For press

For press

Are you a journalist? Plain Alex wants to make it easy for you to take your own angle on what he does.

Photos below are free for you to use in contexts that relate to Plain Alex (though your crediting of the photographer is appreciated when doing so). Feel free to crop them as you need.

Alex is also easy to contact for interviews or more info, on info@plainalex.com or by sms/phone on +46-73-9471195. If you’d be interested to hear recordings pre-release, for reviews or other journalistic purposes, let him know.

Photos: Jytte Lindberg

Photos: Jytte Lindberg

Gig history

For upcoming performances, check the front page.

2024-07-23
Skumpanerna, Fårösund

2024-07-12
Skumpanerna, Fårösund

2024-07-05
Skumpanerna, Fårösund

2023-07-27
Skumpanerna, Fårösund

2023-07-20
Skumpanerna, Fårösund

2023-07-18
Skumpanerna, Fårösund

2023-07-06
Skumpanerna, Fårösund

2023-07-04
Skumpanerna, Fårösund

2023-06-29
Skumpanerna, Fårösund

2023-05-10
Nice Valley, Sköndal

2022-07-11
Skumpanerna, Fårösund

2022-06-18
Ågesta Woodstock, Stockholm

2021-06-09 
I Know a Place, Stockholm

2019-01-17
Kulturhuset Fanfaren, Farsta

2018-12-06
Science students’ pub. 
Naturvetenskapliga föreningen, Gröna villan, Stockholms universitet

2018-10-28
Kulturhuset Fanfaren, Farsta

2018-08-13
Open Mic Stockholm @ King’s Table, Sveavägen 64

2018-07-03 19:00
PSB, Skånegatan 80, Stockholm

Videos

“After work” and “Hi, I am Alex” (Live with chats)

For English translation of the intro chats in this video, click the player’s CC button.

I’m a fake (Live, with chats)

Treading water (Live, with chats)

My faster (Live)

Anchors aweigh (Live)

Beauty of the water (Live)

Listen/Lyrics

Listen

Lyrics

Click title to expand.


After work, after work
After work, after work

How easy I will feel
Give my mind its time to heal
After work

After work, after work
After work, after work

Warm rays of setting sun
When the final task is done
After work

It’s not like I suffer
Where I am at right now
Not like it pains me
All too bad
Still the thought of my upcoming rest is soothing
And we can all be sure
that in the end
there is rest to be had

After work, after work
After work, after work

No need to rush there, it will stay
Only place that won’t go away
After work

Sure as work days come and go
So will I and so will you
After work

It’s not like I suffer
Where I am at right now
Not like it pains me
All too bad
Still the thought of my upcoming rest is soothing
And we can all be sure
that in the end
there is rest to be had

After work, after work
After work, after work


Hi, I am Alex, the plain guy
Just in case you would not notice
It might be nice for you to know this
Knowing me’s a subtle privilege

I’ll make you stand out as clever
Quite sophisticated really
Although you may hardly hear me
I’ll do wonders for your image

If you invite me to your party
I’ll unnoticeably zigzag
Unassuming as a rug rag
Among the friends you have invited

Say whatever, I’ll go ‘aaah’
I’m the backdrop to your world stage
I myself will match your lamp shades
and your guests go home delighted

Hi, I am Alex, the plain guy
Guess my favourite taste in ice cream
When you get to know me better
I’ll tell you all the dreams that I dream

Vanilla please

Just vanilla please
Just vanilla please
We’ll keep it simple keep it straight
Though I’ll die starving if I wait
Let’s just go there if you share my craving

Just vanilla please
Just vanilla please
I’d never push it in a queue
I’m in pain but even so
I will stay mannered will stay well-behaving

Nothing else gives that tease
Vanilla please
Nothing else gives me ease
Vanilla please

Just vanilla please
Just vanilla please
I’ll go bananas if it shuts
Sprinkles, sauce and freakin’ nuts
I beg your pardon if I get a bit frantic

I’d never mean to interrupt
But only you could fill my cup
I’m essentially a sensual romantic

Nothing else gives that tease
Vanilla please
Nothing else gives me ease
Vanilla please

You know my heart’s in pain
And when I hear your name
I try to stay in my chain
But I need that something to cool my brain

Nothing else gives that tease
Vanilla please
Nothing else gives me ease
Vanilla please
I’m so hot, need a freeze
Vanilla please
Nothing else gives that tease
Vanilla please


My faster may not be fast
but it’s faster than slower
My higher may not be high
but it’s higher than lower
My better may not be good
Though I did nearly the best I could
Yeah, my better may not be good
however much I hoped it would

My stronger may not be strong
But it’s stronger than weaker
My braver may not be brave
But it’s braver than meeker
My better may not be good
Though I did nearly the best I could
Yeah, my better may not be good
however much I hoped it would

My smarter may not be smart
But it’s smarter than dumber
My cooler may not be cool
but it’s cooler than summer
My better may not be good
Though I did nearly the best I could
Yeah, my better may not be good
however much I hoped it would

My greater may not be grand
Though even I’d sometimes make a stand
Yeah, my greater may not be grand
Though I’d give anyone a hand

My better may not be good
Though I did nearly the best I could
Yeah, my better may not be good
however much I hoped it would

Hm, hm, me Alex, you Jane
Will you join me in my jungle?
You may not see it
but I carry endless forests inside
Now grab the vine

Hm, hm, me Alex, you Jane
Are you ready for life in its full swing?
I’m short on possessions
But the rubble underneath is all mine
Now grab the vine

Yeah, I’m poorly dressed
but nevertheless
I will shelter you from lions, guns and rain
If you just stay
my Plain Jane

Hm, hm, me Alex, you Jane
Will you dive in with me, and meet the parents?
The modern world’s a monkey business,
but stay here with me, we’ll do just fine
Now grab the vine

Yeah, It’s true that I kind of just grabbed you
But I’ll give all to deserve to have you
And I’ll shelter you from lions, guns and rain
If you just stay
my Plain Jane

My chest has been well trained enough with
all the weights you could help me get off it
And I’ll shelter you from lions, guns and rain
If you just stay
my Plain [Jane]
Yeah, I’m poorly dressed
but nevertheless
I will shelter you from lions, guns and rain
If you just stay
my Plain Jane


This taste of wood is killing me
This weekly meeting’s got me in its grip
But as I’m to speak I’m suddenly distracted
as a colleague pours a glass and takes a sip

I am captured by the beauty
of the water
as it pours, as it swirls
I say our market’s Mother Nature’s
sons and daughters
Let’s provide what they deserve

I get a hesitant reaction
someone says ’I … think I might agree’
But the boss says ’can you explain please to us, what you mean by that now’
and the others all look sceptically at me

I say I’m captured by the beauty
of the water
as it pours, as it swirls
and I’m convinced our universe will
boost this quarter
with plenty gold and plenty pearls

Dai-dai-dai … da-di-Di da Dai-dai-Dai
da-Dai … Dai-dai-Di-dai-Dai-dai

Now all is fine
I can’t complain
So nice you ask
It’s going great

I’m a fake and soon they’ll figure out
It’s gone on long but now they’re just about
My success was pure luck, honestly
Now the whole shit’s caving in on me

But if I’m not the one they see, who am I?
Yeah, if I’m not the one they see, who’s there?
In the mirror, my face is blurry
Sometimes I just stop and I just stare

Met a friend, he said come on let’s go
Have a drink ‘mong all the folks you know
They’ll let you worry more some other day
They’ve seen through you since the day you came

But if I’m not the one they see, who am I?
Yeah, if I’m not the one they see, who’s there?
In the mirror, my face is blurry
Sometimes I just stop and I just stare

Now all is fine
I can’t complain
So nice you ask
It’s going great

Now all is fine
 I’m a fake and soon they’ll figure out
I can’t complain
 It’s gone on long but now they’re just about
So nice you ask
 My success was pure luck, honestly
It’s going great
 Now the whole shit’s caving in on me

I’m a fake and soon they’ll figure out
It’s gone on long but now they’re just about
My success was pure luck, honestly
Now the whole shit’s caving in on me

I’m a fake and soon they’ll figure out
I’m a fake and soon they’ll figure out
I’m a fake and soon they’ll figure out
I’m a fake and soon they’ll figure out


I was lucky to have close ones come back
From the undead, from the undead
I was lucky to have some come back
Though not all

Some slipped into bottles
and were nearly gone
Some took to the needle,
had their damage done

We should all be very mindful,
it’s just this one time
that I, I, I, …
just got way, way, way
too thirsty for this one

The Big Zombie Factory runs hot
Join the undead, join the undead
I know I’d fit tight in its slots
Couldn’t we all

You know its keeper acts the Reaper, feel his stench of dung
Creeping up on many already when they’re way too young

We should all be very mindful,
it’s just this one time
that I, I, I, …
just got way, way, way
too thirsty for this one

We’d want it to be that those victims
were different from us, then they’re not
Whoever we are, and however strong
it’s all down to our one weakest spot

Yeah, we should all be very mindful,
it’s just this one time
that I, I, I, …
just got way, way, way
too thirsty for this one

We should all be very mindful,
it’s just this one time
that I, I, I, …
I, I, I, …
just got way, way, way
too thirsty for this one



Anchors aweigh
I’m leaving
today

Anchors aweigh
I’m leaving, leaving, leaving
you today

The ship bell tolls
the gangway rolls
on captain’s go
it’s all too clear what I’m to do

Anchors aweigh
I’m leaving
today

Anchors aweigh
I’m leaving, leaving, leaving
you today

As lovers love
As sailors sail
You and I belong
but can our love prevail

All seas are one
all tears are shared
If you go down to the jetty, touch a wave
and you will feel me there

Anchors aweigh
I’m leaving
today

[3x:]
I’m leaving, leaving, leaving, leaving
leaving, leaving, leaving
you today



Here’s another one
Here’s another one, another one
Here’s another one
Here’s another one, another one

Kids arrive
all the time,
every night,
every day in every town
We’re just ones in a crowd
Yeah, we’re small but my whole world is you

Here’s another one
Here’s another one, another one

You and I
share a smile
you inspire
us to see things through your eyes
a relay race, life on life. 

Let me run these few yards next to you

Sure, this planet
was randomly
handled
take it as it is
it’s a bit hit–or-miss
For today let’s say ’Ok … that’ll do’

Here’s another one
Here’s another one, another one
Here’s another one
Here’s another one, another one

Kids arrive
all the time,
every night,
every day in every town
We’re just ones in a crowd
Yeah, we’re small but my whole world is you


Some are the doers
taking action straight
Some are the thinkers
They don’t mind the wait
Let’s just be searchers
First let’s go wrong
Then let’s go right

Some are the hunters
tracking down their prey
some are the farmers
who just rather stay
Let’s just be searchers
First let’s go wrong
Then let’s go right

Let’s just be searchers
First let’s go wrong
Then let’s go …

Searching, searching, searching, searching
Searching, searching, searching, searching
Searching, searching, searching, searching
Searching, searching, searching, searching
Searching, searching, search…

Let’s just be searchers
First let’s go wrong
Then let’s go right

Some are the beggars
Some are the choosers
Some are the racers
Some are the cruisers
Some are the sippers
Some are the boozers
Some are the winners
Some are the losers

But through the jungles,
across the ocean,
through the quiet star-lit night,
the crazy day’s commotion
Let’s just be searchers
First let’s go wrong
Then let’s go right

Let’s just be searchers
First let’s go wrong
Then let’s go …

Searching, searching, searching, searching
Searching, searching, searching, searching
Searching, searching, searching, searching
Searching, searching, searching, searching
Searching, searching, search…

Let’s just be searchers
First let’s go wrong
Then let’s go right

Let’s just be searchers
First let’s go wrong
Then let’s go right

Let’s just be searchers
First let’s go wrong
Then let’s go right

Let’s just be searchers
First let’s go wrong
Then let’s go …

Searching, searching, searching, searching


The swallow makes its delicate
manoeuvre above the oat fields
The rabbit twists, then disappears
swiftly among the oak trees
The eagle thrones up high, then suddenly
dives upon a small bird
Wolves, with days of patience,
quietly zoom in on the sheep herd

Man
was built for solving crosswords

I was built for treading water
Not to move any direction
yeah, It’s nice to hear, but hard to see
we’ve been through ages of perfection
How could I be top-of-pyramid
unless there comes a tide
Come a fish to pick my feet’s bad skin
there’s just no way I could hide

Come sharks – –
for my slaughter
I tread water


The whale, a hundred tons and more,
can dominate an ocean,
the tiny Amazon frog produce
the deadliest of potions
The elephants wage wars to master
million acre regions
The lion, king of animals,
Is the icon of religions

Man
was built for feeding pigeons

I was built for treading water
Not to move any direction
yeah, It’s nice to hear, but hard to see
we’ve been through ages of perfection
How could I be top-of-pyramid
unless there comes a tide
Come a fish to pick my feet’s bad skin
there’s just no way I could hide

Come sharks – –
for my slaughter
I tread water



Life takes a new dive
I’m clinging on its back
This time deeper than ever
Wind through my hair, as I
anticipate the splash
It’s an all sad endeavour

I stay alone
Switch off the phone
Pray it will go
though I know it won’t
Turn out the lights
I shut the blinds
I close my eyes

They hung me up on the wall to dry,
like a coat on a hanger
Said that was some expedition
Did you find anything at all to bring back
home with you from the deep?
No, it was all zero vision

[2x ref:]
I stay alone …

Put trust in time



Idiots descend upon our village
like a fly swarm
Like however we respond we’ll fail
But listen close, that hate
conceals a sound of heartbeats
Good will, gone missing and derailed

We’re condemned to depend
on one another
We’re condemned to depend
on one another
We may be a sorry lot
But we’re the only hope we’ve got
Leaning on each other ’til we rot

Our world’s a cake
we can’t distinguish all the layers
From our own all nuts look like a fudge
But for each minute we can all
chat about the weather
We will give our destiny a nudge

We’re condemned to depend
on one another
We’re condemned to depend
on one another
We may be a sorry lot
But we’re the only hope we’ve got
Leaning on each other ’til we rot

We’re condemned to depend
on one another
We’re condemned to depend
on one another
We’re all on board this bloody boat
It’s the only way we’ll float
Now let’s try to time our drummer
as we row

We may be a sorry lot
But we’re the only hope we’ve got
Leaning on each other ’til we rot