Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with AliveTeen

AliveTeen - STOP TELLING

“Stop Telling” (May 2024) is a fierce, guitar-driven confession about the moment trust finally breaks. AliveTeen builds the track on gritty, distorted guitars and dense layers of backing vocals — her unmistakable signature — to capture the defiance of someone who refuses to stay silent when honesty becomes a survival instinct.

Interview with AliveTeen

What inspired the writing of “Stop Telling” and its raw emotional intensity?

“Stop Telling” is about that moment when you already know trust is broken, but it’s still painful to accept it. You almost want to “shake yourself awake” and hope it’s not real — because a tiny piece of hope is still hanging on.

How does the track reflect the breaking point of trust in a relationship?

I write music through emotion, not logic, so sometimes it’s hard to put into words. I think if you listen to the track, the answer becomes pretty obvious on its own.

What role do distorted guitars and layered backing vocals play in shaping the song’s atmosphere?

The guitars add harshness — for me they symbolize inner strength, the kind people often lack when they need to protect themselves or make a hard choice.

And the backing vocals — I treat them like part of the instrumental. I always use distortion on them, almost like an electric guitar, to separate them from the clean lead vocal. The clean voice is the “human” part, while the layers are more like emotional textures. In all my songs, the backing vocals have effects, but the main vocal is always left untouched.

How does AliveTeen blend industrial pop, rock, and electronic elements in her music?

I never think in genres. There’s no formula. I feel an emotion first, and from that emotion, I create a small sketch. Then I bring it to my producer, and we develop it in the studio from there.

Which artists or bands have had the biggest influence on your sound and style?

People often compare my music to different artists, and I do listen to a lot of music. Many artists helped me survive difficult moments in my life. But my sound comes from my own perception, my experiences, my trauma. My producer can confirm — we never use references in mixing because we simply can't find anything similar.

Why do you choose to avoid autotune and focus on a natural vocal tone?

Because I believe that an artist's voice is as unique as a fingerprint, and it is beautiful, but auto-tune smooths it out and makes it sound standardized and unmemorable.

What challenges do you face as an independent artist in producing and releasing your work?

Everyone judges you by numbers on social media. Talent means nothing. And here’s the indie paradox: when you’re just starting out and broke, everyone expects you to pay, and nobody is willing to help for free — but the moment you finally gain recognition, those same people suddenly want to be involved, ride your name, and benefit from your success at no cost.

How do you aim to connect emotionally with listeners through your songs?

When I write, I imagine someone going through the same emotions or circumstances I went through. I intentionally write in metaphors so every listener can insert their own story, their own associations — and live through their experience with my music as the backdrop.

What can fans expect from your live performances in terms of energy and sound?

I dream of the day it happens. I’ve never performed my own songs live. The last time I was on stage was in 2017, finishing my vocal degree. I’m sure that when my first performance finally comes, it will be a storm of emotions and insane energy — because I’ve been waiting for it for so long. But right now, I honestly don’t know how to start. My project is 100% indie and solo.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out AliveTeen on the Pigeon Spins Playlist