Launched from ‘Laguna Beach’

“Hello, I’m hiding all my dreams. Yes, I’m hiding all my dreams,” sings Alex Murrel in her new song, “Hello.”

But she’s not hiding her dreams anymore.

It’s been more than a year since Murrel, 19, graduated from high school and her role on the second season of MTV’s “Laguna Beach.”

Now, with more than 160,000 “friends” on MySpace.com and a self-titled album set to launch Sept. 26, she is out to reinvent herself as a musician.

Murrel has been planning her music career since she was in high school, where she was president of the drama club and was voted best comedic actress in a major competition. Then she observed how the cast of “Laguna Beach’s” first season was thrust into the spotlight.

“When ‘Laguna Beach’ came out, it was the perfect opportunity, and I just ran with it,” she said. The television show, in which she was known as “Alex M,” proved to be the perfect national launchpad when it featured her singing “Hello” at the “Fight the Slide” benefit.

“I’ve had that song stuck in my head for six months,” first season star and friend Dieter Schmitz said. “I hear ‘Hello’ in my sleep.”

Schmitz has known of Murrel’s abilities and ambitions for years; she has also sung at events held by the charity he founded, Running Home 4 Teens.

“For her, music was what she always wanted to do,” Murrel’s father Craig said. “The show gave her an opportunity that I don’t think she can pass up. I encouraged her to seize the moment and do what she loves.”

“Laguna Beach” was the most watched program in its time period among 12- to 24-year-olds in its second season, beating out major networks.

However, when Murrel was on screen, the show focused almost exclusively on a clumsy love triangle between her, Jason Wahler and Jessica Smith.

“In ‘Laguna Beach’ I was portrayed a little differently than I expected, but I learned to build up a thick skin; it was a little taste of what’s really to come,” Murrel said.

“I think the show makes you more guarded and smarter about going out into public,” Schmitz said. “It was hard as hell, but now it’s all done for us. It was a situation that was really hard mentally to go through.”

The second season collection hit store shelves Aug. 8. “MTV was going to put my CD in the DVD pack, but that didn’t end up happening,” Murrel said.

The experience with the DVD packaging is the latest in a string of setbacks; Murrel’s album’s release has been delayed several times.

“You know, the music industry is really tough, and I’ve learned already that it’s like a roller coaster ride of emotions. But it’s the business that I’ve really wanted to get into,” she said.

Schmitz believes his friend has taken the right road to success.

“The thing about Alex is that she’s not trying to do this just because of the show — she’s always wanted to sing,” Schmitz said. “She’s a very talented girl,” said Mark Dressler, her drama teacher at Laguna Beach High School. “She’s a really wonderful actress, but I think there’s a whole other avenue of talent for her to pursue now; that’s really exciting for her.”

Murrel has gained an immense and devoted MySpace following, despite the fact that she has yet to release anything through her label. “It’s so cute,” Murrel said. “I have such loyal fans on MySpace; I love it. I go to a lot of effort for them, because they helped me when I didn’t have any backing at all. It’s all thanks to them.”

Tonight, she will sing at a high school in Ohio, followed by an appearance at a club in Texas tomorrow.

“It’s gonna be crazy; I’m so excited,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of trouble proving to people that I can sing and that I take it seriously.”

In-between touring and denying rumors that she is dating The Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter, Murrel will soon shoot the music video for her first single, “Best Friend,” which has already been listened to more than 1 million times on MySpace.com.