Alex McWalters studied Creative Writing at Appalachian State University. He has played percussion for River Whyless, a folk-rock quartet based in Asheville, North Carolina, since the band’s formation in 2011. In January 2015, he was awarded a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council on behalf of River Whyless. Songs from the band’s subsequent EP were featured on NPR’s World Café, Pop Matters, and The Bluegrass Situation. His writing has appeared in Paste Magazine.