We recently had the chance to connect with April Alsup and have shared our conversation below.
April, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Who are you learning from right now?
Honestly, I’m learning from the collective. As a producer and composer, I’ve discovered that if you want A+ work, you find A+ people and give them the freedom to do what they do best. Every voice in the room, every bit of expertise, pushes me to step back, listen, and trust the process. The real magic happens when all of those pieces come together—and the final product becomes greater than the sum of its parts.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi I’m April, and I’m a music theatre composer, but at my core I’m really just a storyteller. Music is the heartbeat that drives a show, but it’s more than melody, rhythm, and harmony. It’s about creating a world that an audience can step into and believe in. It’s the spectacle of the stage, the emotions that swell, the moments that stay with you long after the curtain falls. I love this this sort of thing, it’s a godsend for me, giving me a way to channel my creativity and connect with people on a deeper level. At the end of the day, I’m building worlds and telling stories, inviting audiences to lose themselves in them, if only for a little while.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bonds between people is often fear, the fear of not being heard, of not being valued, of failing alone. But what restores those bonds, especially in creative teams, is trust, inspiration, and support. Trust allows people to take risks, to bring their wildest ideas forward without fear of judgment. Inspiration fuels the belief that what we’re building together matters, that every voice contributes to something bigger than ourselves. And support, real, unwavering support, holds the team together when challenges arise, reminding each person that they’re not carrying the weight alone. When those three elements are present, a creative team doesn’t just function, it thrives, creating work that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell my younger self: stop caring so much about what other people think. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that most people aren’t thinking about your projects nearly as much as you imagine, they’re too busy with their own projects. What matters is figuring out who your true friends are, the ones who believe in you even when things get messy, and putting blinders on to the rest. Don’t waste energy on the naysayers; their noise will never build anything. Keep your focus on the work, on what lights you up, and trust that the right people will find you.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies my industry tells itself is that what we’re doing is more important than it really is. In the grand scope of things, we’re just a drop in the bucket. And that’s actually freeing, it means we can stop obsessing over the past or worrying about the future and instead focus on living fully in the moment. Like Camus’s Absurd Hero, the joy is in the doing, in pushing the boulder with purpose and passion. When we remember that, the work, and life, feels lighter, truer, and a whole lot happier.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Of course. Giving your best can’t be about chasing praise, it has to come from a deeper place, from the joy of the work itself. Camus wrote about imagining Sisyphus happy, even as he pushes the boulder up the hill, day after day, with no reward or applause waiting for him at the top. That’s the essence of the human condition: finding meaning in the struggle, embracing the mundane, and choosing to live with purpose despite the absurdity of it all. When you can do that, when you can pour yourself into the work simply because it matters to you, that’s when you’re truly free.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alsup.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilalsup/
- Twitter: https://x.com/aprilalsup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4alsup
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alsupcreative
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/aprilalsup
- Other: https://www.absurdhero.show/
https://www.banned.show/
https://www.eigg.show/
