Alex Newell

Alex Newell
Background information
Birth name Alex Eugene Newell
Born (1992-08-20) August 20, 1992
Lynn, Massachusetts, United States
Genres R&B, pop, soul
Occupation(s) Actor, singer
Years active 2010–present
Labels Big Beat Records
Associated acts Glee, Clean Bandit, Blonde, The Knocks, Nile Rodgers, DJ Cassidy, Jess Glynne
Website www.thealexnewell.com

Alex Eugene Newell (born August 20, 1992) is an American actor and singer. He is known for playing the transgender student Unique Adams on the Fox musical series Glee.

As a singer, Newell released tracks with Clean Bandit, Blonde and The Knocks. “This Ain’t Over” is the first track of his 2016 debut EP, entitled POWER.[1]

Early life

Newell was born on August 20, 1992 in Lynn, Massachusetts.[2][3] His father, a deacon, died of cancer when he was six years old, at which point his mother raised him as a single parent.[4]

After four years of education in the first class of Kipp Lynn Academy, he moved on to and graduated from Bishop Fenwick High School in 2012,[5] where he was involved in his school's choir, improv club, and costume club; he was also a member of his church choir.[2] He never had any formal voice lessons before landing the part on Glee.[6] He cited Donna Summer, Sylvester, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, and Beyoncé as his influences.[7]

Career

Glee

Newell was among 34,000 to submit an audition video in 2011 for the first season of Oxygen’s The Glee Project.[6] Newell's self-taped audition earned him over one million MySpace views as well as a spot among the 12 participants who competed for a seven-episode arc on Glee. During the arc, he asserted himself as an out gay man.[8] Eventually, he became the series’ first runner-up.[9] Nevertheless, the producers were so impressed that they decided to bring him on Glee for two episodes.[10]

Newell first appeared on Glee in the third season episode "Saturday Night Glee-ver". He was cast in the role of Wade "Unique" Adams, a male-to-female transgender teenager. The shy, outcast Wade expressed her female identity through music as the bold, brave alter ego, Unique. Wade broke ground by being one of the most visible transgender characters on television and one of the first on a network prime time show.[11] Newell's performance was described as "bold",[12] with "remarkable restraint and powerful vocals."[13]

On his nightly show, Bill O'Reilly expressed concern that children watching the show unsupervised might be encouraged to experiment with what he termed "alternative lifestyles," which he said the show glorified.[14] Newell commented, "My mother said, 'If Bill O'Reilly said something about you, you are doing something right.' He just showed the public and conservative viewers me. There are more people seeing me now... There are people like Wade and Unique, and [they're] being themselves. If kids want to go and do that, that is them expressing who they are."[5] He later appeared in two more episodes and completed his prize arc that season.

Newell was accepted into the Berklee College of Music for fall 2012, but he decided instead to move to Los Angeles to be on Glee when he was asked to rejoin the cast for the show's fourth season.[5] Unique returned as a Glee recurring cast member in the fourth season premiere, "The New Rachel". Newell, along with the rest of the cast, received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series nomination in 2012, but lost to Modern Family.

For the fifth season, Newell was promoted to main cast because of his popularity.[15][16] In the sixth and final season, he was not a part of the regular cast, but he did appear as a recurring guest star. A highlight of the sixth season was Newell singing I Know Where I've Been from Hairspray with the Transpersons Choir of 200 performers.[7]

Solo career

Over the years, Newell sang at numerous events, such as the Coachella Festival, but also at many LGBT events and gay Pride festivals. He also performed at the Governors Ball Music Festival and BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend.[17][11][18][19]

Newell announced in October 2013 that he had been signed by Big Beat Records and that they would release his first studio album, to be produced by Adam Anders.[20] His debut single, a cover of Sigma's Nobody to Love, was released on June 3, 2014.[21]

In 2015, Newell embarked on a series of cover songs and collaborations. In March, he provided feature vocals for the re-issued version of Stronger, a song by Clean Bandit.[22] Later in the same month, he produced a disco-house stylization of Robin S.'s single Show Me Love together with Russian DJ Matvey Emerson.[23] In summer, he worked with the British electro duo Blonde by featuring vocals in their single All Cried Out. He then began to collaborate with the US electroduo The Knocks on the song Collect My Love, "a soaring disco standout" where he reached "staggering heights."[24] The song, from their EP So Classic, will be included in The Knocks' debut album 55, scheduled to be released in March 2016. Finally, for Christmas, Newell released a cover of the song "O Come All Ye Faithful".

His original song This Ain't Over, released in January 2016, was warmly welcomed by the media. Out commented: "The vibrant dance-pop track flawlessly revives disco if only for a few short minutes. Without the gimmicks of manufactured radio pop, Newell manages to serve This Ain’t Over with pure talent." Spin said: "Newell’s unassailable voice is in full force on This Ain’t Over, shining out like a triumphant beacon over a thumping, glamorous dance-pop soundscape."[24] Vulture concluded: "This is just diva vocal acrobatics flexed with the swag of a queen."[25]

This Ain't Over was announced as the first track off his debut extended play called POWER, featuring production from the pop artists Diane Warren, Nile Rodgers, MNEK and DJ Cassidy.[9] The EP will be released on February 19 via Big Beat.[24]

Newell has been supporting fellow Glee alum Adam Lambert on tour from February 23[26] until the April 2 finale at Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre.[9] After the tour, he surprisingly released a new single, which was collaborated with POWER producers DJ Cassidy and Nile Rodgers, entitled "Kill The Lights" and was released on 8 April 2016 through Atlantic Records. It is expected to be one of a few tracks that Newell is making as part of the HBO TV series Vinyl. It was later revealed that the song was record a year ago when Newell was working with Clean Bandit, Blonde and The Knocks and inspired the producers to work with him on his debut extended play. Later that same month, the song was released again, featuring vocals from Jess Glynne.

Other work and awards

Newell will play the title role in NBC’s comedy pilot “Imaginary Friend",[27] which is expected to air in 2016.[28] He will contribute music to the HBO TV series Vinyl on a track also featuring Jessie J and Jess Glynne.[29]

He is committed to helping other LGBT youth and regularly performs at benefit concerts, most notably for The Trevor Project,[4] the Human Rights Campaign,[16] Jack Antanoff's Ally Coalition and other fundraisers.[12]

Newell was given a special recognition award at the 2015 GLAAD Media Awards.[30]

Discography

EPs

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Filmography

Films and television
Year Title Role Notes
2011 The Glee Project Contestant (Himself) Runner-up (with Lindsay Pearce)
2012–15 Glee Wade "Unique" Adams Series regular (Season 5; 13 episodes)
Recurring role (Season 3–4, 6; 23 episodes)
2013 Geography Club Ike
2015 Imaginary Friend Lead role in NBC television series[31]

References

  1. ↑ "Tomorrow's Hits: Alex Newell, The Strumbellas & AudioDamn!". Billboard. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 Jensen, Michael (May 6, 2011). "Will Alex Newell be The Glee Project's Kurt Hummel?". AfterElton.com. Logo. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  3. ↑ Newell, Alex (August 20, 2012). "ANew92: It's my Birthday!!!!!!". Twitter. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  4. 1 2 Doug Rule (23 April 2015). "Uniquely Alex: Alex Newell on coming out, Trevor Project and life after Glee". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 Woodman, Tenley (September 13, 2012). "Newell Gets Unique Chance on Glee". Boston Herald. Patrick J. Purcell. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  6. 1 2 Maureen Mullen (26 December 2013). "Lynn’s Alex Newell relishes ‘Unique’ role on ‘Glee’". Boston Globe. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  7. 1 2 Rae Votta (12 February 2015). "Alex Newell Talks New Music & Future Husband Material". Out. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. ↑ Jensen, Michael (May 6, 2011). "Will Alex Newell be "The Glee Project"‘s Kurt Hummel?". The Backlot. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 Steve Lee (16 January 2016). "Alex Newell has got the ‘Power’". LGBT Weekly. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  10. ↑ Michelle McCarthy (10 March 2014). "Alex Newell of ‘Glee’ Plays with Androgyny as TV’s First Transgender Teen". Frontiers Media. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  11. 1 2 Patrick Rosenquist (22 October 2015). "The Palm Springs Center Stage Gala Welcomes Alex Newell and Kate Clinton to the Desert". Frontiers Media. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  12. 1 2 Jason Mannino (10 April 2013). "Andrew Rannells, Kimberley Locke, Alex Newell, Tyne Daly Raise $285k for APLA in the 29th Star Studded S.T.A.G.E Gala". Huffpost Los Angeles. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  13. ↑ Jason Scott (20 May 2014). "‘Glee’ Star Alex Newell Reigns Supreme With Electric ‘Nobody To Love’ Cover". Pop Dust. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  14. ↑ Fung, Katherine (April 20, 2012). "Bill O'Reilly: 'Glee' Might Encourage Kids To Experiment With 'Alternative Lifestyles'". Huffington Post. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  15. ↑ Michael Ausiello (28 June 2013). "UPDATED Glee Exclusive: 4 Original Cast Members Not Returning as Series Regulars for Season 5; Plus — Who's Getting Promoted?". TV Line. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  16. 1 2 "From ‘Glee’ to BTD: Alex Newell plans to steal the show". Dallas Voice. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  17. ↑ Robbyn Mitchell (25 June 2013). "Alex Newell of 'Glee' talks Coachella, shoes before performing at St. Pete Pride". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  18. ↑ Michael Gioia (15 July 2015). ""Glee" Star Alex Newell, Ben Fankhauser, Zak Resnick and Adam Kaplan Rock Out With Joey Contreras Music Tonight!". Playbill. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  19. ↑ Seth Kelley (22 March 2015). "Kerry Washington, ‘Glee’ Star Alex Newell Bring Down the House at the GLAAD Awards". Variety. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  20. ↑ "'Glee' star Alex Newell signs album deal with Atlantic Records". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "'Glee' Star Alex Newell Covers 'Nobody to Love' [LISTEN]". PopCrush. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "MusicNews – Watch: Clean Bandit's new video, 'Stronger' – entertainment.ie". entertainment.ie. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "This 'Glee' Star Is Kind Of Slaying The House Revival Game Right Now". MTV News. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  24. 1 2 3 James Grebey (14 January 2016). "Alex Newell’s Pop Career Is Just Beginning on Euphoric Lead Single, ‘This Ain’t Over’". Spin. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  25. ↑ "9 Best New Songs of the Week". Vulture. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  26. ↑ Glenn Garner (19 January 2016). "Alex Newell Will Join Adam Lambert on Tour". Out. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  27. ↑ Elizabeth Wagmeister (16 January 2016). "‘Glee’ Alum to Star in NBC Comedy Pilot ‘Imaginary Friend’ (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  28. ↑ Kevin Jagernauth (18 January 2016). "Soundtrack For Martin Scorsese's HBO Series 'Vinyl' Includes Otis Redding, The Meters, Edgar Winter, Foghat, More". Indie Wire. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  29. ↑ Tambay A. Obenson (15 December 2015). "'Glee’ Alum, Alex Newell, Books Starring Role in NBC Comedy Pilot ‘Imaginary Friend’". Indie Wire. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  30. ↑ "Glee's Alex Newell Performs & Receives Special Recognition Award at GLAAD Media Awards". Just Jared Jr. 22 March 2015.
  31. ↑ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (11 December 2015). "‘Glee’ Alum to Star in NBC Comedy Pilot ‘Imaginary Friend’ (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 21 March 2016.

External links

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