Lexii Lynn Frazier is a guitarist who was signed by Simon Cowell at the age of 16. Learn about her journey and how she gets in the mindset to perform live.
Lexii Lynn Frazier is a guitarist who performs alongside both rock n’ roll veterans and the hottest rising talent across multiple genres.
Playing the guitar came naturally to Lexii when she was 12 years old. Six months after buying her first guitar, she started performing live and developed the skills to tour with local bands. Lexii made guest appearances in Las Vegas, the Monsters of Rock Cruise and the Randy Rhoads Remembered Memorial Jam where she delivered a jaw-dropping cover of “Crazy Train”.
When she turned 16, Lexii was signed to Sony Records by Simon Cowell and Louis Tomlinson (One Direction). She began writing and recording music professionally but was forced to take a break due to a life-threatening health condition called Severe Aplastic Anemia. Lexii spent one year away until she was stable enough to continue playing music. In 2018, she recovered and began touring with artists such as Pink Sweat$, Chloe x Halle, Iann Dior, Kehlani, Nelly, Jojo and many more.
In addition to the impressive touring record, Lexii was featured on the 2018 Game Awards with Hans Zimmer, Red Bull’s Red Dead Redemption 2 Live Performance, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show, The Late-Late Show, Good Morning America and others. Lexii is focused on releasing her own music soon.
We spoke with Lexii to learn more about her life as a touring guitarist and how she manages the pressure on stage.
What are your early memories playing guitar and what made you stick with it?
My parents played tons of music when I was growing up, so I was always around it. One day I discovered Van Halen. A family member got us Guitar Hero: Van Halen and I was like, “Oh, this would be cool if I could actually play.” I saved up a hundred dollars and got my first guitar and six months later I performed for the first time with a friend’s band at a bar and I was like, “This is it.”
Tell us more about that first experience playing with the band?
I was so excited! I've never been really nervous to be in front of people. I think I just always knew I wanted to do something like that, because I thought I was going to be an actress when I was younger. I was in plays all the time, so it kind of came naturally. Being able to perform and have a reason to do all that stuff was really cool. I just remember feeling that adrenaline for the first time and being hooked. I was like, “ This is what I love.”
Were you nervous before that first performance?
Oh yeah, I remember having chest pains, but when I got up there it just felt natural. I don't get nervous to perform anymore, but I don't really know when that stopped. I toured professionally for the first time with an artist called Pink Sweats. That was my first real gig where I was on tour and doing promo. I think it was a matter of me not having a heart attack before I went on stage anymore. I realized I needed to get a hold of that, so I just did what I needed to—practice meditation and chilling out. Now I kind of just know what I need to do to get in the mindset. I'm just happy to be there now.
What did meditating before a show consist of?
Making sure I gained muscle memory. I would just tell myself, “I know what to do,” and that would be it for me. It was tough at first because it was so new. I was 19 touring with people much older than me who were very seasoned. So it was embarrassing at times because I don't know music theory. I learned by ear and from YouTube when I was 12. I could hear what they were doing and then figure it out, but it was definitely brutal at the time.
What is your perception of the audience on stage?
I felt that they could hear every single note that I was missing and I'm sure they could. It was common when I was younger. I really thought that the performance could make up for my lack of skill in some areas. Theatrics was something that kinda came to me out of nervousness. I would just perform and kick and do all these different things without being engaged in what I was actually playing. It took some time to be in front of people. I realized I needed to even it out a little bit, because people want to see performance. They also want it to be good. Now I’m confident in anything and everything that I do.
What does your connection with the crowd feel like now?
It feels like home. It feels very comforting and it feels like I'm supposed to be doing it. I don't think I could do anything else in life. As I set my mind to it, there was no doubt that I wasn’t going to do it. I think that's how it should be. If you're in music and you really love it, you have to go in head first. I was weak at some points growing up. I left school sophomore year to tour with local bands and then I just dove in and didn't know what I was getting into. I was just so excited to be there and ready to perform that I would endure it all. I learned really fast about how rough it could be and it definitely shaped my brain.
How does the guitar allow you to express yourself?
People like to say that they can speak through the guitar as a language. I definitely understand that, but it's more about the songs as a whole and the energy. Growing up, I was just a guitar player, but now I write, sing and do all these different things. Now it takes the whole package to express what I'm feeling. The guitar is something that is something that adds flavor without being the whole storyline. ‘80s rock tainted me in that way. Trust me, I love guitar, but I think when it's placed right and it's melodic you don't really have to do much. I think it’s perfect and I love that about guitar.
Tell us about the importance of in-ear monitoring when performing on stage.
Once I started playing with IEMs, I couldn’t go back. They’re a game-changer. The quality is so important when you have in-ears because you really need the full experience. My sound is so important and I can't perform, unless it sounds decent.
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