A classic music genre is being resurrected, perfect for your summer playlist. A Nuyorican singer, known by her stage name Alexis Jae, is bringing back a catchy Gen X innovation, giving Freestyle music a modern revamp for today’s Gen Z crowd. This blend of electronic, pop, disco, and hip-hop, which emerged in the early ‘80s, is synonymous with power-house artists like Lisa Lisa, Lil Suzy, Cult Jam, Exposé, Stevie B, and more. Although the genre helped lay a foundation for ‘80s music worldwide and defined an era among New York and Miami’s Latine communities, its improvisational essence seemingly dissipated as quickly as it emerged, leaving behind mere flashes of fame for one-hit wonders. Alexis Jae is on a mission to rewrite that narrative by preserving the legacy and integrity of the genre and infusing it with her unique vision to create a timeless sound for today’s audiences. “Growing up in New York City and hearing Freestyle music being played through my mother, in stores, and on the street at the Puerto Rican festival definitely speaks to me and my cultural heritage,” she tells Remezcla.
Originating in New York’s Puerto Rican communities, Freestyle arose as a cultural movement to fill the void left behind in the dance music scene with the decline of disco music. It swiftly gained popularity on radios, clubs, and ballrooms with its infectious, emotionally charged vocals that float atop rhythmic synthesizers and spontaneous Latine percussion anchored by lively drum beats. Alexis Jae’s mother reminisced about her 1980s upbringing by playing Freestyle as background music, exposing Alexis Jae to the nostalgic genre at an early age. It wasn’t until she turned 18 and experienced an enlightening psychedelic rendezvous that she felt a calling to be a singer. She initiated experimenting with her sound first through disco inspirations like Donna Summers and then through pop starlets such as Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Kylie Minogue. Eventually, her niche in Freestyle landed through artists she remembers listening to growing up, like Debbie Deb.
By emphasizing more of the modern pop elements, Alexis Jae believes she can help push Freestyle into the mainstream. “I was figuring out my tone of voice and what works well for me, but it was hard to find producers who could understand what I was going for until I connected with my producer New Position,” she explains. “We found a way to stay authentic to the ‘80s and ‘90s Freestyle sound while adding in a modern twist because, at the end of the day, I’m also very much a pop girly.”
With over 50,000 followers on Instagram, she has cultivated an audience drawn to not only her take on reemerging the genre, but also how she expresses her multifaceted artistry, which includes professional modeling and self-designed clothing. This range is on full display through her vintage “fantasy” concepts depicted through music videos, such as in her collaboration song “Tu Fantasy” with Miami rapper La Goony Chonga. “My delusional personality has a lot to do with it because I imagine all of these fantasies in my head when I’m listening to my music,” the Freestyle artist explains. “I mostly like to channel notions of camp and retro.”
Her latest music video, “On Those Nights,” she delves deeper into these conceptual realms, drawing from the melodrama of retro-style telenovelas to narrate a tumultuous love story with a fugitive. Despite recognizing the toxicity of the relationship, she finds herself ensnared by its allure, unable to break free. It’s a poignant exploration of inner conflict and the attraction to forbidden love, showcasing her ability to infuse storytelling into her art.
As a Capricorn, Alexis Jae acknowledges her inclination towards meticulousness in her creative expressions, yet she remains committed to preserving the improvisational essence of Freestyle in her music-making process. “It’s all about being innovative, so I try not to overthink it. I start with the beat, then adding gibberish. From there, I’ll formulate that into words and lyrics to create a catchy tune to record it,” she explains. Alexis Jae is creating music by tapping into different sides of herself to deliver the complete package of her Freestyle revival to the world. This sentiment rings especially true during live performing dances of her songs that are choreographed by Isabella Xtravaganza from the legendary NYC ballroom House of Xtravaganza.
“I can humbly say when I perform, the crowd tends to love me because I put my all into it with the confidence that it’s my fantasy world, and I’m going to show you what it’s like to experience it. I want everyone to enjoy my music, but I find it especially connects with LGBTQ communities in raves and ballroom scenes because they’re the pioneers of most dance-club music,” she adds.
Growing up in New York City and hearing Freestyle music being played through my mother, in stores, and on the street at the Puerto Rican festival definitely speaks to me and my cultural heritage.
Fantasy and the mission to broaden Freestyle’s appeal across generations and communities of listeners is at the forefront of Alexis Jae’s aptly titled album, Freestyle Fantasy Vol 1. Reflecting her Puerto Rican heritage and New York City upbringing, the pulsating fusion showcased in tracks like “Tu Toque” and “Move For Me” embodies a sense of grandeur and timelessness that transcends the ephemeral pursuit of viral fame. “I just really want to sum up what freestyle is for people who may not understand it, realize the roots of where it came from, or who’ve never been introduced to experience it,” she says. For her new album, she’s honed a majestic falsetto in her vocal range and captured the album’s exploration of relinquishing control regarding the highs and lows of romance, heartbreak, and desire. This offers both herself and the audience an escape into the timeless fantasy world she seeks to bestow.
“There are so many unfortunate things that have happened to our generation that are out of our control, like the pandemic, climate change, wars, etc. We didn’t pick this era to be born in, but to me, the fantasy is about blending elements of the past with the best of the present to shape something better lasting for the future,” she concludes.
