ALEXANDRA SAVIOR SHARES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO “HOWL” VIA CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND
“Portland’s mystery girl (VICE)” may no longer be a kept secret, but Alexandra Savior can never be fully figured out. Today, HOWL,” the last single from her forthcoming album, The Archer, which will be released via Danger Mouse’s 30th Century Records and announces the LP’s release date: January 10, 2020.
Speaking about the new single, Alexandra Savior says:
“I originally wrote “HOWL” as a simple piece of poetry featured on an experimental sound tape that I created on my four-track recorder a few years ago. I never had any intention of releasing “HOWL” or any of the other pieces from that tape. But over time, I kept revisiting “HOWL” naturally, and continued to build a narrative.
Consequence of Sound, who debuted the single and video, said:
“If new single “Howl” represents that reclaimed autonomy, Savior has really hit the mark with The Archer. Dubious synthesizers creep along a slinking bass line, instilling the track with an eerie sense of steely caution. “Handsome dictator of my crimes/ I can’t tell if they’re yours/ I can’t tell if they’re mine,” sings Savior, slowly picking apart a manipulative relationship. Despite the sensual insecurity of the track, there’s a supreme confidence in its execution, a winning example of the Portland-based musician’s talent.”
Nina Ljeti, who fronts the LA-based band Kills Birds, directed the music video for “HOWL,” which was shot in LA. Savior and Ljeti spoke to Consequence of Sound about the song and video, citing their inspirations. Savior noted that her Tascam 4-track recorder played a major role, as did Humbert, Humbert, the narrator of “Lolita” — especially in the context of psychological manipulation. Savior says:
Humbert, Humbert, the narrator of “Lolita” is a reference for me because of his ability to characterize Lolita in a way that rationalizes his own desire for a child. In a manipulative relationship, it is oftentimes difficult to see whom the perpetrator is and who the victim is, I wanted to relay that confusion from the perspective of the young woman.
Ljeti channeled influences such as Harold and Maude (“particularly the sequences where Harold stages these elaborate death scenes as a way of coping with the world around him. There is obviously a dark humor to that, which we applied to the video,” says Ljeti), Laurel Nakadate, “Suspiria,” every Paul Thomas Anderson movie ever.
Ladygunn says, “Savior has a unique voice that veers away from the cookie cutter pop that is dominating the mainstream right now.” The new album showcases that standout vocality Savior is now known for, and also weaves a bittersweet story together with clever wordplay and broodingly beautiful layers of melody.
Savior’s forthcoming, sophomore album, The Archer, which was produced by Sam Cohen, often known as a fan of collaboration, most recently teaming up with Kevin Morby for his Oh My God album. On working with Savior, Cohen says, “It’s really a joy to work with someone who’s got such a strong sense of melody and also such a strong sense of what
