Alex Sanders (Prop the Producer) is a music producer, engineer and educator based in Sacramento, with a career spanning nearly two decades. Coming from a family of musicians, Sanders’ musical journey started early, learning piano in first grade and eventually picking up the saxophone in middle school. Inspired by his father, who played saxophone and sang in a band, Sanders developed a deep passion for music.
“Music was just bar none, something I was really passionate about,” Sanders recalls, noting that despite dabbling in sports and other interests, music remained his true calling.
High school marked a turning point in Sanders’ journey, when he began songwriting and experimenting with music production. His first foray into digital music creation came through an unconventional route: the MTV Music Generator on the PlayStation One. This was his first music software and laid a foundation for his later work.
“That was the first time I really got my hands on [a] DAW, you know, digital audio workstation, like getting into making music — recording music,” Sanders says. “I had a little USB microphone … and I had friends that wanted to record. I was just looking for any reason to work in music.”
Today, Sanders’ career is defined by his commitment not only to music but also music education. He works with the Sacramento County Office of Education and other organizations to bring music programs to schools, juvenile systems, and Native American reservations. Whether teaching music production, songwriting or the deeper technical aspects of sound, Sanders’ goal is to make music accessible to everyone, particularly in underserved communities where arts programs are often the first to be cut.
“I want to make sure that creativity doesn’t get lost, especially for the youth,” Sanders says.
In addition to his educational endeavors, Alex remains deeply involved in Sacramento’s diverse music scene. He describes Sacramento as a “melting pot” of sounds, often overshadowed by the Bay Area but rich in its own right. “We don’t have a specific sound, which means we can do whatever we want,” he says, emphasizing the creative freedom that comes from this diversity.
Alex’s goals are both ambitious and grounded in community. He’s aiming for a Grammy, having already been Grammy-considered and achieving several Billboard plaques. However, his current focus is more on nurturing the next generation of musicians and fostering creativity through his educational work. As he puts it, “I’m really big into energy, making sure that both parties are happy when collaborating, and creating without any boundaries.”
Through his company, Track Cartel, and his presence on platforms like Instagram and Discord, Alex continues to make waves, both sonically and by inspiring others to pursue their musical passions.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was funded by the City of Sacramento’s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento. Following our journalism code of ethics and protocols, the city had no editorial influence over this story and no city official reviewed this story before it was published. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review, Sacramento Observer and Univision 19. Sign up for our “Sac Art Pulse” newsletter here.
By Cristian Gonzalez
