Alexx O'Nell: Acting reveals a piece of me, while my music puts all of me out there

Alexx O'Nell was recently seen in Vishal Bharadwaj’s Khufiya starring Tabu. We spoke to the actor-singer about what he enjoys more, acting or music, and he quipped, “While I enjoy both acting and making music equally, they offer completely different kinds of fulfilment."

He added, "Acting allows me to step into diverse characters' lives and tell their stories. It is a collaborative effort that brings together the visions of the writer, director, cinematographer, and fellow actors - and so, the resulting performance is very much influenced by the team. When I'm composing, recording, or performing my music, however, I'm expressing MY emotions and MY experiences, not some other character's. The lyrics are mine, the melody and the chords are mine. It is literally my voice. And instead of relying on a director and a team of artists and technicians, I only make progress with music when I myself move it along - and I'm a perfectionist. This is why there is often quite some time between my music releases. I suppose the most significant difference between my acting and my music is that acting reveals a piece of me, while music puts all of me out there... which can be a bit scary.”

When asked what sets him apart from other actors and singers in the industry, he said, “I suppose what sets me apart is that I'm not just an actor. I am a musician, a composer, and a lyricist. I am a paragliding pilot, a scuba diver, and an adventure sport enthusiast. I am a world traveller. And I draw upon these facets of my personality and lifestyle, the skills and experiences, to bring something fresh and engaging to the audience through my acting and my music.”

Recently, the electro pop version of Alexx’s song These Four Walls was released. “This one has layers of production that lend it a great vibe and an energy emblematic of the city of Cape Town where it was recorded and produced. But, stripping the song down to its core elements and reimagining it in a more raw and intimate acoustic way, I believe, hi-lighted my vocal performance, the lyrics, and the emotional depth of the song. In a way, creating the acoustic version was like taking a journey back to the core essence of the song, allowing it to resonate in a completely different way. It was produced in Mumbai by Debarpito Saha who, coincidentally, produced the music for 'Khufiya' as well.”