Following your passion and chasing your dreams in the era of social media and YouTube isn’t as easy at it seems. Even with talent and determination, standing out in the big world of music and persevering through is no easy feat. Alexandra Savior was spotted after she put out a YouTube cover of Big Jet Plane, and the rest as they say is history, but it’s not quite so in her case. She has had her share of challenges, doubts, and triumphs. While she’s gearing up for her new record, The Archer, on January 10th, we got talking to her and discovered many facets of her personality.
Tell us a bit about your background
I was raised in a suburb of Portland, my dad lived in New Orleans so I spent a lot of time back and forth. As a teen I was inspired by female painters and singers like Alice Neel, Frida Kahlo, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald. I never went to college (unless you count showing up for the first two weeks before dropping out) but I took a lot of courses in painting, drawing, and singing after school, and on the weekends during high school and still.
Where did you think the process started for you to get to where you are?
I guess I realized I could have a career in music when I was about 16, I was “discovered” on YouTube because my girlfriend and I had made a video of us covering “Big Jet Plane”. I was asked to come to New York and sing a couple of songs for a fashion week show. I realized I had an opportunity to create a career in music, though it took me years to feel like I understood how to maneuver a career in music as a woman.
What is the biggest challenge ?
I think my biggest challenge was my youth and naïveté, it lead to me being pushed into a lot of situations that made me uncomfortable, and affected my confidence and self assurance as an artist. I don’t know if I have recovered or overcome that challenge, but I’m in a place now where I feel I can trust the people around me, and allow myself to listen to my intuition above all.
What’s the process like to get out there and share your work with the world?
In the beginning, a manager found me on the internet, and it was fairly swift the way the business side of my career was put together. When things fell apart last year and I had no more a manager, agent, or label, I sent my demos around a lot and tried to play a lot of shows around Portland. But overall, it was really my friendships with people in the music industry that helped me move forward in my career, finding people who care and are trustworthy is most important for the business side of any career.
Advice for aspiring musicians who want to go big?
DON’T DO IT!
A quote you live by?
“If you can’t love yourself, how the hell are you gonna love somebody else?” by Ru Paul
What’s exciting you right now?
I’m excited mostly for the release of my new record “The Archer” on January 10th! Also looking forward to spending some time in the forest this winter with my partner trying to write my next album.
You can listen to Alexandra Savior ‘s music here or head to YouTube.
