 80's.
How is your personality reflected in your work?
I have had a really difficult time the last few years from family tragedies, illness and dissatisfaction in my job. I am also depite having lived over 25 years in total in Germany, still a foreigner and expat. So my songs reflect some of these themes e.g. in the songTownie it refelcts how I wanted to leave where I was and the song Expat how I am still trying to find home.
Describe your creative process when you write new music.
I usually start with a drum groove that I like. That then often inspires me to develop a lick and if I really like the lick, I build it out into a song. Sometimes I start from a short melody and build from there. The lyrics and vocals I always do in the end as each song evokes some feeling for me and leads to a story I want to tell.
Current Work
What is the name of your latest release?
Beginning of the End
What was the inspiration for that release?
The album represents a lifetime as a day from dawn to dusk with all the trials, tragedies, shadows and doubts
What challenges or unexpected moments did you encounter during the writing/recording process?
Once I finished the songs and did my own rough mix and attempted some really amateur mastering, I was completely frustrated. The songs sounded good in my studio headphones connected to my DAW but sounded muddy and awful everywhere else. So my music teacher said spend your time making music and let a pro do the mixing and mastering. So I ponied up and had Peak-Studios do the mixing and mastering which was both a great and educational experience and I am really happy I took my music teacher's advice.
Promotion & Engagement
What strategies do you find most effective for promoting your music?
As this is the first release I have ever done, I have no idea what can or will work.
How do you engage with your fans online and offline?
To early to say but hope to eventually have some interaction and maybe find some band members to make music with.
What upcoming promotional activities or releases are you most excited about?
I have about 5 songs which are effectively B-sides to the songs on this album. I am working on them and hope to release by the end of the year.
How can folks contact you?
alex_d_greenwood@yahoo.de, also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shadowsofmydoubts or Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/somd.bsky.social
