Interview by Jorge Perezchica
Photography by George Duchannes
For many, Coachella is a destination. For Alexa Spenser—better known by her DJ moniker Ay-Lex Song—it was destiny. The Coachella Valley-based DJ first stepped onto the Empire Polo Grounds in 2013 as a volunteer. Over a decade later, she returned to that very desert stage—but this time, she was the one making the crowd dance.
“I went sober for the whole festival, but I felt high just being there,” she recalls of her first Coachella. “I cried a lot. I was just like, ‘This is what I want to do. This is like the happiest place on Earth. I want to play here someday.’ And that happened this year.”
From the crowd to the stage, Ay-Lex Song’s journey is one of trusting the process and making moves.
Manifesting the Moment
The road to Coachella was unpredictable—a ride full of highs, doubts, and small victories that led Ay-Lex Song to this full-circle moment.
“When the opportunities started coming, I started feeling like, ‘Okay, this is possible,’” she says. “You gotta network, you gotta show up—even when you’re not on the lineup. It’s a job. And it gets to points where it’s really tiring and you feel like giving up. But when the opportunities come, it’s so amazing.”
A major turning point came two years ago during a set with LICKNDIP in Los Angeles. “That’s when I was like, ‘Let’s just do this. Let’s go.’”
Welcome to the House of Flow
Ay-Lex Song’s Coachella weekend included a special performance at the House of Flow, the first-ever period care activation at the festival, hosted by Always and Tampax. Located near Indio Market, the House of Flow offered a premium bathroom experience, hydration stations, free samples of Always Pocket Flexfoam and Tampax Compact, and a lineup of female DJs setting the vibe.
“Tampax tent is definitely a different vibe,” she explains. “It’s more feminine and female-based, which I love. We’re literally inside the festival, and the energy just hits different.“
Surf Club Vibes & High-Energy Techno
In contrast, her set at the Goldenvoice Surf Club—held at Palm Springs Surf Club—was a daytime pool party atmosphere with hard-hitting techno. “The Surf Club was high-energy, hard techno, and I got to go super hard on that big stage. I played a 20-minute set, but I made every second count.”
Opening for artist Kitty Ca$h, Ay-Lex Song held her own. “I just went into it and did me. It was a stacked lineup—all girls, all different genres. And it felt like a dream sharing space with these incredible women.”
A Set That’s Anything But Predictable
Ay-Lex’s DJ style is driven by unpredictability. “It started off with house, but I just feel like it sounded boring. I’ve been really into mixing genres and just…keeping people on their toes.”
Fans at Coachella weekend 1 were treated to her signature high-energy style, plus expect a few surprises for weekend 2. “I just got done recording vocals for a track I’ve been working on for years, and I’m going to see if I can sing it during my set this weekend,” she shared. “I also have an ’80s edit of a really popular song I’m very proud of. So please come catch me at the Tampax tent with the cutest outfits and best possible vibes!”
When asked to describe her style in three words? “Exciting, fun, and sexy,” she says with a laugh.
The Art of Preparation (and a Little Panic)
While her sets may feel electric and effortless, the prep behind the scenes is deeply intentional. “If I have a daytime set, I try to be sober the night before,” she explains. “I like to be alone before my set. I take a long bath, a shot of tequila, and just… meditate. If I’m in a good headspace, I’m going to perform better.”
Still, even seasoned DJs get nervous. A few days before her Coachella set, Ay-Lex Song said, ‘I’m low-key scared,’” she admits. “I had to shut off my phone and just focus on one thing at a time. I have a lot of anxiety, but I’ve learned how to center myself in the moment.”
Community Over Competition
Throughout her journey, Ay-Lex Song has leaned on her fellow DJs for support. “There’s no hate. I don’t believe in competition,” she says. “It’s a community thing. We’re all in this together.”
That sense of sisterhood was especially powerful on the Tampax stage. “It means a lot to me. I embrace being a female DJ. I feel like I’ve been given more possibilities. If I was a guy, I probably wouldn’t have been able to do that. It’s amazing.”
From Fan to Performer: A Full Circle Moment
Despite taking the stage, Ay-Lex Song still feels like she’s living in a dream. “I still feel like I’m dreaming,” she says. “Last month, I was feeling a little low, but this brought me back up. It gave me the fuel I needed.”
And if she could speak to her younger 2013 self? “Don’t care about what anybody thinks. Just do it now. I wish I told myself when I was five to start DJing. Life is short. Stop waiting.”
What’s Next for Ay-Lex Song?
After Coachella, she’s taking some time to go deeper into music production. “That’s the next level I’m really trying to get to—so I can establish myself more as a brand.”
Next stop? Joshua Tree Music Festival, the very first festival she ever attended. “I get two sets next month, and it’s going to be really special.”
One Last Thing…
Aside from DJing, one of the most special moments of the weekend was personal: “I brought my son to Coachella,” she shares with a smile.
And when asked what she’s looking forward to most at the festival? “Amyl and the Sniffers. She’s punk rock. She’s hot. That’s all I want to see this weekend.”
As for advice to anyone chasing a dream: “Life is short. Stop waiting. Just live your life.”
Ay-Lex Song isn’t just spinning tracks—she’s spinning her own life story into a soundtrack of inspiration, energy, and evolution.
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