Alex in his element singing with Robert Mullen Jnr and Friends
ALEX JOHNSEN – SINGER, SONGWRITER AND WAIKATO ROCKSTAR By Zoe Braithwaite
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Since a young age Alex Johnsen has loved music. When he was introduced to Hamilton music teacher Robert Mullen, his musical talents grew and grew, and with his mentor and a group of friends they formed the band Robert Mullen Jnr and Friends Alex’s regular performances in the Waikato, including last year’s performance at Special Olympics New Zealand’s One year to go event, have locals calling him a rockstar. Alex in his element singing with Robert Mullen Jnr and Friends. “I got involved with Robert Mullen Jnr and Friends since 2016. In that time, I got involved and our new music is doing well,” Alex says. Robert Mullen was Alex’s first music mentor and aimed to mentor his ability to express himself creatively through music. After trying guitar, they discovered Alex’s talents lay in singing and rapping. After mentoring Alex for a month more band members joined, and Robert Mullen Jnr and Friends was born, a fully-fledged band who practice regularly and perform at public events in the Waikato. When talking about his role in the band Alex says “I’m the front leader in the band and singer, songwriter, I sing and play harmonica and I actually write songs most of the time.” His favorite part of being in the band? “The best bit would be performing to people.”
