Powder Blue, the highly anticipated new album from Begonia—the solo project of alt-pop Canadian artist Alexa Dirks—is out now on Birthday Cake Records; listen HERE.
In addition, Begonia unveils the music video for feature track “The Only One” today, directed by Gwen Trutnau
The album was written and produced by Begonia, Matt Peters and Matthew Schellenberg (Royal Canoe) with contributions from Jason Agel (Björk, Kelly Clarkson, Prince) and Joe LaPorta (FKA twigs, beabadoobee, Solange). The new collection of songs wrestles with life’s thornier moments in more evocative ways.
Of “The Only One,” Begonia recalls, “you know that feeling when you think everyone around you is having more fun in their lives than you, so you force yourself out of bed and into the world only to realize you just want to be at home back under the covers? That feeling of running up to the club doors like you are about to enter the best night of your life, but then you end up waiting at the back of the line freezing cold wishing you’d never gone out. I wrote this being like…‘I can’t be the only one, right?’”
When describing the namesake behind the new album, Powder Blue, Begonia turns to vivid imagery: her baby blanket, the airiness of clouds on a summer day, chlorine-filled water in a hotel pool, circa-1970s Elvis Presley wearing an ill-fitting jumpsuit and her collection of faded denim jackets.
Ahead of the project, Begonia shared album singles “Married By Elvis,” “Cold Night” and “Right Here” which received critical acclaim from CBC, Wonderland, Line of Best Fit, Indie88, Daily Star and Globe & Mail.
In celebration of the new album, Begonia is set for a run of U.S. shows in select cities this spring. The dates include a performance at New York’s Mercury Lounge as well as further shows at Los Angeles’ Hotel Cafe, Nashville’s The Basement, Portland’s Hawthorne Lounge and Seattle’s Sunset Tavern. More dates to be announced soon.
Powder Blue follows Begonia’s 2017 EP Lady In Mind and debut album Fear, released in 2019 to widespread critical praise. Fear received a nomination for Alternative Album of the Year at the 2019 Juno Awards and also earned Begonia a nod for Polaris Music Prize.
As Begonia, Alexa Dirks creates bold, surprising pop that is tempered with sensitivity and wisdom. In her music, Begonia leans hard into a sense of arrival. Whether it’s learning to come into her own or processing a brutal heartbreak, Dirks’ intimate lyrics and audacious sound allows for her audience to relate to the messiness of life with an honesty that is refreshing. Despite the turmoil from which it emerged, Powder Blue represents Dirks feeling settled by coming to terms with her past and present—from religious conflict, to exploring sexuality and managing mental health, the new album finds Dirks wresting with life’s thornier moments in more evocative ways.
Critical acclaim for Begonia…
“[Begonia] conjures charming vintage soul and lays on the richly layered choruses. But she’s also enormously distinct in her crystalline delivery, which pairs perfectly with songs about starting down doubt and anxiety.”—NPR
“Begonia has one of Canada’s most extraordinary voices, and thankfully she uses it to obliterate misery from this world one live performance at a time.”—Noisey
“[Powder Blue is] a riptide of emotional expression and dynamic production through which Dirks processes her journey of self-discovery, all propelled into the world by her strident, arresting vocals”—The Line of Best Fit
“With a rich sound and unshakeable confidence, Canadian-born Begonia is a force to be reckoned with.” — Wonderland Magazine
“Is it too early to call Powder Blue a contender as one of the year’s best albums? We may only be in the early days of 2023, but Begonia, a.k.a. Alexa Dirks, has an undeniable gem on her hands.” — CBC Music
Album art photo credit: Calvin Lee Joseph, design credit: Jadyn Klassen
BEGONIA—POWDER BLUE
1. Chasing Every Sunrise
2. Heaven
3. Married By Elvis
4. Right Here
5. I’m Not Dying
6. Marigold
7. Butterfly
8. Cold Night
9. Crying
10. Bleeding Heart
11. The Only One
12. NYE2013
BEGONIA LIVE
February 24—Toronto, ON—The Great Hall
February 25—Hamilton, ON—Mill’s Hardware
February 28—Ottawa, ON—Club SAW
March 1—Montreal, QC—Bar Le Ritz
March 2—New York City, NY—Mercury Lounge
March 4—Harrisburg, PA—Stage on Herr at Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center
March 5—Philadelphia, PA—Milkboy
March 7—Richmond, VA—Richmond Music Hall
March 9—Charlotte, NC—The Evening Muse
March 10—Nashville, TN—The Basement
March 11—Indianapolis, IN—LO-FI Lounge
March 12—Columbia, MO—Rose Music Hall
March 15—Austin, TX—SXSW Festival
March 16—Austin, TX—SXSW Festival
March 18—Oklahoma City, OK—Beer City Music Hall
March 19—Hot Springs, AR—Valley of Vapors Festival
April 10—Minneapolis, MN—7th Street Entry
April 11—Chicago, IL—Schuba’s
April 13—Detroit, MI—Parliament Room at Otis Supply
April 16—Pittsburgh, PA—Club Cafe
April 15—Cleveland, OH—Beachland Tavern
April 16—Pittsburgh, PA—Club Cafe
April 18—Columbus, OH—Rumba Cafe
April 19—Newport, KY—Southgate House Revival
April 20—Milwaukee, WI—Shank Hall
May 2—Denver, CO—Globe Hall
May 3—Salt Lake City, UT—Kilby Court
May 4—Montrose, CA—Bluecorn
May 6—Phoenix, AZ—Rebel Lounge
May 7—Santa Ana, CA—Constellation Room at Observatory OC
May 8—San Diego, CA—Soda Bar
May 10—Los Angeles, CA—Hotel Cafe
May 11—Sacramento, CA—The Starlet Room at Harlow’s
May 12—San Francisco, CA—Amado’s
May 16—Bend, OR—Volcanic Theatre Pub
May 18—Portland, OR—Hawthorne Lounge
May 19—Seattle, WA—The Sunset Tavern
June 16—Beaumont, AB—Beaumont Blues and Roots Festival
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