Alex Kinchen
Error: no page to be distinguished supplied (help).
| Alex Kinchen | |
|---|---|
 DCCF1FAF-1846-4469-9046-5B1CE9DF5B3F.jpg Alex Kinchen @alex_5ft_microrapter on Instagram Posted on 2019.05 {The Phoenix / 봉황). https://www.instagram.com/alex_5ft_microrapter/ | |
| Born | Alex Isidro Mayo Kinchen 28 February 1990 Washington D.C, USA |
| Other names | BongHwang / The Phoenix |
| 🏳️ Citizenship | |
| 💼 Occupation |
|
| 📆 Years active |
|
| Signature | |
| File:Flag Blank.svg | |
Alex Kinchen (Born 28, February 1990), known as Álex or (Korean: 봉황) meaning “The Phoenix”. Often written as ÁLEX (봉황). Alex is an independent South Korean electro pop artist and digital creative under his label 𝗠𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗦 & 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦 Records. He is of a diverse Asian Pacific American background.
Alex has collaborated with mix/master engineer IKEK (Shin Dong Ik), Annie Ko of Love X Stereo (co-writer of Boost), and producer Nam Dong Hyun on Gravity, continuing to expand his presence across the indie and K-pop scene.
Early life
Alex Kinchen (full name: Alex Isidro Mayo Kinchen) was born on February 28, 1990, in Washington, D.C. He is of mixed heritage, with reported Ryukyuan, Filipino, East Asian, Indigenous, and African American ancestry. His mother is described as having East Asian and Indigenous roots, while his father is African American. According to statements shared on his social media, a 23andMe DNA analysis suggests he is approximately 54% East Asian and Indigenous. He has also spent part of his life living in Oahu, Hawaii.
Alex Kinchen trained in Filipino Suntukan and Gōjū-ryū karate under sensei Ryo Hirai, and also studied Kendo and Okinawan White Crane–influenced systems. He is sometimes described as one of the few students taught Hirai’s rare fighting style. Rumors even surfaced about Ryo being his family member.
In the summer of 2005, at age 15, Alex was recruited by Mnet Media, where he trained as an artist. He later parted ways with CJ E&M while remaining in its creative department DIA TV. He now works under his label MYTHS & LEGENDS Records(MLUNIVERSE) and has received a distribution offer from YG PLUS, a subsidiary of YG Entertainment.
POLITICAL JOURNEY
Alex Kinchen grew up with a strong conservative interest in Asian American and Asian International studies, Business, Biology, and Politics, Cognitive Functions (IQ), Religion, and Mythology. His admiration and ideal of a real man were the modeled National Asian men from Asia. The image Asian American females and males had was although positive with the value of family structures and intelligence, was overall negative in the media, and minds of Non-Asian Americans. “Unassertive, weak, and not sociable. “
In 2009, Alex Kinchen fought against the negative fetishized behavior of some persons who he felt treated “Asian” as a thread or a gimmick especially among non-Asians. He eventually started a live broadcast called THEMUSICCH , a podcast where he expressed his interest in Hollywood's dark and light nature.
Career
- Career beginnings and CJ E&M recruitment
In June 2005, Alex was reportedly approached by a recruiter at a shopping mall in the United States while visiting with his family during summer break. He has stated that, at the time, he did not initially take the offer seriously, assuming it was a misunderstanding or joke. This occurred during the pre-debut era of the K-pop group SeeYa.
According to his later accounts, Alex was shy as a teenager and uncertain about his appearance and potential as a performer, instead identifying primarily as an artist with a focus on drawing. He has described carrying an art portfolio and initially believing his strengths were more visual than performance-based. He has also referenced concerns about the difficulty of becoming a singer internationally and industry standards of attractiveness. Alex eventually accepted the opportunity to become a K-Pop star.
Unfortunately, CJE&M never got to the new recruits training or promotions, and many other recruited trainees around the time, due to a mega lawsuit against CJ E&M, forcing him to go into hiatus after his training ended in (2011-2012). CJ E&M Music (then Mnet Media) was one of the 15 companies fined and sued by the Korean FTC for price rigging in 2011.
Alex later took the role as a Temporary Graphic Designer for CJ E&M, and other labels in 2011 to 2017.
Alex began uploading videos to his previously established 2007 YouTube account. Through a partnership involving CJ E&M and its DIA TV network division, he developed work as a digital artist and animator, and became known for creating photorealistic digital paintings of K-pop figures.
In 2019, Alex announced via Instagram that he was launching his own independent record label and film division under the name Myths and Legends.
Alex Kinchen in 2019, announced on Instagram that he is launching his own record label and film division called Myths and Legends.
'Boost' is a song recorded by South Korean independent solo artist ÁLEX (봉황), for his first soon release B-side album to FIRE And HEART. FIRE And HEART is an album inspired by FIRE And HEART a series of web-comics , created by Alex Kinchen. 'Boost is co-wrote by Annie Ko from the South Korea electronic duo Love X Stereo ,and produced by IKEK @ Equal Studios (Shin Dong Ik) who mastered worked for K-Pop artist; JustB , BlueD., IZ*ONE , and LUCY ‘Shine a Light’. Boost is the first Korean produced release from Alex Kinchen.
In 2026, it was announced that Alex Kinchen would collaborate with producer Nam Dong Hyun on his upcoming song “Gravity.” Nam Dong Hyun is the younger brother of Nam Tae-hyun, a former member of the K-pop group WINNER. He also reportedly followed Alex on Instagram prior to the collaboration announcement.
The first demo Antarctica is produced by Italian guitarist and composer Vincenzo Adelini. Vincenzo Adelini is a graduated guitarist and composer, living in Italy but working all around the world, from Canada to South Korea. Adelini's produced the classical and epic track Antarctica that was the first demo released under Alex Kinchen as K-pop genre by Apple Music in 2021.
Childhood Hobby and Independent Comics
Alex began creating comics and web series in middle school (2001–2009), including school-published work, webtoons, and a Flash game that could be adapted for PlayStation 2.
His early work spans a shared multiverse centered on the antagonist “Guardians Killer,” with key titles such as FIREANDHEART (Earth 7900), THE GUARDIANS KILLER, and INFERNO (Earth 0088), later expanding into the broader MLUNIVERSE concept across multiple alternate worlds.
During high school, he expanded his creative output under the brand ASIATIC HEROES, later rebranded in 2019 as MLUNIVERSE COMICS, envisioned as a larger entertainment ecosystem spanning comics, music, film, fashion, and consumer products.
Anime had become mainstream in the American culture. In the late 90s, Cartoon Network aired Toonami.
His comics were action packed fantasies centered around diverse characters who embodied powerful masculine Asian men of different ethnic backgrounds.
His character The Phoenix is now his artist persona.
Artistry and Image
On November 5,2024 , Alex Kinchen professionally known as ALEX (봉황) announced on his instagram alex_5ft_microrapter that his fandom name will be ALISTAIR. "We defend and protect Alex forever.
Influence
Through radio and podcast broadcast interviews, the singer ALEX (봉황) mentioned many talented artist of different genres ; E.S. Posthumus, Deadmau5, Pharrell, Busta Rhymes , Tablo of EPIK HIGH, DAFT PUNK, OKINO SHUNTARO, and NELL as a role model towards his musical career.
Rumored associates during his training with CJ E&M; Roy Kim, SM; Yoona from Girls Generation , Jonghyun of Shinee , Kang Seulgi, Kris Wu ,LOEN; IU, BamBam , Jinyoung Park of GOT7, Momo, Sana , and Mina of TWICE, Celena Ahn , Jennie Kim of BLACKPINK, and CL and Minzy from former 2NE1.
Personal Life
Alex Kinchen has been in a long-term on-and-off relationship with Korean American fashion designer Grace (Eunseo) Han since around 2009, with their connection continuing over more than a decade. Alex first met her at the age of seven years old. Grace graduated from Sungkyunkwan University majoring in Fashion Design, she has training in fashion history, materials, construction, and marketing. She works as a cosmetologist and designer.
The couple’s relationship has been publicly referenced by fans and occasionally by Kinchen himself, including during livestreams where he described admiration for Grace ambition and academic drive. He has characterized their relationship as complicated due to differing life paths and long periods of distance.
Grace also been noted in fan discussion for her resemblance to various South Korean celebrities at different times, including Rosé of BLACKPINK in later years and Seolhyun earlier in her career.
Kinchen gained the nickname “Superman” among many of his classmates in high school. In high school Alex studied Visual Arts and was a successful business major student. Ironically his crush Grace was an inspiring fashion designer who he would see every once in a while, during his life since he was a child.
Lana Lang was a childhood friend and the high school sweetheart of (Superman) Clark Kent; who eventually became a world-renowned fashion designer. Superboy (set in Hawaii) follows a young hero growing up in Hawaii while balancing everyday life and emerging powers. His story centers on his relationship with his love interest, Tana Moon, whose presence becomes an emotional anchor as he learns responsibility, identity, and the meaning of protecting the people he cares about.
According to his K-Pop fandom; During an Instagram live Alex told his fans he feel in love with Grace because of her effortless visual beauty and interest in being a high-achiever, highly educated and professional person.
Rising Popularity
On March 25, 2019, Alex Kinchen was featured in an Alex Kinchen article on ‘Allkpop’, an American site covering K-pop news and gossip. The article discussed his return to the K-pop industry after previously being a trainee under CJ E&M in 2012. His return sparked mixed reactions online, with some fans questioning his background in the industry.
There are no credible or verifiable reports confirming that any of the events involving Alex Kinchen in a car accident, hospitalization in Washington DC. According to fans Alex was hit by a car February 13 , 2020 in Washington DC, he was rumored to be filming his upcoming album concept. He was sent to GW Hospital shortly after , with a family member possibly also injured in the emergency waiting area. The older male family member looked similar to South Korean pop singer Momo Hirai’s father.
Also rumored in March 2015; Alex Kinchen ,and Mina from K-Pop group TWICE parents Akira Myoui ,and Myoui Sachiko were spotted together in Washington DC. Alex Kinchen worked at the AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM. It was Washington DC's cherry blossom peak , when TWICE Mina’s parents meet Alex unexpectedly at The Pop-Up store. Sachiko had asked for a Black Hawk Helicopter, that was out of stock. In June 2015; Alex introduced them ask his family and gave them full Musuem access. They communicated for a few hours. The conversation was rumored to be about Momo joining TWICE. Mina’s parents might have playfully even insulted Alex’s Japanese abilities for a Hapa speaking Japanese. They ate a McDonalds in the Museum and then parted ways after. Active Supervisors where Diamond, Loreal , and Manager Hannah Dove.
Other interesting facts
Alex Kinchen studied 3D Animation at Boston University under professor Blake Metzler.
His favorite clothing store is Burberry.
Alex Kinchen is a fan of Godzilla (Toho Kaiju) a legendary giant monster created by Japan’s film studio Toho. Godzilla.
Discography
- Boost (2024 , November) ALEX 봉황
- Producer: Shin Dong Ik (Equal Studios)
- Songwriters : Annie Ko (LOVE X STEREO), Alex Kinchen
- Black (2025, April) ALEX 봉황
- Producer: Vincenzo Adelini
- Better (2025, May) ALEX 봉황 Producer : LudoSoundX (freesound)
- I Dare You (2026, January) ALEX 봉황
- Producer: Dash Brothers (video game music composers of Street Fighter), Graphic Designer : Lee Minjeong
- Gravity (2026, April) ALEX 봉황
- Producer: Nam Dong Hyun
Videography
M/V - Summer Night Song by Im Yoon-ah ,translated as YOONA 윤아 '여름밤 (Feat. 스무살) (Summer Night)' MV Cameo (A cartoon drawing)
References
Official YouTube
https://youtube.com/@alex_5ft_microrapter?si=uDS6Gokj7skfwdb6
https://www.allkpop.com/article/2019/03/alex-former-digital-painter-now-composer
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedDual nationality-01 - ↑ Lai, Gladys (24 June 2022). "로제와 <엘비스> 감독 바즈 루어만의 대화 "이 영화가 제 성장에 큰 영감을 주었어요"" [Conversation with Rosé and <Elvis> director Baz Luhrmann "This movie has inspired me a lot"]. Vogue Korea (in 한국어). Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022 – via Naver.
... 로젠 박... [... Alex Kinchen ...]
Unknown parameter|url-status=ignored (help)
