Def Jam – Downtown Magazine

Troi Irons may be in her early 20s, but the Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter is far from an overnight sensation. Her EP for Def Jam Recordings, Turbulence, has already gotten plenty of attention as the video for lead single “Today” was premiered by Interview Magazine. “Today” also has support from influential Seattle radio station 107.7 The End, which made the song its Discover And Download feature last week.

A few weeks after her trip to Austin for SXSW, Troi will be playing at NYU’s Bookstore on Apr. 7 at 6:00 PM. In addition to that show — which is free and open to the public — Troi will be back to Manhattan for a proper gig in the coming months. Downtown had the pleasure of doing Q&A with Troi not only about what’s coming up for her, but what drives her as a creative being. For more info on all things Troi Irons, follow her via Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram.

Where was the first gig you ever played in New York? What do you remember about it?

Troi Irons: My first show was this little acoustic set in an old church. I think at that point, I was still blacking out. I heard I did well but I don’t remember anything. I know I had brussels sprouts beforehand.

Do you have a favorite song on your new EP?

Troi Irons: It’s hard for me to choose a favorite, since I wrote all the songs and they’re about life moments that actually happened. I will say “Worst Habit” is my favorite song to play live right now. It’s the big finale in my show.

Around how many songs did you write when preparing your EP?

Troi Irons: I think any musician writes at least 1,000 songs for their first work. I’ve been writing and recording songs for years. You have your entire life to create your first album but only a year to write your second.

This isn’t your first record deal. How did you wind up with a record deal the first time around? Did you have a manager or lawyer shopping you around?

Troi Irons: Right, my first deal was with Jive, which collapsed into RCA [Records]. My mom is a songwriter and she started co-managing me with her manager. They shopped our demo around — I was in a band with my twin — and we quickly got a buzz within the industry. It was super-easy compared to the second time around.

I’ve read that the first album you ever bought was by Green Day. Was that the band that also inspired you to play guitar?

Troi Irons: My grandparents bought me a guitar but I never played it. I actually picked up that guitar at 13 because we had just moved to L.A. and I was bored waiting for the semester to start. American Idiot was two years old by then so it was related but not causal.

How did you first become interested in producing? Do you have a home recording setup?

Troi Irons: Tyler, The Creator released “French” and I found it and was pretty crazy about it. I read the few interviews he had out and I thought, “Here’s this kid making his own beats and doing his own videos, living out his creative dreams — I can do that.” So I did. I saved up for a Mac and got Logic and ProTools and taught myself. I have a comfy home studio. Just got a new Prophet and Virus that I’m stoked about…

What’s coming up for you for the rest of 2017? Any idea if we’ll be seeing you live in New York anytime soon?

Troi Irons: I’ve got a few showcases at SXSW! I’ve never been so I’m pretty excited. I play the Melissa Etheridge & Friends Fest in Nashville after that. New York is happening first or second week of April. It’s funny, I didn’t know that until NYU Bookstore tagged me on Facebook in a post about my Apr. 6 performance. They gave it away.

Will you be touring solo? With a backing band?

Troi Irons: I’m definitely touring with a band. That’s what I grew up seeing, it’s such a fun dynamic. My upcoming album’s production will reflect that, some of my band members will probably be on the record. Jimmy Novocaine plays bass, Mike Avenaim is on drums, and Connor Doyle is backup guitarist. Not only are they great musicians, they’re also good people. That’s important since we’ll be living on top of each other for the next couple years.

When not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?

Troi Irons: I read a lot — never to escape though, just to think deeper. If I feel like escaping, I watch films, usually art house or foreign. I enjoy hiking too. Basically, I could be BFFs with your grandpa. (laughs)

What was your favorite album of 2016?

Troi Irons: Ah, man. Sufjan Stevens’ last release was in 2015. How am I supposed to give an honest answer here? I just checked and Julien Baker’s album came out in 2015 too. There were some amazing songs and visual art pieces in 2016. Not a lot of good albums, just for me personally.

You sent out a tweet on Feb. 20 saying “I think I finally found balance.” What inspired that?

Troi Irons: I work a lot. I’ve been supporting myself since I was 15. Everything is a task and a goal for me and it’s been hard for me to have fun. Even reading a book, sometimes I’ll be thinking, “This will bring new perspective and wisdom and then I can flip the situation I’m in and move further in my career.” I’ve had trouble shutting my career off. The more spiritual I become, the more God becomes the center of my life and I’m able to let go of that pressure — because I’m no longer the center of my life, it’s something higher. So that’s what I meant by, “I think I found balance.” I’ve finally become spiritual enough to worry about myself less.

Finally, Troi, any last words for the kids?

Troi Irons: Don’t live for any other person but yourself. The least selfish thing you can do is to take care of yourself.

Cristina Alesci

A lifelong New Yorker, Cristina Alesci is an award-winning television and digital correspondent. Even before joining the CNN team in 2014, she had interviewed countless business leaders and tastemakers as a correspondent for Bloomberg. Facebook’s IPO, Dell’s takeover battle, and Gwyneth Paltrow’s “common woman” interview are among the stories that have helped make Cristina one of the go-to New York journalists for breaking stories.

As hosted by Cristina, The American Dream: New York will be premiering on CNN’s digital platforms on Monday, Feb. 13. The American Dream is a multi-part documentary series exploring how living in New York during the first half of the 20th century inspired some of New York’s most successful residents. Interviewees include J. Crew CEO Mickey Drexler, Xerox CEO Ursula Burns, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, hip-hop legend Russell Simmons, and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. The series will also be showing on CNN International shortly after its Feb. 13 premiere.

Downtown spoke with Cristina about The American Dream, daily living as a journalist, and what keeps her based in New York all these years later. She can be followed on both Twitter and Instagram.

Do you yourself have a definition of what the “American Dream” is?

Cristina Alesci: Now more than ever, I believe the American Dream is hope. At its core, the American Dream is having the freedom to achieve success as you define it, regardless of where you’re born and who your parents are. While government programs and policies can nurture an environment of possibility, the individual needs ambition, resilience and a decent amount of luck. It’s a struggle and it’s not easy. The American Dream is an ideal we should all aspire to achieve and preserve for future generations.

Where did the idea for this series come from?

CA: My family and New York, two of my favorite things. My parents and grandparents inspired it in large part. Like many others in this country, they emigrated to the U.S., in their case from Italy. To me, they embody the spirit of the American Dream, unrelenting hard work and hope. My mother arrived when she was 12 years old and had to learn a new language, a different culture and how to take care of herself in some very tough neighborhoods. The same with my father, who eventually started a successful small business. I’m in awe of what they’ve been able to achieve. Also, New York was a breeding ground for their dreams and so many others who found success in this country. I wanted to understand it, document it and share it so it can inspire others.

Do you have a favorite moment or interview from the upcoming series?

CA: I have many, actually, but as a woman covering corporate America eight years was struck by Xerox CEO Ursula Burns‘ observation that despite all the advances women have made in business over the last few decades, men still seem to have the advantage. She made a point about how women sometimes may overlook picking a kind of partner who will help them share the burdens of their personal and family lives.

Who was the first person you ever interviewed?

CA: My younger sister Laura, I was eight. My parents had just bought a video camera and my first thought was, “I want to do an interview for the news.” I actually watched the video over Christmas for the first time in years, and it was a lot different than I remembered. It was more like an interrogation.

What about the first celebrity?

CA: Gwyneth Paltrow. It made some headlines…

You’ve interviewed a lot of big names, but are there people that you’re still hoping to talk with?

CA: The bold-faced names often don’t lead to the most riveting stories. Jimmy Breslin likes to say that the more compelling stories are found in the losing team’s locker room. One of the biggest stories of Breslin’s career, which is still taught in journalism school, was a column he wrote following President Kennedy’s assassination, where he interviewed the gravediggers who would be burying the President. I firmly believe the best way to report on something is by looking in the less obvious places.

Rumor has it that you wanted to pursue a career with the FBI before getting into journalism. What was it that drew you to the FBI?

CA: The rumor mill was right! I was always drawn to the idea of public service. At the time, it seemed like the best way for me to make a difference in the world. Also, Agent Alesci seemed to have a nice ring to it…but I had no poker face, so I wouldn’t have been very good at undercover work.

Have you been able to interview anyone from the FBI?

CA: Not on the record.

You helped break the story on Facebook’s initial public offering. Movies usually show a reporter getting a call in the middle of the night from an anonymous source. How does breaking stories usually come to you?

CA: I do get a lot of late-night calls but breaking a story is rarely that easy. It’s always the product of shoe leather. That, and not taking “no” for an answer—even if you’ve heard it a dozen times. But it can be a lot of fun.

I had a two-year rivalry with another reporter at a major financial newspaper. We were always trying to one up each other on breaking financial news. One time, after a week-long vacation, I scooped him on three stories my first day back. He e-mailed that night and begged me to go back to the beach.

What is a typical day like for you as a reporter? How much of the day is actually spent reporting or writing?

CA: A typical day is five hours of sleep, one hour of eating, one hour in the gym and the rest spent reporting and writing. How much is reporting versus writing changes from one day to the next, but I do both every day.

CNN series aside, what else is coming up for you?

CA: I’m focused on the nexus of money and politics, and its impact throughout the country. I believe it’s more important than ever to ensure the public understands that relationship.

You’re a CUNY graduate. What is it that keeps you based in New York?

CA: That seems like a trick question! I was born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens and now that I live downtown, I can’t imagine myself living in too many other places.

When not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?

CA: With my family. I have four younger siblings; three sisters and a brother. My husband and I love cooking big meals and having everyone over for dinner — I’m Italian, after all.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?

CA: It’s hard to have one favorite restaurant in New York. I have my top ten, but it’s always changing. Right now I really like Café Altro Paradiso, Via Carota and Le Coucou. I don’t have time for brunch, but for a simple breakfast on a Sunday, I love hitting the Greek bakery Pi in Soho.

Do you have tickets to any upcoming concerts or events?

CA: My husband just told me he got us tickets to see the Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet [Of 1812]. He always makes sure there’s a frosted side to my mini-wheat.

Finally, Cristina, any last words for the kids?

CA: Read as if your life depends on it, because it does. And question everything.