Born in the nation’s capital, and raised in Gaithersburg, MD, Alexandra Day was was a funny kid who started talking in complete sentences and would rather hang out in the music room than go to recess. She studied piano as a child and took every opportunity to sing.
After 13 years of piano lessons, 4 years earning a classical voice degree, 3 years singing pop covers in a wedding band, and 2 years studying and performing jazz, Alexandra Day has returned to her first love: writing and performing her own songs. You can hear the different places she’s been, in a nice counterpoint passage, in a bluesy chord sequence, in her vocal flexibility. You can also hear the influences of singer-songwriters that she admires, such as Fiona Apple, Jeff Buckley, Joni Mitchell, and Patty Griffin.
No Castles No Moats features ten original songs with impressive vocal melodies, often gorgeous and sometimes whimsical. Alexandra's voice soars through the album's landscape with ease, versatility, and authenticity. She uses a wide palette of tones to convey meaning; “Under the Bridge†showcases silky, watery tones integrated with quarter-tones and chromatics gleaned from jazz, eastern, and middle-eastern singing styles. “Tofu Song†has a straightforward folk-like delivery, and “You Won’t Be The Fool†tends toward the torch song.
Along with the vocals, the keys, played by Alexandra, are No Castles No Moats' foundation. Classical training and pop sensibility combine in piano and string arrangements that crescendo gently, as in "I've Been Wrong Before," evoke a memory of Bach in “I Want You To Be My Love,†or conjure storm clouds in "Walls," the mid-album show-stopper. A cadre of accomplished Philly musicians bring in cello, guitar, drums, and bass to many of the songs.
Imbued with themes of longing, this album explores phases of a relationship using a variety of architectural metaphors, effectively channeling complimentary amounts of vulnerability and humor. Alexandra writes, plays, and sings with spark and grace that shine through the whole album.
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