Alex Kresovich

Alex Kresovich
Born (1986-08-28) August 28, 1986 (age 38)
Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
Alma materCornell University (BS)
University of Georgia (MA)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (PhD)
Occupations
  • Music producer
  • songwriter
Years active2009–present

Alex Kresovich (also known as AK) (born August 28, 1986) is an American RIAA-Multi Platinum certified and Billboard#1 record producer and songwriter from Ithaca, New York.[1][2][3] He is best known for his work with Panic! at the Disco, Cee Lo Green, Niykee Heaton, MAX, Hoodie Allen, Snow Tha Product, Chris Webby, and Jocelyn Alice.[4][5]

Kresovich earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he studied the influence of popular music which references anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts on the mental health attitudes and behaviors of U.S. youth.[6][7][8] His research is published in JAMA Pediatrics,[9] the Journal of Health Communication,[10] and Health Communication.[11] His research has received media coverage in The New York Times[12][13] and U.S. News & World Report.[14]

In addition to his music and academic work, Kresovich serves as Partner and Chief Strategy Officer for The Cut Buddy, an Ithaca-originated and North Carolina–based Black-owned business and personal grooming company invented and founded by Joshua Esnard that appeared on the ABC television show Shark Tank in November 2017.[15]

Music career

Kresovich was mentored by GRAMMY winner Ken Lewis (Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Eminem, Bruno Mars), and has collaborated with Panic! at the Disco, Cee Lo Green, X Ambassadors, Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music, Kid Ink, Niykee Heaton, Ingrid Andress, Jared Leto (30 Seconds to Mars), G-Eazy, King Los, Bipolar Sunshine, Emily Warren (Dua Lipa, Shawn Mendes, The Chainsmokers), Jesse Saint John (Lizzo, Britney Spears, Charli XCX), Sonny Digital (Future, Drake, 2 Chainz), Vincent Berry II (Beyonce, J. Cole), Michael Pollack (Maroon 5, Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato), Daniel Wilson (The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar), Ryan Tedder (Adele, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift), Ester Dean (Rihanna, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj), and Shane McAnally (Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert).[2]

In 2011, Kresovich won the 2K Sports/Duck Down Music NBA 2K12 Soundtrack Contest.[16]

In 2020, Kresovich produced and co-wrote "How Could You Not Know" by Jocelyn Alice which appeared on Season 2, Episode 3 of the NBC television show, Songland.[17] The song was re-produced for H.E.R. by Grammy-winning music producer and songwriter Shane McAnally, who tweeted of Kresovich and Alice's original version, "I hope people realize how intricate and impressive this song is melodically and lyrically. Cause damn, I am blown away."[18][19] The final version of "How Could You Not Know?" co-written/produced with Shane McAnally, Ryan Tedder, and Ester Dean was released to streaming platforms on November 5, 2021 and the official music video on November 12, 2021.[20][21]

Education

Kresovich attended Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in communication. He earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree from the University of Georgia.[22] Kresovich earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[8]

Selected academic publications

Kresovich, A., Reffner Collins, M. K., Riffe, D., & Carpentier, F. R. D. (2021). A Content Analysis of Mental Health Discourse in Popular Rap Music. JAMA Pediatrics, 75(3), 286-292. A Content Analysis of Mental Health Discourse in Popular Rap Music[23]

Kresovich, A. (2020). The Influence of Pop Songs Referencing Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation on College Students' Mental Health Empathy, Stigma, and Behavioral Intentions. Health Communication.[11]

Kresovich, A., & Noar, S. M. (2020). The Power of Celebrity Health Events: Meta-analysis of the Relationship between Audience Involvement and Behavioral Intentions. Journal of Health Communication.[24]

Selected production discography

Panic! at the Disco – Pray for the Wicked

Cee Lo Green – Heart Blanche

  • "Thorns"

Hoodie Allen – People Keep Talking

  • "Against Me" (featuring MAX)

Niykee Heaton – Promotional Singles

  • "Cold War" (Promotional Single)
  • "Kill 'Em All" (Promotional Single)
  • "Remember It All"

Chris Webby – Chemically Imbalanced

  • "Nice 2 Be Back"
  • "Blue Skies" (featuring Anna Yvette) (Promotional Single)

Jocelyn Alice – Songland Season 2

Snow Tha Product – The Rest Comes Later

  • "Bad Bitches" (Single)

NBA 2K12 – NBA 2K12 Official Soundtrack

  • Alex K., D.J.I.G. - Now's My Time (2K Original)

References

  1. ^ "Panic! at the Disco's 'Pray for the Wicked' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2019-11-30. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
  2. ^ a b "Alex Kresovich - Music Producer & Composer". Alex Kresovich - Music Producer & Composer. Archived from the original on 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
  3. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Archived from the original on 2018-02-12. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
  4. ^ "Alex Kresovich - Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
  5. ^ "Alex Kresovich '08 co-produces new Panic! at the Disco single". Cornell Chronicle. June 20, 2018. Archived from the original on May 31, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  6. ^ "Haven't you people ever heard of the UNC Ph.D. candidate who produced a Panic! song?". The Daily Tar Heel. Archived from the original on 2019-05-22. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
  7. ^ "Alex Kresovich | Endeavors". Archived from the original on 2020-08-15. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  8. ^ a b "SethNoar on Twitter: If you know @AlexKresovich you know he puts 110% into everything. His dissertation defense was no exception. Congratulations Dr. Kresovich!!". Archived from the original on 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  9. ^ Kresovich, Alex; Reffner Collins, Meredith K.; Riffe, Daniel; Carpentier, Francesca R. Dillman (2020). "A Content Analysis of Mental Health Discourse in Popular Rap Music". JAMA Pediatrics. 175 (3): 286–292. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.5155. PMC 7921905. PMID 33284350.
  10. ^ Kresovich, Alex; Noar, Seth M. (2020). "The Power of Celebrity Health Events: Meta-analysis of the Relationship between Audience Involvement and Behavioral Intentions". Journal of Health Communication. 25 (6): 501–513. doi:10.1080/10810730.2020.1818148. PMID 32990198. S2CID 222166905. Archived from the original on 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  11. ^ a b Kresovich, Alex (2020). "The Influence of Pop Songs Referencing Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation on College Students' Mental Health Empathy, Stigma, and Behavioral Intentions". Health Communication. 37 (5): 1–11. doi:10.1080/10410236.2020.1859724. PMID 33334191. S2CID 229318454. Archived from the original on 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  12. ^ Grose, Jessica (May 5, 2021). "When Grown-Ups Have Imaginary Friends". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  13. ^ Barry, Ellen (2024-02-04). "How Psychiatry Broke the Top 40". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  14. ^ Mozes, Alex. "Rap Music Is Putting Mental Health in the Spotlight". US News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  15. ^ "Facebook Campaign Spotlights Black Businesses for Holiday Shopping". Spectrumlocalnews.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  16. ^ "2K Sports and Duck Down Music Announce Winners of NBA® 2K12 MC/Producer Contest". Urbanmag-online.com. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Jocelyn Alice Performs "How Could You Not Know?" (Original Song Performance) - Songland 2020 - YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2020-04-29. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  18. ^ "Alex Kresovich on Instagram: "YOOOOOO!!! Check out @iamjocelynalice performing "How Could You Not Know?", a song I produced and co-wrote, TONIGHT @ 10PM EST on..."". Instagram.com. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Shane McAnally on Twitter: "I hope people realize how intricate and impressive this song is melodically and lyrically. Cause damn, I am blown away, @iamjocelynalice #Songland... "". Archived from the original on 2020-05-04. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  20. ^ "ACE Repository - HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW?". Archived from the original on 2019-03-30. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  21. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Jocelyn Alice- How Could You Not Know- Official Video. YouTube.
  22. ^ "Ph.D. Program: Students | UNC School of Media and Journalism". Archived from the original on 2019-05-22. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
  23. ^ Kresovich, Alex; Reffner Collins, Meredith K.; Riffe, Daniel; Carpentier, Francesca R. Dillman (2020). "A Content Analysis of Mental Health Discourse in Popular Rap Music". JAMA Pediatrics. 175 (3): 286–292. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.5155. PMC 7921905. PMID 33284350. Archived from the original on 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  24. ^ Kresovich, Alex; Noar, Seth M. (2020). "The Power of Celebrity Health Events: Meta-analysis of the Relationship between Audience Involvement and Behavioral Intentions". Journal of Health Communication. 25 (6): 501–513. doi:10.1080/10810730.2020.1818148. PMID 32990198. S2CID 222166905.