MUSICIAN Alex James Brierley is refusing to let lockdown stop him in his tracks ­- and the artist is back with a new sound and a home-produced video.

Alex, a former St Joseph’s RC School pupil, who has previously been backed by leading figures in the music industry, has gone it alone as an independent artist.

The 23-year-old, who grew up in Horwich, said: “I have always had creative freedom, all the songs I have released before I have written myself, but I have always been into grunge rock music, so now I can do that.”

Alex James Brierley Image 1 Go With The Flow Video Shoot in dads garage Horwich

Alex James Brierley Image 1 Go With The Flow Video Shoot in dad's garage Horwich

Single Go With the Flow has been winning critical acclaim from the music press, and the video produced in the garage of his dad's house in Horwich had more than 6,000 views in just a few weeks.

Alex, who now lives in Darwen, said: “I had written the lyrics a few years ago and thought I needed to get the single out there. The video cost no more than £20 to produce, the smoke machine was £15. We managed to make it look like a stage. My brother Sam played bass and the drummer Sam Dickman filmed himself.”

Alex added: “I am really happy with it, the next video to go with Icy Cold is in its editing stages and will be out soon. That was done socially distanced but using camera work it looks like we are close together.”

The musician, who has released around half-a-dozen singles, says he hopes that lockdown will have created a new generation of ‘indie-artists”.

Alex, who is teaching music in a Nelson secondary school, said: “I am hoping to put out an EP. I used to listed to albums and it was like listening to a story.

“The message I want to get out is there is nothing wrong with independent artists having a full-time job, sometimes they can get anxious and think they should be in music full time.”

Alex James Brierley IHome Studio Set Up

Alex James Brierley IHome Studio Set Up

“When lockdown started no one knew how long it would last, at first we all thought it would be a few weeks, and then it was months, I used it to become creative and do something positive. So I could look back and say to myself look what I did in lockdown."

During lockdown he has been streaming his music on United We Stream, featuring local artists and his single has receive air play on independent and mainstream radio stations.

Alex is also on social media and has his own official website

To listen to Alex’s single click here