OPEN SWIM EP COMES OUT JULY 17, 2024 VIA BIRTHDAY CAKE RECORDS
Begonia, aka Alexa Dirks, releases a new single, “Stay Forever”, off of her upcoming EP, via Birthday Cake Records. An ethereal song that showcases a profound vulnerability through self-reflection. The melancholy lyrics contrast Alexa’s dreamy vocals which are underscored by the flowing piano melody.
“This song came about when I was having a hard time letting myself trust in a relationship” Alexa notes. “I wanted to just let myself go into the love I felt but had never felt secure like that before so it was (and still is sometimes) a tough process for me. To just be free of self-judgment and open to love takes great honesty and vulnerability that has taken me a long time to cultivate.”
The openness of “Stay Forever” fits into the journey of the upcoming EP, Open Swim, one which explores honest communication with oneself and others with candour and sincerity. Alexa describes the EP as a project that “encompasses the feeling of working through conflict and the elation that can surface when you’re honest with others and ultimately yourself. Sometimes in the process you can feel like you’re swimming for your life through choppy water but on the other side there is the feeling of relief, like floating on your back in the sun.”
The Open Swim EP was co-written and produced by Begonia and Marcus Paquin (The National, The Weather Station, Julia Jacklin) along with contributions from her frequent collaborators and producer duo, deadmen. Open Swim will be released on July 17, 2024, via Birthday Cake Records.
“Get to You”, the first single from the EP, begins by unspooling a story about longing to connect with someone. As each instrumental component builds, the song fills with emotions underpinned by the Poly 6 and Prophet 8 synthesizers working in tandem with Alexa’s sensitive, breathy vocal delivery.
Alexa states,
“this song is about trying to get through to someone you can’t seem to get through to. When you feel like you’re constantly showing someone who you are and they can’t or don’t want to see it.”
The single is rooted in R&B grooves and showcases a different side to Begonia’s abilities. While she maintains her signature relatability, charisma, and vocal prowess – which are foundational to her sound, there is a reserved maturity to the composition of “Get to You” that feels distinct.
Upcoming Shows:
Jun 8 – Uxbridge, ON @ Springtide Music Festival
Jun 15 – Brandon, MB @ Keystone Centre 50th Anniversary
Jun 21 – Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Jazz Festival
Jun 22 – Beaumont, AB @ Beaumont Music Festival
Jun 28 – Toronto, ON @ Pride Toronto
Jun 29 – Rochester, NY @ Rochester International Jazz Festival
Jul 1 – Montréal, QC @ Festival International de Jazz de Montreal
Jul 19 – Yellowknife, NT @ Folk on the Rocks
Jul 27-28 – Salmon Arm, BC @ Salmon Arm Roots and Blues
Aug 9 – Ear Falls, ON @ Trout Forest Music Festival
Aug 24 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage(supporting Blue Rodeo & Matt Mays)