Behind The Wall

Alex Warren has had one of the craziest journeys in music.
Before millions of people were listening to his songs, Alex was homeless, had lost both of his parents, was afraid to sing in front of people, and was being told that maybe singing wasn’t for him. Today, he’s become one of the biggest new artists in the world.
I got to sit down with Alex for Behind The Wall and go all the way back to the beginning to understand how he got here, the stories behind his music, and how so much of his life eventually found its way into his songs.
We talk about losing his parents, the last letter his dad left him, his relationship with his wife Kouvr, learning to believe in himself as an artist, the strategy behind getting his music heard, and what it actually took to turn music into a real career.
But this episode isn’t just about Alex’s success. It’s about everything that happened before it, and what artists and creatives can learn from his journey.

🎵 Ready to release your own music? I’ve personally used DistroKid for over 6 years to release my music on Spotify, Apple Music, and streaming platforms around the world. You can also use DistroKid Direct to turn your cover art into merch and sell it directly to your fans. Use my link to get 7% off DistroKid: https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/1296306

🎶 The interviews don’t end when the cameras turn off. Join Behind The Wall Creatives to learn directly from the hit songwriters, producers, and artists behind the music you love, connect and collaborate with other creatives, and become a better artist, songwriter, or producer: https://www.skool.com/behindthewall/ 

💡 This conversation is for YOU if:
🔥 You’ve ever been told you weren’t good enough
🔥 You’ve ever doubted whether you could actually make it
🔥 You’re an artist or songwriter trying to turn your own experiences into music
🔥 You want to understand how Alex went from creating content online to building a real career as an artist
🔥 You’ve ever felt like giving up on something you really wanted
We also dive into the stories behind his music, his songwriting process, how he approaches getting his songs in front of people, what he learned from years of creating online, and how his life has changed as his music has reached more and more people.
What stood out to me about Alex’s story is how many different points there were where he could have stopped. He didn’t start out believing he was an incredible singer or knowing that music was going to work. He dealt with doubt, rejection, and people questioning whether he could actually do it, but he kept going.
That’s a huge part of why I started Behind The Wall in the first place. I want these conversations to show the part of someone’s story that you don’t always see once they’ve made it. It’s easy to look at someone like Alex today and see the success. It’s a lot harder to see everything that had to happen before anyone was paying attention.
Alex, thank you for taking the time to sit down with me, for sharing your story, and for letting us go Behind The Wall together.
And thank you to everyone who continues to support Behind The Wall and makes these conversations possible. I hope this episode reaches someone who’s been told they aren’t good enough and reminds them that other people don’t get to decide how your story ends.

Tove Lo is behind way more hit songs than most people realize.
From her own hits like “Habits (Stay High)” and “Talking Body” to helping write songs like “Heroes (we could be),” Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do” and “Still Falling for You,” Tove Lo has quietly been behind some of the biggest pop songs of the last decade.
In this episode of Behind The Wall, Tove Lo takes us inside the stories behind the songs, from the records that launched her career as an artist to the massive hits she’s written for other artists. We talk about how these songs actually came together, her songwriting process, becoming an artist after starting out as a songwriter, and the stories behind some of the biggest moments of her career.
This is Tove Lo like you’ve never heard her before.

Ne-Yo didn't just make some of the biggest songs of the 2000s. He wrote them for himself and so many others!
🎵 Ready to release your own music? I’ve personally used DistroKid for over 6 years to release my music on Spotify, Apple Music, and streaming platforms around the world. You can also use DistroKid Direct to turn your cover art into merch and sell it directly to your fans. Use my link to get 7% off DistroKid: https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/1296306🎶 The interviews don’t end when the cameras turn off. Join Behind The Wall Creatives to learn directly from the hit songwriters, producers, and artists behind the music you love, connect and collaborate with other creatives, and become a better artist, songwriter, or producer: https://www.skool.com/behindthewall/about
In this episode of Behind The Wall, I sat down with Ne-Yo to go behind the songs, stories, and career of one of the most successful songwriters and artists of his generation.
Before the world knew him for songs like “So Sick,” “Miss Independent,” and “Closer,” Ne-Yo was already building his career as a songwriter. He went on to write and collaborate with some of the biggest artists in the world, including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Mario, Celine Dion, and more.
We talk about the stories behind some of his biggest songs, how he approaches songwriting, what makes a song connect with millions of people, writing for other artists versus himself, becoming an artist in his own right, and the lessons he's learned throughout more than two decades in the music industry.
This conversation is for YOU if:
🔥 You grew up listening to 2000s R&B
🔥 You want to know the stories behind some of the biggest songs of that era
🔥 You're a songwriter, artist, or producer trying to get better at your craft
🔥 You've ever wondered what actually goes into writing a hit song
🔥 You know Ne-Yo the artist, but have no idea just how many songs he's been behind
One of my favorite things about Behind The Wall is getting to sit down with the people behind the songs we all know and give them the space to tell the stories we don't always get to hear. Ne-Yo has been part of the soundtrack to so many people's lives, both through his own music and the songs he's written for others, and I'm really excited for you to hear this conversation.
If you enjoy the episode, subscribe to Behind The Wall for more conversations with the artists, songwriters, producers, and creatives behind the music you love.
More of Ne-Yo ⬇️
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@neyo⁩ 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/21E3waRsmPlU7jZsS13rcj?si=gjT0SMczSwWnLYJZYok1Xg
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neyo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neyo
⬇️ More of Daniel
📺 YouTube: / @danielswall
📸 Instagram: / danielwall
📱 TikTok: / danielswall

This is hands down one of my favorite conversations we’ve ever had!
Russ has built one of the most unique careers in modern music. He’s released hit records, built a massive global fanbase, and became one of the artists who helped redefine what it means to be independent in the music industry.
But what I loved about this conversation is that we got to go way beyond the success and really understand how he did it.
Russ takes us through his journey from making and releasing music on his own, to songs like “What They Want” and “Losin Control” changing everything, to building a career where ownership, independence, and believing in yourself have remained at the center of everything he does.
But this episode isn’t just about Russ’ story. It’s about what artists can learn from it.
We talk about what being independent actually means, why artists shouldn’t wait for someone else to give them permission to succeed, how to build an audience that truly cares about you, the importance of consistency, and what Russ has learned from betting on himself throughout his career.
💡 This conversation is for YOU if:
🔥 You’re an independent artist trying to build a career
🔥 You’ve ever felt like you needed a label or someone in the industry to believe in you
🔥 You want to understand how Russ built such a loyal fanbase
🔥 You’re an artist, songwriter, producer, or creative trying to turn what you love into a real career
🔥 You’ve ever doubted whether you can actually make it on your own
We also dive into the stories behind his music, the lessons he’s learned throughout his career, his evolution as both an artist and entrepreneur, and the next chapter of what he’s building.
What hit me most about this conversation was Russ’ belief in taking control of your own life and career. There are so many people waiting for somebody else to discover them, validate them, or give them an opportunity. Russ’ story is a reminder that sometimes you have to create that opportunity yourself.
I’ve followed Russ’ journey for years, and getting the chance to finally sit down and go through his story with him was incredibly special. I genuinely think there are so many moments in this conversation that are going to connect with artists and creatives who are trying to figure out their own path.
Russ, thank you for the honesty, the advice, and for trusting me to help share your story. So grateful we finally got to go Behind The Wall together. 🙏🔥
And thank you to everyone who continues to support Behind The Wall and makes conversations like this possible. I truly hope this episode inspires the next generation of independent artists and creatives to bet on themselves.

🎶 The interviews don't end when the cameras turn off. Join the Behind The Wall community, where artists, songwriters, and producers learn directly from the people behind the biggest songs in the world: https://www.skool.com/behindthewall/about
📘 FREE PDF: 15 Lessons from The Greatest Minds in MusicDownload now → https://nas.com/behindthewall/products/dxue

⬇️ More of Russ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiIETTq2It3OzW8_WYRPTyQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russ/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@russ?lang=en
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1z7b1Pr1rSlvWRzsW3HOrS?si=RTyfSObAQ-W7t4J_HkOb6w
⬇️ More of Daniel
YouTube: / @danielswall
Instagram: / danielwall
TikTok: / danielswall

One of The Most Honest Episodes of Behind The Wall.X Ambassadors have written some of the biggest songs of the last decade, including "Renegades" and "Unsteady"But behind those songs is a story of uncertainty, rejection, and a band that kept going no matter what.In this episode of Behind The Wall, Sam Harris, Casey Harris, and Adam Levin take us inside the making of X Ambassadors. We listen to original demos, break down the stories behind their biggest songs, talk about writing for artists like Rihanna, Eminem, Lizzo, and The Weeknd, and revisit the moments that completely changed the trajectory of their career.But this conversation isn't just about hit songs.It's about learning that your most honest work often becomes your most meaningful.It's about believing in yourself long before anyone else does.And it's about discovering that the songs you almost never write can end up changing your life forever.🎵 Want to release your own music? I've used DistroKid for over 6 years to get my songs on Spotify, Apple Music, and everywhere else. Use my link to get 7% off your membership ➜ https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/1296306This conversation is for YOU if:🔥 You're a songwriter, artist, producer, or creative chasing your dream.🔥 You love hearing the stories behind iconic songs.🔥 You've ever wondered how "Renegades," "Unsteady," and X Ambassadors' biggest records were actually made.🔥 You've ever felt like giving up before your breakthrough came.What stayed with me most wasn't hearing the demos. It was realizing how many of these songs almost never existed. The songs that reached millions of people came from moments of doubt, vulnerability, and uncertainty. That's a reminder every creative needs to hear.Sam, Casey, and Adam, thank you for sharing your stories, your music, and your honesty. It was an honor to finally go Behind The Wall with you. And thank you to everyone who continues to support this show and help bring these conversations to life. I truly believe conversations like this inspire the next generation of creatives.📘 FREE PDF: 15 Lessons from The Greatest Minds in MusicDownload now → https://nas.com/behindthewall/products/dxue