Latin alum Alex Chapman ‘10 is lighting up the dance-pop and club music scene, turning his songwriting passion into a global phenomenon. With chart-topping hits like Kim Petras’ viral anthem “Horsey” and Troye Sivan’s Grammy-nominated banger “Rush,” Alex’s electrifying beats and lyrics dominate festival stages, club floors, and streaming charts worldwide.
The connections Alex made at Latin fueled his love for music.
“At Latin, I found people who shared my musical taste,” Alex said. “We even started a 50-Minute Dance Party club, where we’d listen to new artists in an empty classroom. It was super meaningful and so much fun.”
Despite Alex’s undeniable passion for music, he initially didn’t envision himself as a traditional artist. Rather than performing in front of crowds, Alex discovered that his strengths lay in songwriting and storytelling.
“Once I discovered that you could just write music for/with the artist—that you could experience the joys of collaboration, the catharsis of writing, without having to go perform and promote the song—I thought that could be something that made sense for me,” he said.
Alex’s songwriting process always looks different depending on the artists he’s working with.
“Sometimes you’re working with people for the first time and an introductory conversation sparks an idea for a concept. Other times, a producer may bring up a track that inspires a melody, and then a song comes together from there.”
Over six years of professional writing, Alex has honed in on a unique style that balances technical skill with creative risk-taking.
“At the beginning, I think it felt very important to learn the rules of the craft—the guidelines people rely on to write a solid song. Learning the rules is super important so that you can bend and break them,” he said. “I try to make sure everything I write is a bit weird in a way that’s authentic to me. I find that’s the best way to stand out.”
“Writing for/with an artist can be super rewarding,” he added. “It’s a personal process that allows you to get to know an artist, often very quickly in the span of a couple of writing sessions, so you can try to learn their perspective and help them articulate their point.”
Among his many achievements, “Rush” by Troye Sivan stands out as a defining moment in Alex’s career.
“I knew Troye was looking to work with new collaborators, and we were friendly,” he said. “My manager suggested I try to make something for him on a day I was meant to work with two of my frequent collaborators.”
“We sent it to him, expecting nothing but knowing it was a good song,” Alex said.
The result? “He ended up releasing it, and the song received a Grammy nomination. It’s especially significant to me because I put a lot of my personality into the song and didn’t compromise on our vision. I think that’s the value Troye saw in it—it’s different, and he was able to put himself into it and bring it to life, like a true artist and performer.”
Alex’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of passion, resilience, and turning setbacks into stepping stones. From his early days at Latin School to collaborating with global superstars, he continues to electrify dance floors and playlists worldwide. Alex proves that the greatest successes come from staying authentic and daring to push boundaries.
“Get used to rejection—or even a lack of response,” he said. “Recognition comes and goes, so make sure you’re writing because you love it. The creative process is the truest reward.”
This story was originally published on The Forum on December 3, 2024.