Alexandra Veltri
Alexandra Veltri is a Native American sonwriter and recently-turned singer. Veltri has a rather large library of songs she’s written for an impressive slew of artists, from Paris Hilton to ITZY to MOTHICA. But this year, Veltri started singing and producing her own works. I came only recently across her Unplug it! EP and was promptly thrown into her strange, mesmerizing fantasy-pop world.
Although her layered-vocal, dazed pop sound resembles some kind of daydream, her writing is very much rooted in reality. The “Show me that you’re strong by showin’ me you’re weak” from The Power to Hurt You, for example, is as simple as that. The track that follows, Of course I don’t hate you is, again, simply that: “You don’t have to make your way into my dreams to ask me if I hate you because I don’t. What a stupid question…”. The next track, Getting Ready, for example, sings just about how long getting ready takes. I’ve never… is a song about sex that, thankfully, doesn’t actually come too close. Instead, I rather like the way she describes “never wanting it this bad before”: “Empty, simple, opened and gutted.” Vomit/Swallow - while a regretable name - is a rare song about bulimia. It is yet another song that comes so very close to reality but ultimately keeps just enough space.
From the little amount of material of her online, I sense there is humor at play - which I think certainly is what I am picking up on in her music. It seems unserious, playful, and intentionally weird at times. I would say it works most of the time, though there are definitely moments where it can be difficult to identify if it is her silly side coming through (on purpose), or if she is trying to be sincere but lacks nuance.
Outside of her songwriting, it is clear the girl can sing. Her voice is quite lovely, and it reminds me of someone I can’t quite place. Of course, there is tremendous room for production to improve - vocal production included. Veltri is a Berklee College of Music graduate, meaning I trust she has both the knowledge and resources to improve her production over time. After all, she did only just start.
To be creating melodies this catchy so early-on is noteable work. She plays with a wide range of choir singing, funky synth chords, strings, and drums to create a very unusual 80s-inspired pop sound. Unplug it! is probably the best example of this retro sound. It almost can sound at times like she was trained in musical theater at some point (check out the bridge on Of course I don’t hate you). Anyhow, the sound is a breath of fresh air. Veltri is carving out a unique space here. It’s not perfect yet, but I am truly excited to see where it goes.
