PHOTO: ANNEMIE TONKEN | Portland, Maine-based Alejandra O’Leary is known for her eclectic musical palate, oscillating between soulful indie pop and blistering ’90s-era shoegaze. Her blatant disregard for genre distinctions could possibly be attributed to her multicultural lineage, which admittedly broke down any preconceived ideas of conformity that might have clouded her varied and dynamic creative undertakings.
The Vinyl District is pleased to premiere her newest single, “Undone,” which falls within the jangly indie pop shades of O’Leary’s diverse musical spectrum. The chorus even feels like a dead ringer for an iPhone commercial or other handy household entertainment system, though I highly doubt that was her intention. It’s clearly a love song that is soaked in childhood nostalgia, sung with an innocent swagger which feels akin to the early work of Cyndi Lauper, with a touch of The Breeders.
It’s interesting to note that “Undone” and its corresponding LP, EVEREST (due in stores on June 7th), were recorded in a spontaneous session whereby Alejandra intentionally withheld chord charts or demos from her band until the last minute. This was in order to insure the material did not feel labored over. “The improvisatory spirit keeps things fresh and thrilling” Alejandra attests. “I find it to be the most enchanting way to create music.”
