Abraham Alexander’s song ‘Like a Bird’ is bringing Fort Worth to the Oscars

It’s been a long road to an Oscar nomination for Abraham Alexander.

The 34-year-old musician was born to Nigerian parents in Greece, where he lived until he was 11. Amidst racial tension in the country, the family moved to the United States and settled inArlington.

Not long after that, Alexander’s mother was killed by a drunk driver. Soon, he was living with a foster family.

Alexander took solace in soccer, even securing a scholarship to Fort Worth’s Texas Wesleyan University. However, a professional soccer dream would be cut short after tearing his ACL.

A friend gave him a guitar to pass the time and soon Alexander found his new solace, turning to YouTube videos of rocker Gary Clark Jr. to learn the ropes. Soon after, Alexander had a chance encounter with a then up-and-coming Leon Bridges that led to background vocal work on the singer’s 2015 album “Coming Home.”

Flash forward about a decade later and Alexander is nominated for an Academy Award.

Just a few months after releasing his debut album “SEA/SONS” in 2023, Alexander co-wrote the song “Like a Bird” for the film “Sing Sing.” The film released in July 2024 and just a few weeks ago on Jan. 23, it secured three Oscar nominations for Best Song, Best Adapted screenplay and Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Ahead of Sunday’s ceremony, Alexander spoke to the Star-Telegram at Niles City Sound in Fort Worth. The conversation revolved around Alexander’s life, his Oscar nomination and his music, in which he confirms that he’s working on his sophomore album.

“I think something will be announced pretty soon,” he said.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Abraham, thanks again for the time. I wanted to start with where we’re sitting at Niles City Sound. I understand this place means something to you, right?

Absolutely. Huge. I think this is a bedrock for me. This space created opportunity, created a spark that I didn’t even know could be lit up. I’m forever grateful to the spirit of this studio.

You recorded some of “SEA/SONS” and “Like a Bird” here, right?

Yeah, I did some of “Like a Bird” here. It was Leon’s [Bridges] record [”Coming Home”] that was done here, and that’s how we met was in here. Seeing him live his his dream, and getting to see that, just inspired. Yeah, this place is awesome, man. Truly so much magic and spirit.

Before we get any further, I want to show you something. I searched our archives for the first mention of your name and found it in our edition on Oct. 9, 2015. You played a show at Lola’s Saloon that weekend.

No way. Wow, this was 2015?

At that point you were doing open mics around town, right?

I was just doing open mics around town, man. Then I got approached to do a short set at, what’s that place called? [The] Live Oak. Then Lola’s. What in the world, this is awesome [laughs]. 10 years. Thank you for that.

Of course. Before we get into “Sing Sing” proper, I was curious if you’re a film fan?

I love films. Absolutely love films. The first movie I ever watched in Greece was “The Lion King.” I remember just being enamored by the life story, the essence of it, the soundtrack was phenomenal. Since then, I’ve just been very intrigued. Like, the way that someone cannot be themselves was intriguing to me. The way that someone can be something that they wanted to, or hide from who they are. Not so much hide, but you know what I’m saying? The ability to transform yourself was very intriguing to me.

I’ve always been a film guy, but not to the point to where I’m critiquing everything. I just enjoy going to the movies. I love, not that you asked, but like the psychological thriller, like “The Sixth Sense” or “Interstellar.” Those to me are important. I had a list of all the movies when, I used to work at a clinic called OSMI, and we would talk about movies every day. I had everyone write a list of their top 10 films and then I would put it all together and make sure that I watched it.

I’ve heard from different people on how you came to work on “Sing Sing,” but I would love to hear from you on how you this happened. I understand that you came onto the project late in the process, right?

Yeah, that’s right. I think we were one of the final pieces for the film. Adrian [Quesada] sent me a text. Adrian and I have been friends for a while. We met in 2020, when I opened up for the Black Pumas at the Kessler [Theater] in Dallas. We just stayed in touch, I opened up for a few more shows, like the Ryman [Auditorium] in Nashville. He sends me a text and he goes, “I dare you not to cry.” And it’s a trailer, like the initial trailer that they had — not the final one of “Sing Sing” — and a mood board as well.

Instantly, I started to weep and sob because of how powerful it is. He reached out and said, “Hey, would you be open to writing an original song for the film?” My thought was, “Absolutely.” I’ve always wanted to be part of something bigger than myself and it seemed like that opportunity.

The movie itself is great. I saw it for the first time at the Lone Star Film Festival last fall and you were there, along with the film’s director and Fort Worth native Greg Kwedar. Correct me if I’m wrong, that was the first time you had fully seen the movie?

It was the first time that I saw the film with people. I got to watch it on a small little laptop, just them being protective of it. That was my first time seeing it on screen with people. That was such a beautiful experience of watching the film, seeing people’s reactions.

The film is powerful and your song “Like a Bird” amplifies that even more over the credits.

Thank you. It’s great because we just got a sequence of the film. We never got to see the entirety of the film before we wrote the song. We just got a sequence of it and we just played that over and over again. I just wanted to make sure that the song fit the emotional display that Colman [Domingo] was giving. For it to marry so beautifully together is a huge blessing.

I watched the film again on Sunday [Feb. 16] at the Texas Theatre and it was the first time that I actually noticed the birds. There’s so many birds within the film that I didn’t notice. Just seeing that was shocking. Colman said something when we did a screening out in L.A.: “You don’t really know when someone else’s work begins and someone else’s work ends.” In regards to the amount of people that poured out their art into making this film, it was married in such an incredible way.

Especially since most of the cast are formerly incarcerated and went through this rehabilitation through the arts program themselves. The film is empathetic and reflective.

We’re talking about the ability to transform yourself. With them, they’re not transforming themselves, they’re playing themselves. How hard that must have been to go back into a prison, in a facility like that, and sort of live out their lives. I can’t even imagine. There are a few scenes of Colman being in prison and talking to a cellmate. Cannot imagine being a cellmate and being locked in a space like that. Kudos to them for being brave and for giving us a glimpse of what their life was like, but at the same time, breaking a stereotype.

“Sing Sing” had its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and had its wide theatrical release in July 2024. It may be hard to think now, since you’ve been doing press and performances nonstop this year after the Oscar nomination. But before all that, are you following the awards season at all? Are you thinking that maybe you’ll be recognized?

Yes and no. I was busy, but I would just hear like “Oscar contention” or the “best movie of the year.” It would just perk up. Then I started getting messages of, “I think I heard your voice in this film that I just watched.” The song wasn’t out for a wide release [yet], it was just within the film. People would try to Shazam it and not find it. Then the fact that someone could recognize my voice, because I don’t feel like it’s that distinct, but for someone to recognize my voice and say, “Hey, was that you in this film?” And be like, “Oh, yeah.” Because of that, I think it might have been August of 2024 [or] September, that I was extremely engaged in what was happening.

Then you make the Oscar shortlist before the end of the year.

It might have been December that the shortlist came out. It was definitely a massive shock for me, extremely grateful. But those things, you just never know.

Flash forward a month later to Jan. 23 when the Oscar nominations are announced. Were you watching?

I was watching. I said a prayer the night before and watched the day of. They called our name and I was just hysterical, like crying and weeping. It was a pretty intense year and you just never know with things like that, right? I didn’t jump on the movie because A24 was behind it, or because there was an Oscar buzz. It was just a film that I resonated with. To be honest, it’s not a film that people would watch if those things and those components weren’t behind it. That folks would say, “Oh yeah, this is the greatest film that I’ve ever seen.” People probably won’t go and watch it. But to me, it aligned with who I am.

I had been wrestling with, how do you break through a noise? Is it by doing things that are popular, doing things that people would resonate with, and forego doing things that align with who I am as an artist? This just kind of broke all that mold and those doubts and those insecurities. I’m forever grateful to be a part of this film. I feel like it gave me more than I gave it in so many ways. Not just with this nomination, but with the faith now that I have in myself, with the faith that I have in my journey. The notion of continuing to do things that align with myself and align with my morality and align with my belief that everything we do should be about people. This film helps solidify the doubts and insecurities that I had.

The nomination comes and it’s been nonstop for you over the last several weeks, including an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” What was that like?

I’ve loved late nights and always wanted to do one. I thought that I was going to be able to check that list with my debut album and because of the strikes, it didn’t get to happen. Again, to do this because of “Sing Sing” and because of this film. I just said yes to an opportunity and for it to sort of give me one of those blessings and things that I’ve been wanting to accomplish, it’s incredible. To do it with Adrian, who’s an incredible person. He’s done it a few times as well, but he was so gracious to be able to lean on him with that being my debut. Yeah, it was awesome. I remember seeing a few friends on it, and the emotions that I felt seeing them on TV. Then to be able to do that was pretty special.

Speaking of your debut album, “SEA/SONS” released in spring 2023. You did press and performances in the lead up to release, just as your doing the same now for the Oscars. Are these two experiences comparable at all?

Yes and no. With this, I feel like there’s so many more components involved. Obviously, it’s not just my album, it’s not just my story. It’s Colman, it’s Greg, it’s all these people involved. I would say it feels like, because it’s been awhile, it feels like the intensity is more. The back and forth with that, but I’m enjoying it. I was in Austin, in Dallas and was in L.A. not too long ago, and going back there. But yeah, I think it’s comparable, but there’s definitely different components and elements to it.

I’m going to name a few names if that’s all right. Camille and Clément Ducol, Brandi Carlile, Elton John, Diane Warren, Adrian Quesada and Abraham Alexander. These are all nominees for Best Original Song this year. What do you think when you hear your name among this group?

A freshman in a varsity locker room [laughs]. Honored to be seen by the voters, honored to be seen by the academy. Just grateful to my family, friends, to Greg for allowing me to be part of this project.

When the nominations were announced, you got a ton of love from the Fort Worth community, including a shoutout from Mayor Mattie Parker. What’s that level of support meant to you?

Massive. I love Mattie Parker. Blessed that she’s leading the city and to just see how it’s growing. They’re doing their part and I feel like it’s a combination. [They] say it takes a village to raise a child and I definitely feel that. For me, I’m grateful to call Fort Worth home. I think people have this notion that they have to travel in order to be heard or seen, but for me, home is where I’m amplified the most. I feel that very much. Just grateful for people to be part of their story, to believe in me and just to give me that support and that boost. I’m so grateful to to call this place home. Truly, no place like it. I can’t wait to represent Panther City on the red carpet.

It’s been a long journey to get here, and you’ve already lived such a deep life. Throughout this whole “Sing Sing” process from making the song, to the awards recognition. What will you remember most from this ride?

I think what I’ll remember the most is, that what we do now, we might not be able to see the reward tomorrow, but it will be a flower or a fruit that we get to eat five or 10 years from now. We wrote this song in 2023 and then Greg has been working on this for eight years. Then you see Colman, he’s been an actor for so long, but he’s just now really getting his flowers for being an incredible actor.

Just the notion of continuing to work on my craft. There’s going to be ebbs and flows of highs and lows, and I don’t even want to call them highs and lows, but like master and study. Where I’m in a position of feeling like I’ve mastered the lessons that I need to and then times where I need to go and study the lessons that are in front of me. I think those are the elements that I will take for a long time. Things are sweeter when shared with people.

What are you most looking forward to on Oscars night?

My folks are going to be there, so I’m excited for them to kind of see me. I’m a big fan of a lot of the individuals that are up for an award. There’s like a dinner with all the nominees, a class photo is going to be taken [laughs]. Just to get that experience. It’s my first-ever nomination, never been to the Grammys or anything like that. To be able to just to be present and enjoy. Get to celebrate with my family, get to celebrate with the rest of the cast and director. No matter what, we’ve won.

What’s next for you after the Oscars?

Chief objective is to finish my my sophomore record. It’s getting there, super excited for it. Then I went to Greece for the first time in 20 years in November and I did a small documentary of that.

Are those both releasing this year?

We’ll see, I don’t know. I think it just depends on what the team feels is appropriate. Obviously, capitalizing on this Oscar nomination and the opportunity in the window. I think something will be announced pretty soon.

The 97th Academy Awards air Sunday, March 2, at 6 p.m. CST on ABC.

This story was originally published February 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

Brayden Garcia

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Brayden Garcia is a service journalism reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Brayden mainly writes about weather and all things Taylor Sheridan-related.