“You should love what you do,” says Swiss guitarist Alex Scheuerer. “Because otherwise, it’s going to be hard.”
It’s clear to see that Alex – as well as his right-hand woman Najwa Ezzaher – certainly do love what they do. And so they should.
You can sense this love from how they talk about their musical talents. You can feel this love from the way that they move about on stage. Finally, you can hear this love in the music that they produce.
This includes the London-based duo’s new album, titled La Vie En Soul. It’s a cover album that skilfully pays tribute to the French classics by revisiting them with neo-soul touches. It’s the latest collaboration from the pair, and it’s set to be music to people’s ears as it picks up more and more steam.
It’s an alluring record in many ways. In particular, it focuses on the ‘brightest side of life’ – something we can all agree is much-needed today.
“Our music is an invitation to relax and discover that there’s beauty in life,” explains Najwa. “It’s not just gloomy. There is gloom in life, and we need to be aware of it, but there is so much beauty that we should focus on.”
It’s a great outlook to have, especially as the pair firmly set their sights on getting their music heard by as many people as possible. It’s a dream that could quite possibly come true sooner rather than later.
10 Years in the Making
Alex and Najwa first collaborated on Alex’s debut album “Between Heaven and Earth” (2018), where Najwa performed vocals for three songs. They are currently performing together at different music venues to spread some magic in London. London is a notoriously difficult city to crack – but there’s no denying that opportunity is rife. Due to this, the two artists are ambitious yet realistic about what it will take to climb to the top of the mountain and enjoy those outstanding views from the top.
They are taking on gigs across the capital and have recently performed at the Soho staple, The Spice of Life. This Victorian pub has welcomed some of the biggest stars in music history in the past, with names such as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Cat Stevens having performed there over the years.
Taking to the same stage as such legends, Alex and Najwa didn’t disappoint when given this famous platform to show off their talents and introduce revellers to tracks from their new album La Vie En Soul.
“It was exceptional,” says Najwa as she reflects on the sold-out crowd that responded to the music by letting loose and dancing the night away.
“The gig was excellent,” adds Alex. “We filmed the whole concert, and you see people dancing at the back and everything.”
The Spice of Life gig didn’t just mark another rung on the ladder when it comes to making waves and getting heard but also coincided with the tenth anniversary of Alex and Najwa becoming friends. The two met in 2013 when they played in a five-piece jazz collective that performed covers. This began what has proven to be a very fruitful working relationship – as well as a bond that has all the makings of a lifelong friendship.
Alex and Najwa’s stories, however, started long before this. In fact, their stories didn’t even begin in London.
Different Journeys to the Same Destination
Alex was born in Geneva, Switzerland. When asked about his musical influences and inspirations while growing up, he notes that he was a fan of Texas jazz artist Robert Glasper and that his grandfather was a double bass player in Lebanon.
It all began for Alex when he picked up his first guitar. He was just seven years old, and this kick-started the process of working towards a calling that would take him across the sea to the capital of the United Kingdom.
At first, Alex trained in classical guitar before moving on to electric guitar when he was 14. This was when things stepped up a notch for the talented teenager.
“That’s where I got the virus,” says Alex as he reflects on quickly becoming hooked to the instrument. “I remember coming back home and playing every night after school.”
For Alex, playing the guitar wasn’t a fad, and it wasn’t something that could ever be just a tiny part of his life. Therefore, when he turned 18, he started researching the prospect of attending music school – a decision that had so much potential to turn his passion into a fully-fledged career. In the end, Alex enrolled to study at the prestigious music school, the BIMM Institute, in London.
Joining a list of alums that includes award-winning artists such as James Bay, Tom Odell, George Ezra and The Kooks, Alex packed his bags and made a move overseas. The world was his oyster!
“For what I wanted to do, which was more modern music, the only option available was Paris or London. London was the one that I wanted to see,” remembers Alex when asked about his decision to study at the BIMM Institute.
Alex went on to complete a two-year accelerated degree in music at BIMM. He honed his craft during his education but also learned another lesson: music – especially for those working as a musician – isn’t always about your creative input.
“You rarely get to do your music,” says Alex. “I was missing a creative output.”
This yearning for a greater creative output led him to Najwa. The French-Moroccan singer was born in Burgundy, France and is a performer skilled at ‘helping to create a memorable event with a cocktail of glamour, laughter and love’.
Some people will know Najwa from such events. Others will know Najwa from her work alongside Alex. However, a large chunk of her home country recognises the name from her appearance on the French version of The Voice. Najwa appeared on the televised talent show in 2014 and wowed judges during her audition with a rendition of the song Mercy by Duffy. You can still find videos of her time on the show racking up views on YouTube.
It’s hard not to be impressed with such vocal talents, but this collaboration between Alex and Najwa was born on mutual respect and appreciation. Najwa recalls instantly thinking that Alex was ‘an amazing guitarist’ – but it was about more than just how he strummed the chords.
“I love his way of seeing life. I love his values,” gushes Najwa. She adds: “I know that whenever he wants to work on something, it will always be for the greatest of all reasons. It will be something that brings beauty to this world.”
The Start of Something Beautiful
Once Alex and Najwa found themselves in the same place at the same time, the pair didn’t waste time forming the bond that is still so apparent today. Music, of course, was the foundation of their friendship. But in the sea of musicians that come to London, how did the pair know there was something special between them?
Well, it turns out that was all down to bad jokes.
According to Najwa, she and Alex first forged their friendship when he chuckled at her quirky quips.
“He actually laughed at all my jokes,” she recalls. “I was like ‘Oh, he’s cool’ – he loves my jokes.”
Not long after meeting – when Najwa was still riding a wave of momentum following her time on The Voice – she was offered the opportunity to perform in Morocco. She needed to bring a musician and couldn’t think of anyone better to accompany her than Alex. He obliged, and the pair soon hit the road together (for the first time, but indeed not the last time).
“He was so happy to say yes,” remembers Najwa. “We were like brother and sister when we were in Morocco.”
The passion was there, and so was the chemistry. With Alex still contemplating how he could scratch his itch to create something new rather than cover other hits, he soon began to factor Najwa into his plans to release an album.
“I need to create music. I love creating music,” says Alex. He adds: “The more I get older, the more I realise that this is what I enjoy the most.”
Alex had the motivation to release an album. And – with Najwa in tow – he also had a voice that could bring it to life. This began the journey to release La Vie En Soul. It combines Alex’s well-honed guitar skills with Najwa’s vocal prowess to create a stunning 10-song record.
Like many great works of art, the process wasn’t always quick – or easy for that matter. In particular, Alex admits that the songwriting process can take ‘between five minutes and three years’, and often it’s a task that requires him to revisit the tracks repeatedly before he’s completely happy with them.
“Sometimes, nothing happens. Sometimes just one little thing happens,” reveals Alex when discussing creating the music featured on the record. He adds: “But I try to dedicate a little portion of my day when I have time, for example, 30 minutes or an hour. And then I try and come up with different ideas.”
In the end, though, it’s proving to be a winning formula and one that’s working for them both. These days an album’s success can be measured in many ways – from streams and downloads to reviews and ticket sales.
These, of course, are only the tangible ways to determine whether you’ve done a good job. For Alex, it instead can often be about the feelings that a piece of music draws from a listener – including himself.
“My favourite feeling is hearing something you’ve recorded for the first time. When you have heard it in your head, it’s even better in the studio,” says Alex.
The Ties that Bind Them Together
Alex first began working on La Vie En Soul in lockdown. The music industry has largely fallen silent since March 2020, with concerts cancelled and albums postponed worldwide. Many people were wondering when – if ever – the industry would return to its former glory.
However, Alex, who always works as a guitar teacher, so is playing his role in supporting the next generation, actually used lockdown to his advantage. He focused on the future and began looking ahead to the prospect of releasing new music.
“There were no gigs when it all started happening. I thought, ‘let’s make the most of it’ and then I started writing.”
All in all, it took 18 months for everything to begin to fall into place. The seeds of the album had been planted and it wouldn’t be long until both Alex and Najwa could reap what they started to sow.
So, how did the two create this album? The process ultimately begins with Alex writing the songs before then tapping into the expertise of Najwa.
“I usually come up with stuff and then I go to Najwa’s place and show her,” explains Alex. He’s quick to add: “We worked together to make the album what it is today.”
There really is something so beautiful about the relationship between Alex and Najwa. It truly feels pure and authentic. They don’t just want the best for the album but also the best for each other. In an industry where historic rifts between leads like Lennon and McCartney seem to be the blueprint, you could say that trust and genuine affection are the real USP for the dynamic duo of Alex and Najwa.
Najwa admits: “When Alex asks me something, I say, ‘yeah, let’s do it!’ I trust what he says. I trust the reason why he does something. So if he says, ‘I think this would be great,’ then I fully support it.”
She adds: “For me, this is because music comes from the heart.”
It’s for this reason that it’s easy to understand how the pair are able to overcome any hiccups that are unavoidable in the music industry. This was certainly the case when it came to recording the new album. The songs had been penned, the chords had been finalised, and the studio had been booked for two days. It was all set to be smooth sailing – or at least it was until Najwa lost her voice.
“I arrived at the studio, and my voice was gone,” says Najwa, recalling the heartbreaking moment that an ailment was set to derail their plans.
“I knew how much money Alex had spent, how much time he had spent just for these two days,” remembers Najwa.
Najwa instantly responded, insisting she would pay for a future recording session. On the other hand, Alex refused, saying that they would split the additional costs together and could record the album when Najwa was fighting fit again.
“We found another studio,” says Najwa. “I had the time to record my vocals because I didn’t want to spoil his work after he’d put so much time and energy into it.”
Touring the Album
La Vie En Soul has the potential to be big. Alex and Najwa are determined to make sure as many people as possible hear it and can travel as far as possible around the world. Their performance at the Spice of Life was a great beginning, and it’s anticipated that more venues will soon be extending their welcome to the duo. Their musical journey has already taken them to Paris, where they played a show at the Sunset Sunside Jazz Club in 2022. They’re also looking forward to a couple of upcoming dates, with performances scheduled on July 10th 2023, at Pizza Express Dean Street and on September 29th at Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club.
The final product has been a long time coming and really will be a great addition to the bustling jazz/neo-soul scene in London. It’s also got the potential to break out of the capital and even out of the country.
Those who have the opportunity to listen to the music will surely be enchanted by the vocals, which Najwa reveals changes from track to track depending on her interpretation of the songs.
“I believe that in the frequency of the voice, there’s the imprint of my heart, you know?” she says. “So basically, I’m interpreting the songs.”
Expectedly, Alex has complete faith in his right-hand woman Najwa when it comes to this task of uplifting his music and bringing it to life.
He adds: “I always trust Najwa with her voice.”
This is arguably the best part of seeing Alex and Najwa as they tour the album. While the gigs mark one step closer to another level of success, the pair are generally full of energy and optimism because they get to perform live and together.
Najwa reveals: “I’m always excited because the energy between us is very genuine. It flows for us.”
The two hope this contagious energy will soon turn the heads of even more venue chiefs. Finding a way to get a foot in the door has proven to be difficult for artists throughout history, so Alex and Najwa are going into the task with high hopes but grounded in realistic expectations.
Alex says: “Sometimes it’s hard if you don’t know people, so you don’t know your way in. But we’re also looking at playing abroad; it’s all just a matter of making the right contacts.”
Falling Into Place
Alex and Najwa have just crossed the 10-year mark of their relationship. During this time, they’ve performed in foreign countries, produced new music and begun making a name for themselves across London.
As importantly, they’ve formed a close bond and a friendship poised to last a lifetime. This is a success in and of itself. Thankfully, this seems to be something that they both realise – and cherish.
This is perhaps the biggest sign that the best is yet to come for Alex, Najwa and their musical endeavours. The music speaks for itself, so venue bosses won’t take long to clock onto the amazing opportunity to give them the platform they deserve.
In the meantime, Alex and Najwa enjoy what they do as they wait for things to continue to ‘fall into place’.
Najwa says: “It’s about acknowledging your gift and doing things from your heart. Things will just fall into place.”
It will surely be a joy to watch as things do fall into place for Alex and Najwa – they deserve it!