It may take a while for those who want to break into music and fashion, but singer and fashionista Alyssa Gengos is on the cusp of breaking into both head on. The Egghunt Record Label singer is ready to release her new LP Mechanical Sweetness on February 25. Modern Frequency grabbed her before she breaks the big time—with her soft ethereal voice just like Lana Del Ray’s that matches her indie pop sound and with her vintage clothing line on deck, this is one connoisseur you need to know asap.
Modern Frequency sat down to discuss her name change, her entry into the music world, and her bold fashion line.
Why the name change from Kythira to Alyssa Gengos?
I started using Kythira when I was around 14, and I feel like I’ve outgrown it. I have always been a little nervous about using my own name, but I thought it was time with this album.
How did you get involved in the music industry? Is singing and songwriting something you always wanted to pursue?
I loved singing as a kid, and picked up a guitar around age 10. I’ve been writing songs ever since. I always wanted to be a musician, but I only started pursuing it more seriously around 2015, when I moved to New York City.
Your sound reminds me of Lana Del Ray’s, but your influences truly do range! I understand that you listen to everything from the Beatles to Avril Lavigne?
What a compliment — I love Lana. I do feel like I listen to quite a wide range of music. I’ve had many different phases over the years in terms of taste. Some of my first CDs were Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go” and The Beatles “1” compilation, which were definitely formative for me.
You find solace in being alone. Do you find it easier to write and create melodies when you are on you own?
Absolutely. Being alone makes it easier to fail, and failing is the first step in making something good.
Tell me about when you get in the studio. What are those experiences like? How long did it take to create Mechanical Sweetness?
Well, I’ve never recorded in a real studio before — the “studio” was my apartment living room for this album. I would set up my microphone, recording interface, and laptop, and start chipping away at a song. After however many hours, I’d put away my recording gear. I repeated that process over many days, weeks, months. The recording process for the whole album took around 6 months, if you start from the demos and end with the final masters.
You tape your music videos on VHS. (Which I think is incredible) Is it easier to capture the mood that way?
I actually used a Hi8 tape (which is a smaller tape than a VHS, but has a similar effect). I wanted my music videos for this album to be very DIY to mirror the way the songs were recorded. Using a camcorder allowed me to have a lot of fun during the filming process. It’s a pretty intuitive camera, so lots of friends and family members were able to help me film.
Where do find yourself carving out your place in the music industry?
I’m in the process of getting a band together, and I just got a practice space, so I’m looking forward to playing shows soon. I’m just going to keep making music and hope that people want to listen to it. Eventually, I’d love to produce other artists as well.
Your fashion line is very unique and a bit unpredictable. It feels like an old school vibe but with a 2022 twist to it. What made you get into fashion? What made you decide to go the vintage route with your fashion line?
I’ve always been obsessed with vintage clothing. My mom took me to lots of flea markets and antique shops as a kid, which probably kickstarted that interest. My older cousin is a fashion designer, and I looked up to him growing up. I wanted to go to fashion school when I was younger, but I ended up just teaching myself what I wanted to learn outside of formal education. I love the uniqueness — the anti-trendiness — of vintage fashion, and I think it can be really interesting when styled in a contemporary way.
What social media platform do you feel most comfortable with and why? Your TikTok has over 25K followers!
I got into TikTok during lockdown when I was sewing a lot, and a lot of people were picking up new handicrafts. I don’t have that much time to sew nowadays, but I still make videos there from time to time. I feel most comfortable with photo-based media, still, but I really like video-based media, and I’m trying to get better at it.
What do you have planned for the rest of the year?
Performing songs from Mechanical Sweetness live, working on my next album, and getting more of my art and designs out in the world.
