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Jennifer Hudson with Alex Guthrie/American Family Insurance Commercial/Credit: AFI
Watch the commercial here: https://youtu.be/FpdKo6JnQJA

Kiki Plesha: We all have defining moments in our lives. Tell our readers a bit about how you came to the
conclusion that music is your “calling”.

Alex Guthrie: That’s a good question, a really good question. Once I started playing music, I enjoyed it, of course.
But then I realized music was really the only way I could spend my time when it didn’t feel like work or feel like
it was imposing on my life — it was positive and enriching all the time. I knew then I wanted to make music my
life’s work because it doesn’t feel like work. I remember in high school I got my first small paycheck for a gig and
I thought, “They really pay me for this? I’m just hanging out and having fun and doing what I like to do…how do
I do this forever?”

KP: It’s no secret that independent artists have a challenging journey and it’s difficult to sustain -- especially
when starting out. Are you “all in” or do you have other means of supporting yourself?

AG: I was all in, mentally, once I got out of high school — but the actual means of supporting myself didn’t come
until later. There wasn’t a single moment when I said, “I’m all in.” In fact, I always did other jobs out of necessity.
But over time, little by little, I got more of a following, landed more gigs, and took on less work of another kind
because I was doing music more and more. Since the American Family Insurance commercial with Jennifer
Hudson, I am now finally able to truly focus 100% of my time on music. It was always a goal, but now it is really
an achievable as a lifestyle.

KP: The Atlanta area is considered a music hub that is known for producing great talent. What is it about your
music that makes you stand out – and what can your audience expect from an Alex Guthrie show?