Record company scouts spotted Alexandra Savior at just 16 but she balked at plans to turn her into the next Katy Perry. The arty Portland teenager decamped to LA where she met her songwriting soulmate, Arctic Monkey’s Alex Turner. With producer James Ford, they have created a debut that captures Savior’s preternatural self-possession. Blessed with a crystalline, intimate voice – think a less cabaret Lana del Rey – she channels the outsider cool of the cult 70s Japanese anime the album is named after. However, Turner’s retro snap, crackle and pop and Ford’s studio shimmer polish Savior too much out of the picture, leaving her sounding like an imitation, rather than the real thing.
Pop-noir tinged by desert rock. Imagine Lana Del Rey and Josh Homme charging feverishly into the sunset. An all-star line-up of Alex Turner and James Ford lent a hand, but it’s Savior’s idiosyncratic, dark charisma that ranks this as one of the best debuts of 2017.
“Alexandra Savior has a penchant for clever wordplay and a voice that can hypnotize, terrorize, or both in four measures or less.” – PITCHFORK.
“Her ability to create something evocative, sedating and sultry, all at the same time is uncanny”- PASTE.
“It’s a sound that should catch on in a hurry with fans of Lana Del Rey, Dead Man’s Bones, Zella Day and similar artists with a retro flair.” – FORBES
I wrote about Alexandra Savior a couple weeks ago here but she deserves another round of attention because “Belladonna of Sadness” is a stunning album release. It’s hard to find anything that doesn’t sound like anything else these days, genres have blended so thoroughly that most our new reward is the structures certain artists build using different ones. Maybe it’s always been that way? Maybe. To some degree at least. And “Belladonna of Sadness” certainly doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It does, however, strike you almost immediately with a stark sense of its particular self. Said another way, this album and the artist behind it find a strict joy in their own identities. Outsiders are not welcome and not needed here. We can, however, listen in if we’d like and we’ll be doing that very thing for a long time to come
Portland native Alexandra Savior has shared both the album artwork for her forthcoming debut album, as well as a new song, “Vanishing Point”. The new track is taken from Savior’s new record, “Belladonna Of Sadness”, which is set for release on April 7th, 2017 through Columbia Records.
Alexandra Savior is also planning stops at summer festivals Boston Calling and Primavera Sound in Spain. Alexandra will also return to Europe this spring, with performances lined up in Paris, Berlin and 2 dates in London. After her first London date sold out in one day, a second one has been announced for May 30th, 2017 at Scala. Tickets on sale March 17th, 2017. Alexandra Savior made her mark last summer, following the release of debut single “Shades,” which left us completely hooked on the 21-year old singer/songwriter. Now, with a string of releases under her belt, including “M.T.M.E.” , Mystery Girl and the track “Mirage”.
Not only does she write music and perform live, Savior also paints her own artwork and writes, directs and edits her own music videos. Belladonna of Sadness was co-written by Alexandra and British rock frontman Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys/Last Shadow Puppets) and co-produced by James Ford (Haim/Florence and the Machine) and Alex Turner.
‘Belladonna of Sadness’ now. After what was, very much a breakthrough year for the young singer in 2016, Alexandra Savior will surely be the name on everybody’s lips this year, especially following her hotly tipped SXSW appearances, Alexandra is also excited to return to Europe this Spring, with performances lined up in Paris, Berlin and 2 sold out dates in London. After her first London date sold out in one day, a second one has been announced for May 30th 2017 at Scala
The Portland native is treating fans to a slew of new this week! , today, both the official album artwork, which she painted herself for her upcoming debut album, as well as a new song, “Vanishing Point.” The hypnotic new track is lifted from Savior’s new record, Belladonna Of Sadness, which is due out April 7th 2017 via Columbia Records. Alexandra’s unique sound and style first caught the attention of several creative forces including T. Bone Burnett who placed her song, “Risk,” in the most recent season of HBO’s cult series, “True Detective.” In addition to that track, Alexandra also co-wrote the most recent Last Shadow Puppets’ single, “Miracle Aligner” along with the erstwhile Arctic Monkey, Alex Turner.
The Portland-bred singer’s debut album “Belladonna of Sadness” will be out April 7th on Columbia Records, and her latest single “Mystery Girl” was co-penned by Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys.
We’ve had a sharp eye and ear on Alexandra Savior since hearing her last year. A husky voiced, doe-eyed crooner, Savior so daintily stole the audience’s hearts. She could’ve broken them all and still own their love. Her sultry voice and mystique is enough to seduce your senses, and still leave you yearning for more. Savior has her full-length debut record underway produced by Arctic Monkey’s frontman Alex Turner. Get lost in her sullen world of dark lounge tunes, and do not miss her live when she comes around your way.
The Fat Angel Sings 