Alex Warren Talks Collabing With Rosé, Joe Jonas, Being An OG TikToker & More Music + Dating Stories #news #the star news #

I want to experiment with introducing food in the bedroom. I like the whipped cream. Or the fruit roll. I know that all your friends were always trying to steal your girls. How the f*** do you know that? Is this narwhal? What the hell is happening? I was a serial ask-outer. Like, it was bad. My name is Willa Bennett, and this is Blind Date. Alright, let's rock. Hey. Thanks for making the time. I am getting the vibe that you're a musician. Because you're warming up your voice with the microphone. Or you're, like, on Broadway. Did Taylor Swift say that you should be a bigger artist? You're not Charlie Puth. So Taylor Swift does not think that you should be a bigger artist? What? I have another guess. You must be Alex Bourne because you said that on Call Her Daddy that you always think that people hate you. How the f*** did you get that? I'm so good. What the hell? Nice to see you. Welcome to Blind Date. Thanks for having me. That was terrifying. I'm so sorry. I felt like I was on the Grammys again where it was kind of delayed. No. It was giving me PTSD. That makes me cry. What the? Oh. Thank you so much. How are you? I'm so sorry for bringing up your Grammys trauma. That was not part of the plan. That's so awesome. These have an alcohol. What is that? It's something called a cosmopolitan. You ever heard of it? Never had it. This is cool. I've been watching these a lot. So now, like, I'm here. I know, like, everything about you. Really? Yeah. These are reader questions. And I've also never seen these. Heck yeah. When did you first realize your career was not going to take the normal path? Oh, God. When Ordinary started doing really well and people wanted to know about when I slept in my car and things like that. I think that was really weird because usually I would never want to talk about stuff like that. And then I started talking and people liked it. So I started telling my story. What did it feel like to tell your story? Because I do feel like you have to, like, talk about it so much. It's almost... It's really cool for me. It gets better. You and Emma Chamberlain are about the same age and are both from California. Yeah. And you both made a career for yourselves off YouTube. Yes. Do you feel like there's a specific California energy that made you both who you are? Wait. I've actually never been asked that. That's awesome. I don't know. Emma's really cool and she's a good hang. I'd like to think there's something in the water. That or we both have childhoods, maybe. Well, in different ways, maybe. But, like, I think what's so great about her content is... I mean, I mean this even as a fan of hers. Like, the way that she was able to edit YouTube videos changed content forever. So many people tried to copy that. Like, so many people were like... Still to this day. Yeah. And, like, she pioneered something so sick. But also on top of that, I think the original thing was especially... When she started vlogging, it made it seem attainable. Totally. And you could watch it on your phone. And I remember the Brandy Melville top and the scrunchie. Like, she pioneered all of that. Dude. Yes. I remember that. You did it a little later on TikTok, too. But I feel like that was really your era where you were like, I'm going to change the way content is consumed. Yeah. I think, honestly, I just wanted to make it... Growing up, for me at least, with everything I was going through, I felt like this whole life was unattainable. I really wanted to lean on the idea that this was possible for a lot of people. Do you feel like it is? Hell yeah. Now anyone can pick up a phone and film a video of them singing and doing anything they like. There's comedy. There's literally everything and anything someone can do. Are there any young creators right now or people putting their art on the internet that you really admire? I've, like, made it an effort not to look anymore. That's healthy. Yes, but I feel like there's definitely people who deserve their flowers. I think his name is Curry Something. He just came out with a new movie, Obsession. That was the small film. He's so talented. And the fact that that was made with a budget that was really low was insane that it's making this many numbers. This is insane. Yeah, no, it's really an amazing story. Okay, you had a skateboarding YouTube. Did you skateboard to get ladies? Yes. I was a hopeless romantic since I was, like, 11 years old. Aw. Aw, but it was really bad. No, but I know that all your friends were always trying to steal your girls. How the f*** do you know that? Is this narwhal? What the hell is happening? They had the mentality that if Alex could get her, so could I, which was horrible. Aw. But no, I think a lot of times growing up, I remember I was in, like, fifth grade and I asked out, like, every girl in my grade. I wish I was kidding. Every girl I asked out. There was this one really popular girl. Her name was Gabby. I had told everyone I was going to go ask her out on the bench. And I, like, texted her. I said, meet me on the bench after school. Someone got a bunch of people to go. And there was 40 people. And she's like, okay. And she got all her friends to tell me that she would say yes. And so I walk up. And keep in mind, I'm obsessed with Justin Bieber at the time. I'm a pasty white kid. My nickname was Big Red because I was somber all the time and I was a little bit on the heavier side. I remember I'm walking over, really making a scene, strutting like Joe Jonas. And I go, Gabby, will you go out with me? And she immediately goes, no. And everyone around started laughing. If you could say something to that Alex right now, what would you say? Nothing. It truly made me be like, okay, I need to stop trying to ask out. I was a serial ask-outer. It was bad. And then right after that, I didn't learn my lesson. I entered the talent show because my girlfriend at the time, who, by the way, our only date was to the park. I dedicated Grenade by Bruno Mars to her. And I realized I had stage fright. My mom filmed it. And it's on tape. Will you sing Grenade to me right now? Yeah, I can do the whole thing, too, if you want. Yeah, yeah. And I didn't know how to sing yet. But at the time, too, I had like a high-pitched voice. I'll channel that for you if you want. That was amazing. I love the little choreography. There was choreography, but I promise you it wasn't intentional. Wow. It was bad. You're a natural star. You know what? That's what I thought. Broadway would see that and go, you're a natural star. What is the most random career turn you almost took? I wish I could say there was some elaborate plan B. There was not. It was quite literally either this or stay homeless. So I picked this. Was there a moment where you were like, all right, I'm not going to make it? Before I met my wife, I was homeless for about three months before that. And her and I together were about homeless for only a month. When I was just sleeping in my car, there was moments where I didn't have a car. And so I'd sleep at a park down by my friend's house. And I remember a lot of times I was like, my life has not been really worked out. I lost my dad when I was nine. My mom is an alcoholic. And I feel like there was a lot of things in life being like, you're just not meant to do something great. And little did I know that I think it really set me up to be where I am today. But a lot of it's impossible not to be like, why is this my life? What the **** is happening? The minute I met my wife is the minute my life started to turn around, which was kind of like a cool thing of like, wow, this is, I would not be anywhere where I am today without her. So it's pretty cool. Sorry to bring up another woman on a blind date. No, no, no. I want to dig into it because I think what's also so relatable about your love story is like you actually first saw her on Snapchat, which is so amazing. Modern day Romeo and Juliet. Do not mix Shakespeare and Snapchat. Sorry, my bad. Let's be honest. You're right. But I will say, I think what's cool is like, you saw Snapchat of her from one of her friends. Yeah. And you were like, that's my wife. And then you actually met her. You guys are a long distance. I think there's a lot of Cosmo readers who see people on social media that they have a crush on. Like, what's your advice to them? I think a lot of times we're scared that if we try, you're kind of scared of failing. And I think a lot of times if you go through life scared of failing, you're never going to actually be able to experience something. I think like half the things that people do, and it's like the cringy, you miss every shot you don't take. But truly, I watched her on this story like three or four times, and I was like, I really want to say hi. I really want to say that she's beautiful. And if I never did, I would have never met my wife. Wow. You met your wife through Snapchat. What is your message to people who are scared to shoot their shot? Maybe the worst thing is that they're all going to laugh at you at the park. You might tell everyone that you're going to ask them out, and then a group of people are going to all surround you when you do. And let's just say that if she says no, that sucks, and it feels bad. But if she says yes, you could possibly get married. So you guys were homeless together for a year. What was that year of your guys' life like? So fun. You were still early in the relationship. I'm serious. Really? It was so fun. She moved out of college. She was living with her parents in Hawaii. I had just got out of a really abusive household. And for the first time in my life, I felt really in control. It was so funny, too, because when she found out I was homeless, she's like, let's do this. There was no talking through it. There was no trying to explain it to someone. I think that's really interesting to have the first year of your relationship. It's just you two. How does that influence your relationship with money now? I'm surrounded by amazing people. My wife is the quickest one to humble me. I'll suggest buying something, and she's like, dog, shut the f*** up. And it's awesome. She just checks me everywhere I go. And also, I've just been really, really good at keeping my friends close. I'm still close with everyone who let me sleep in their car and sleep at their house. And so money to me is just like, what's the point if you can't help your friends out and treat them to stuff? Totally. They would have done the same for me. What's something that's maybe more difficult? I think the one thing that we would probably argue the most about is when we went from long distance to living together, we had never spent a night apart. And so when I started touring, I'm gone eight months out of the year now. Nine months out of the year. And she's like, this is such a learning curve. And so the most time we ever fight is really just figuring out how I can be a better husband and be more present while I'm gone eight months out of the year. Totally. I would say my biggest character flaw or husband flaw is that I don't take her out on enough dates, which I'm working on. Does it bring you joy that your music makes people cry? Yes. My God, it's so fun. I get off stage and the first thing I say is, are they crying? And I'm like, well, because here's the thing. I think a lot of times, for me at least, when I lost my parents, I didn't want to talk about it. I wanted to forget about all of it. And when I would forget, I started to forget the way they looked and the way they smelt and what it was like to hug my dad. And I think that that's such an important thing when you lose someone is you try so hard to feel better that you start to lose that person and they die again. So especially when you're crying to one of my songs, it means you're thinking about them, which means you're remembering them. And so it makes me so happy to see people kind of like bringing that feeling back out and the fact that it's to my music is really cool. This is an interesting one for a reader as a follow-up. Did you know what Love is Blind is before they called you to perform? Yes. My wife loves that. My God. When I got asked to do it, I was so stoked. And my wife was like, what are you doing on the show? And I was like, I'm singing. I'm singing. And so it's fun. If you were making a breakup playlist for a friend, what three artists are must-haves? Louis Capaldi's like the OG breakup, like make you cry. Billie Eilish does really good. Like she can really make a fucked up song. Her lyrics and like the layers in the production. It's not even that. She sells it with her voice. When you listen to her voice, she sounds like she's in pain, you know? So we have Billie, we have Louis, and I think Noah Kahn. Easy. Noah is like, I cry every time I listen to a Noah Kahn song. Okay, based off your music taste, do you like hit the wall by Grace Abrams? Duh. It's so good. Gracey is so good. Her and Olivia Rodrigo are the queen of writing a bridge. They treat their bridges like it's an actually different song, which is so fun and also has inspired a lot of my music. Billie does that. There's a couple songs where she does that. But really, I think it's the Olivia Rodrigo game. You've collaborated with huge artists from Luke Combs to Rosé to Joe Jonas. Who surprised you the most once you actually got into the room with them? All of them did. I'd say Rosé surprised me because I didn't know I had a side. I have no idea what that means. She goes, what's your side? We were taking press photos. And keep in mind, this girl, she rolls deep. She comes in, she's fully, she's got the glam thing and everything. And I'm like, oh my god, professional. She runs up and she goes, what's your side? And I was like, what do you mean? She's like, everyone has a side. What side do you look best at? I was like, I don't know. She showed me my side. What did she say? I don't remember. You don't remember? No. Let me decide. I think it's left. That's what she said. I did remember. I just didn't want to admit it. Joe surprised me a lot because Joe actually, you know you usually think it's like a thing? He was actually like that in real life. Yeah, he has a charisma. He's got that swagger. The one cool time I've met him, I was like, I'm Willa, nice to meet you. And he goes, my daughter's name is Willa. Named it after you. I literally was like, what? He was just like, he had ribs. He has like those things where I think he's flirting with me. And I'm like, Joe, I have a wife. I think he was flirting with me. Do you still have the Zara Larsson Lush Life dance memorized? I think I could do it if I got the first move down. Because I know it's... I would need a refresher. That and Renegade for sure. What is the most useful skill you learned in the Hype House? We lived with 17 f***ing people at a time. So I think patience is one of the things I learned. Yeah, that's really hard. I think that's relatable to a lot of people on different scales. I'm not going to pretend that that life was hard. These guys woke up and did the Renegade and got paid a lot of money to do it. Some people have to say that you look funny on TikTok to make you feel like you have a difficult life. I'm very happy for you. When Cobra came down the aisle to video games, was it a surprise or had you discussed the plan? No, so she wanted to. It wasn't a surprise, but I had no idea what she was wearing. But even on top of it, it wasn't the version of video games that I know. It was a slowed down, really beautiful version of it. And the funny story is Lana Del Rey to this day is one of my favorite people alive. Is it easy to tell when two influencers are dating just for clout? I deleted the app. So I don't see it anymore, but my wife is super into it. She'll be like, no, this is so fake. And I let her tell me about it and I'm so into it. As someone who's lived most of their life online, what's the secret to surviving a public relationship? I think keep what you want to keep private and share what you want to share. There's some people who don't even talk about their relationship at all. And people just guess or their publicist feed it out in the world. For me at least. That happens? No, I have no idea what you're talking about. I think it just depends on who you are. And like, I don't know. Thank you. Oh. OK, so these are. Katy Perry. Yes. November 2010, Katy Perry was on the cover. I am going to read the column in the magazine called Ask Him Anything. But instead, I'm going to ask Alex Warren. Nice. I've been seeing a guy for a month, but a mutual friend just told me he's a serial dater. No surprise. He just said he wanted to be exclusive only after a few dates. I do really like him, but I don't know. How do I proceed? You really like him. You've been with him for a month, but he's a serial dater. But they're exclusive. Voice your concerns, because communication is key. And if he has a problem with your concerns, then if you guys can't communicate and compromise, then I guess it isn't meant to work out. I want to experiment with introducing food in the bedroom. But I'm worried my girlfriend is going to laugh at me. How do you think I should approach the topic with her? So food in the bedroom, like not in a sexual way. Not in a sexual way. Oh, like the whipped cream s**t? Or the fruit roll s**t? I only know as much as you know, my dear. But in the bedroom means sexual. But my wife and I eat Jack in the Box while we watch NCIS. That's not what this reader is asking. Got it, okay. The fruit roll s**t. I'm not going to explain the fruit roll s**t. But yeah, I like it. That's cool. I've heard that guys are more likely to approach you at a bar if you're not with friends. But it just seems unlikely that a loner would be a turn-on. So what's the truth? Should I start going out by myself to meet a guy? Okay, wait. But that's really weird. Guys only come after you if you're alone. That seems like an NCIS episode. I honestly think that you should always go to a bar with a friend. Because especially in today's day and age, I don't trust anyone. And I think men are scary. So go to a bar with a friend. Don't be weird. Cool. Well, thank you so much. You really helped contextualize this amazing November 2010 Katy Perry. Go pick it up at your local Target. All right. This is the love audit. This is the most fun part. You just quick, quick, quick, quick, quick. Like, don't think too much. The more you think, keep it. Have I been thinking? I don't know. Orabulary or ordinary. It depends on where I am. Orabulary is a UK trend. This is supposed to be quick and rapid. You're taking too long. I'm mansplaining ******* everything. Ordinary. Unhinge, tour announcement, or keep it casual? Unhinge, for sure. Never casual. Name three things that are cheaper than therapy. Condoms, In-N-Out Burger, and more condoms. Wait, how the hell did you get your wife the In-N-Out deal under $5? Quick. Back then, there wasn't as much inflation. And you get a water cup instead of a normal one. It's $1.25 less. So you're already now from $6.87 down to $5.45. And then from there you get a, I think you take stuff off the burger. Go to karaoke song. I've never done karaoke. But it would be The Climb by Miley Cyrus. Oh, so good. Sing it really quick. It's The Climb. If you and Cobra got a matching tattoo, what would it be? I would never get a matching tattoo. But if I was to get a matching tattoo, it would be something really dumb. My wife does all my tattoos, so I'd let her pick. Easiest lyric to write. Anything about my wife. Hardest lyric to write. Anything that's happy. City that went the craziest on tour. Paris, France, or Dublin, Ireland, and then U.S. It's New York sometimes. Should couples share locations? I don't think it's necessary. I think that there's some spontaneity that's really, really good. And I think that you should be able to surprise your partner with certain things. And if you don't trust them, I think you should break up with them. Should couples share passwords? I think that if you're, for some reason, need to get on my phone, and you ask for it, I will give it to you forever. Who apologizes first after a fight? Never me. What actors would play you and Cobra in a rom-com of your life? I think Vince Vaughn would play me, and I think Florence Pugh would play Cobra. What celebrity couple would you love to go on a double date with? I would love to go on a double date with Luke Combs and his wife, Nicole. Are you a cuddler or a roll-to-the-cold-side-of-the-bed kind of person? I'm obsessed with being cold, so I would love that. And if there's a way that I can be cold with you, let's do it. Describe the feeling of falling in love in three words. Exciting, terrifying, and scary. Because I think that once you fall in love, it's the scariest thing is to lose it. Public vows or keep them private? Public every day. I think that especially if you're making an expression of love to your wife, I think that especially if it's something well-written, it'd be really helpful for other people, and especially kids, to be inspired by it. I grew up in a home without any love, and so I think that especially now it's affected the way that I am as a lover. There's a trend right now where people are using Chachabitty to help them write their vows. It's the stupidest ---- I've ever heard in my life. If your vows suck, let them suck. At least they're honestly you. Whatever happened to letting vows be ----? Because at the end of the day, they're your shitty vows. Instagram proposal or keep it private? I made it public and I wish it never did. Why? I think private. A lot of times, if you have the intent to make something public, you know people are going to see it. And I think something as intimate as a proposal should mean something to you and them, not to everyone else. And the minute you start to think about posting it publicly, it becomes everyone else's. That's why if I ever got pregnant, I would never talk about it. Yeah. And finally, will you go on another blind date with me? Dude, any time. Cheers, my dear.