By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Sometimes, it’s not until you’re on your own that you truly find yourself.
When Alex Creighton came to this realization while on an LSD encounter, he abruptly ended the long-term relationship he was in, despite the fact he loved the other person terribly.
As most musicians do, they use real-life experiences for their songs and this fueled the inspiration for Creighton’s “Fun Machine” project – a band where he serves as lead songwriter – and made up what became his first-ever duet, amassed in jazz, Neo-soul and indie rock entitled “Me Minus You,” featuring Heather Hunt.
The Music Bugle had the chance to talk with the Denver-based musician about what he’s been up to lately and more.
Music Bugle – How did you decide the name Fun Machine?
Fun Machine – I have this keyboard in my studio that my friend JJ from another Denver band tonguebyte gave to me because he didn’t have a place anymore. I was pondering for band names when I just saw the name of the keyboard “Fun Machine,” so I just said it aloud and it stuck and what I mean by it “sticking” is my friend Dano just thought it was sick, so I went with it.
Music Bugle – What excites you the most about your style of music?
Fun Machine – I feel like because I can produce my own music, I can make anything I want with no limits. I can write the same jazzy “sad boy” songs and with my production style, breathe so much depth and life into what they are and that shit is a world I get lost in as much as I can.
Music Bugle – How would you describe Denver to someone who has never been there before?
Fun Machine – It can’t decide if it’s small or big. Denver is a big city, but it’s no LA or NYC or Austin. We have a relatively small population, so all of these creative scenes are vibrant and up-and-coming, but we are far from being a cultural epicenter. Living here is like watching the beginning of America’s next big art city before it becomes that. Also, mountains are sick as fuck and take hikes, please.
Music Bugle – Does social media help or hurt musicians?
Fun Machine – Honestly, social media is a tool. I don’t have personal accounts on any social media. I use it purely as a promotional tool and it is powerful when used well. I think it helps if you use it to help yourself and don’t get so attached to how many likes and follows you get. If you are using it to spread your art and express yourself, then I feel like it’s a good thing.
Music Bugle – How have you been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
Fun Machine – Multiple mental breakdowns about being a bad person for being around others. I had a rough go of it for a minute. Also, no shows, but it also gave me a whole new gratitude for all of the shit we get to do when it isn’t “coughy cough pain time.”
Music Bugle – What has been your biggest challenge lately?
Fun Machine – I can’t fucking relax. I do my own social media and the social media for my collective and I’m always booking shows. I love being on my grind, but I can’t stop. I usually just work until I sleep, ’cause it’s too painful to sit with all the energy I have. I want to be constantly creating and pushing my career forward and helping my fellow artists do the same. It’s just so hard to take a step back, ’cause I get scared to step away.
Music Bugle – Given its emotional backstory, are you proud of the way your song “Me Minus You” turned out?
Fun Machine – Yes, not to brag, but I sorta nailed it, ’cause I said exactly what I wanted to say and every word of that song needs to be there. Everything has meaning and is honest and when I play it, it lets me find purpose in the trauma I have from the relationship it’s about.
Music Bugle – Who are you listening to right now, music-wise?
Fun Machine – Lots of local artists, like my boy Transiit, an amazing Denver rapper. Also, my friends tonguebyte, Devyn rae and Cista vinum, all brilliant Colorado bands.
Music Bugle – Where do you go when you need a break?
Fun Machine – I walk. Anywhere in my house just makes me want to work, so I have to physically remove myself from my home to clear my head at all, so at night, I’ll walk for hours in complete silence and I truly have some profound experiences doing so. That and when I’m playing music or having sex are the only things where my thoughts leave my head completely and I can just be.
Music Bugle – What do you hope for from the rest of 2021 and start of 2022?
Fun Machine – My collective will grow with more artists and we will throw the craziest shows in town and film everything. I just want to push my community forward as much as fucking possible until I collapse of exausation. I believe in everyone around me so fucking much that I just hope now is when we start making some fucking money and throw some next level shows.
