City Limits – aka musician, producer, writer, & singer Alex Hall – originates from the New Forest but is now based in Surbiton in south west London. I first came across his music early last year, and the consistent quality of his releases means he has now appeared in the Evolving Tunes playlist many times, most recently with the stunning Hanging By A Thread. As a result I decided to wake the Q&A department up, and so read on to find out more about him, his music, incl where it all began… and what he’s hopeless at!
City Limits Official | Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | TikTok | Alex Hall
~ Hi Alex, how would you describe your music for those who may not have come across it yet?
My music is quite eclectic in genre but it’s focused on storytelling at its core (like all the great 60s/70s writers) but with a modern pop production element. I love reading and theatre so I hope to bring that across. I’m experimenting a lot with EDM genres like liquid drum and bass at the moment so I’m excited to bring that into my sound palette!
~ What’s your earliest musical memory?
I think coming home from school and my mum saying out of nowhere really “you’re doing guitar lessons” when I was about 8. It was a strange mix of fear and excitement but I’ve been hooked on music ever since really!
~ Aside from “whipping out the trumpet now and again”, what other instruments can you play?
Trumpet and guitar are my main two! Obviously I sing but I can get by on keyboards and a bit of drums too!
~ Your recent releases, Hanging by a Thread and Missing Piece, have a delicious late-night dancefloor influence, so what led you more in this direction?
Great question. I think it was something in the back of my head that I wanted to be pursuing more. I’d been going to some more EDM gigs in 2025 (Keeno, Calvin Harris, Katrynada) so it kinda was inevitable perhaps! I also wanted to challenge myself, and I think with those styles you can really push and get immersed in the production elements more so. It’s good to always be on your edge or nativity and expertise as a creator I think!
~ The production values in your tracks are stunning, so would you say you are a perfectionist, and does it take a lot of time to arrive at the finished track?
Very kind. Yes all self-produced. I’m getting quicker! I used to be way too perfectionist but I’m learning the art of “good enough”. I try to finish a track a month from the writing to the mix (then I send off for mastering) but it usually takes an extra week than that!
~ Are there any other new musicians or bands local to you that you recommend we check out?
Cristina Hart is making some great alt pop rock at the moment! I met her boyfriend on a trumpet session a few months back!
~ We’re approaching festival season, so if you were asked to curate a stage for a day, which acts would you invite to perform?
Ohhh so tough. Let’s say:
Sun Kil Moon
Richard Dawson
Kenya Grace
And if they were alive:
Chet Baker
Miles Davis
Lee Morgan
~ What are your plans for the rest of 2026?
Big show at The Bedford so getting these new songs ready for that and writing writing writing! Who knows if things keep simmering creatively could well be an EP but certainly more singles.
~ And finally, aside from music, do you have any other creative skills? (or obscure talents!)
I like cooking and I’ve just taken up golf which I’m hopeless at but have the bug for! It’s not great on a musicians wallet though!
