Few artists embrace emotional complexity quite like vincethealien. Blurring the boundaries between alternative pop, electronic music, R&B and art-pop, his work has become defined by its willingness to sit with contradiction rather than search for easy answers. His latest single 'TENDERNESS', created alongside French producer MOTTRON, continues that evolution with a deeply personal release that explores vulnerability, intimacy and the courage it takes to ask for emotional connection.
Built from fractured electronics, understated melodies and an ever-present emotional tension, 'TENDERNESS' refuses to simplify difficult feelings. Instead, it leans into them, examining the fragile space between closeness and distance, softness and strength. Inspired by both lived experience and wider conversations around queer identity, tenderness and emotional resilience, the track offers one of vincethealien’s most revealing artistic statements to date.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has inspired him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first non-vocal instrument I fell in love with was the theremin. The music director at my church played one when I was growing up, and I was obsessed with it. Every time I heard it, I felt like I'd been transported into another universe. There's something so strange, beautiful, and otherworldly about an instrument that creates sound from the movement of your hands. It felt like magic to me as a kid, and honestly, it still does. I definitely wish I'd learned how to play one.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Growing up, I was an incredibly eclectic listener, and honestly, I still am. That’s a huge part of why I love blending genres and pulling from so many different sonic influences in my own music.
My parents loved artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, The O’Jays, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Brothers Johnson, and we were definitely a big Prince household. My grandparents shared a lot of those influences, but also introduced me to artists like The Rolling Stones, Fats Domino, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, and Sade.
As I got older, my tastes expanded even further. I fell in love with artists like Nine Inch Nails, Van Hunt, Björk, Maxwell, Lenny Kravitz, Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Meshell Ndegeocello, Portishead, Soundgarden, N.E.R.D., Depeche Mode, The Presets, Bad Brains, Childish Gambino, Thundercat, Brandy, especially Full Moon and Afrodisiac, Solange, Missy Elliott, and yes, the Spice Girls. Come on, the Spice Girls were ahead of their time.
There were also countless local indie and rock bands around Los Angeles that I followed as a teenager and learned from. One of my favorite things about music is that it allows you to experience so many different sounds, perspectives, and ways of seeing the world. I think that curiosity has shaped me just as much as any individual artist has.
What was the first album you remember owning?
At the risk of not sounding as cool as the artists who name some obscure record that only the punkest kids know, the first album I ever bought with my own money was Spice by the Spice Girls. And look…I stand by that decision to this day.
The production is excellent, the songwriting is sharp, and it's genuinely HIT after HIT. Mel C's (Sporty Spice) ad-libs were incredible, Mel B's (Scary Spice) raspy vocals with a Leeds accent brought so much personality, and the whole group had a chemistry that made those songs unforgettable.
People don’t give them enough credit for how influential they were because of their short term of hype, though the music absolutely holds up across generations. No shame whatsoever; Spice was a great first album to spend my money on.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
These are both older songs, which probably makes me sound ancient, but I'd have to say I Can't Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt and My Favorite Mistake by Sheryl Crow. The songwriting on both is incredible. They capture such deeply human emotions, like longing, regret, honesty, vulnerability, and the desire to be loved, in a way that still feels timeless.
I know you only asked for one song, but I have to cheat and mention two more. Kiss It Better by Rihanna is one of the sexiest songs ever recorded. It's sultry, sensual, emotionally messy, and every part of the production feels satisfying to listen to.
And then there's Copy of A by Nine Inch Nails. It's gritty, dark, and full of angst, but somehow still accessible and deeply human. That's something Trent Reznor has always been brilliant at; taking big existential ideas and making them feel personal and relatable.
Apparently, my taste lives somewhere between heartbreak, desire, and industrial dread.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
As I've grown as an artist, I've become much better at trusting myself during the songwriting process. If I start writing something and it doesn't feel right, I trust that instinct and give myself permission to walk away. Sometimes a song just isn't ready yet, and that's okay.
On the other hand, when an idea is really clicking, I let myself follow it wherever it wants to go. I'll keep adding melodies, harmonies, and ideas without worrying too much about whether they're perfect, knowing I can always edit later with fresh ears.
The best work usually happens when I'm not putting too much pressure on myself. If I start feeling stuck, I'll take a walk and come back. I've learned that while pressure can help refine a song, it can also get in the way if you let it convince you that you're not a good artist. Creativity tends to thrive more on trust than fear.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Lately, if I'm being honest, I've been listening to a lot of non-vocal lo-fi beats, experimental jazz, and nervous-system-calming playlists. I take in so much information throughout the day that I've been craving music that helps me slow down and disconnect a bit. There's an artist on YouTube named Coulou who loops guitar and plays trumpet over it, and it's absolutely beautiful. I listen to his music while I'm writing, working, or just starting my day.
Outside of that, I've been listening to a lot of Bakar, Kozovo, Arin Ray, Kaytranada, Cut Face, Tokyo Tea Room, Jae Stephens, Feng Suave, 53 Thieves, Kelela, Fontaine's D.C., TATISHI/COLDPRESSEDPAPI’s dj mixes on SoundCloud, Rochelle Jordan, and Twin Shadow's latest release, Cadet. Beyoncé's The Gift is also in constant rotation.
And because I apparently need to maintain a healthy balance between nervous system regulation and dance floor delusion, I've been revisiting Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor. "Get Together" still gets me together every single time.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
At this point, I'd open for just about anyone [laughs]: well, maybe not anyone, but you get the idea.
If I had to pick a dream opportunity, it would be Nine Inch Noize, the Nine Inch Nails and Boyz Noize project. I'd love the chance to reimagine my songs in a more industrial, dance-forward way and lean into the tension, release, and euphoria that both of those artists do so well. It would also be a great opportunity to showcase my vocals in a completely different context.
Beyond that, I'd love to open for Twin Shadow, Robyn, Miguel, FKA twigs, Thundercat, Kelela, or Kendrick Lamar. They all create immersive worlds through their music, and I'd like to think my music could be a natural bridge into any of their sets.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I look at songwriting and building visual worlds around my music as a form of creative therapy. I'm really proud of how much I've grown as a person through making music. It's helped me heal from a lot of the trauma, shame, and loneliness I experienced as a child, while also helping me feel more connected to myself, the people I love, and the world around me.
Music has made me a better communicator and helped me build confidence in who I am, both as an artist and as a human being. But more than anything, the most rewarding part has been finding a community - the Alien Gang - and being able to connect with people through vulnerability, honesty, and shared experiences. I'm incredibly grateful for that connection, especially during the moments when I've questioned whether I should keep going. More often than not, it's the thing that reminds me why I started creating in the first place.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Honestly, I used to struggle a lot with the content creation side of being an artist. Social media can be an incredible way to connect with people who genuinely connect with your music, but it can also feel like you're constantly chasing engagement that doesn't always translate into listeners or meaningful connection.
Like many independent artists, I've felt overwhelmed by the endless advice telling you that you need to post more, release faster, follow every trend, run ads, grow your budget, and constantly feed the algorithm. After a while, all that noise can make it easy to lose sight of why you started making music in the first place.
I've had to learn to separate those systems from my own value as an artist. That's not always easy, especially when engagement is low or growth feels slow. But reminding myself that my worth isn't tied to an algorithm helps me stay focused on what actually matters: creating music and stories that help people - and myself - feel seen, understood, connected, and a little less alone.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received was: be clear in your vision, but stay open to that vision evolving. I’m paraphrasing a bit, but that wisdom came from producer Noah Shain, who I worked with when I was in my band Vas Defrans, and it has stayed with me ever since. I think it's important to remain authentically true to who you are as an artist while also being willing to step outside of your comfort zone. Some of the most rewarding creative growth happens when you're open to trying something new without losing sight of what makes your work uniquely yours. I'm very grateful to Noah for that piece of advice.
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vincethealien's new single 'TENDERNESS' is out now. Check it out in the player below.