Country Music Could Use a Little More Soul | Alex Lambert
Alex Lambert doesn't fit neatly inside one genre — and that's exactly what makes Lonely Avenue work.
The Fort Worth, Texas singer-songwriter blends country storytelling with blues, R&B and the kind of Southern soul that sounds like it belongs in a smoky room at midnight. On his debut album Lonely Avenue, Alex finally brought those influences together into a sound that feels distinctly his own.
Alex Lambert during his Heart of the Gulch interview about his debut album Lonely Avenue.
When Alex joined Heart of the Gulch in Nashville, we talked about the album, heartbreak, touring Europe and the long road that brought him here.
Inside Alex Lambert’s Heart of the Gulch Interview
Welcome to Heart of the Gulch, a Nashville-based interview show and country music platform featuring artists, singer-songwriters and personalities shaping music and entertainment. Host and creator Tony Mendoza sat down with Alex Lambert to discuss Lonely Avenue, “She Ain’t Texas,” “There Are Lines,” his Texas roots and bringing soul into country music.
Finding His Sound on Lonely Avenue
Released October 11, 2024, Lonely Avenue is a nine-song debut built around heartbreak, loneliness and Alex's Texas roots.
Heart of the Gulch host Tony Mendoza interviewing Alex Lambert inside the Nashville studio.
Songs like “She Ain't Texas,” “Wine” and the title track showcase a voice that can move between country and soul without sounding like it's trying too hard to belong to either.
It's a sound Alex spent years developing after first gaining national attention on Season 9 of American Idol. He later worked as a songwriter, including writing for artists such as Carly Rae Jepsen and Justin Bieber, before putting the focus back on his own artist career.
When Grey’s Anatomy Comes Calling
One of Alex's songs also found an audience far beyond country radio.
“There Are Lines” was featured in Season 20, Episode 9 of Grey's Anatomy, playing during the closing portion of the episode.
It's another example of how Alex's music stretches beyond a traditional country lane — something we talked about throughout our conversation.
Alex Lambert during a Nashville interview about his blend of country, blues and soul.
Texas Soul Goes International
That sound has also taken Alex well beyond Nashville.
We talked about touring through Europe, including stops in Switzerland, Spain and Amsterdam, and the different energy he experienced playing for European audiences.
For a Texas kid whose career has already taken several unexpected turns, Lonely Avenue feels less like a destination and more like Alex Lambert finally figuring out exactly where he belongs.
Somewhere between country, blues and soul sounds about right.
Watch Alex Lambert on Heart of the Gulch
Watch our full conversation with Alex Lambert as he discusses Lonely Avenue, “She Ain’t Texas,” his Texas roots, Grey’s Anatomy, touring Europe and bringing Southern soul into country music.
Tony Mendoza is the Nashville-based host and creator of Heart of the Gulch, featuring conversations with country artists, singer-songwriters and personalities from Nashville and beyond.
