Alexandra Lee
Encyclopedia
Alexandra Mariel Lee, also known by her stage name
Alexandra Starlight, is an American singer and song-writer. Alexandra and The Starlight Band (stylised as Alexandra & The Starlight Band) is the recording name of her current solo project in collaboration with other artists who serve as the backing band for her project.
and Joss Stone
. She is influenced by the classic American sounds of soul music
, gospel
, Motown, R&B and rock & roll, vocalists such as Otis Redding
, Janis Joplin
, as well as contemporary British female neo-soul singers such as Amy Winehouse
and Adele
.
for her love of glam rock
and theatrics, inspired by listening to artists such as David Bowie
and Queen
.
at age 17, then going by the stage name Sasha Baby.
(The Dwarves) and Bradley Cook (Foo Fighters
/The Ataris
). At the time, their single "Are You Ready for It" had a top 10 Billboard Magazine garage rock chart hit, named one of the Coolest Garage Songs by Little Steven's Underground Garage
column. She then quit the band, with Sisely Treasure
stepping in as the new lead singer.
’s young swagger street chicks-The Runaways
."
The Hollywood Harlots caught the attention of producer Jeff Saltzman, who also produced The Killers and The Sounds
, at a raucous show at a French restaurant for Alexandra's stage antics of pouring whiskey on her face, jumping onto diners' tables, eating their steaks and drinking their wine. She then recorded a demo EP with Jeff Saltzman, though never officially released it as the band quickly imploded shortly after recording it.
, Keith Richards
, Michael Jackson, Slash
, Madonna
) and collaborated with composer
Lou Forestieri, who was the one time band leader of Lena Horne
.
On July 21, 2011, Alexandra appeared on Late Night with David Letterman
with Universal Republic Records recording artist Porcelain Black
, lending her vocals as a back up singer.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Alexandra Starlight, is an American singer and song-writer. Alexandra and The Starlight Band (stylised as Alexandra & The Starlight Band) is the recording name of her current solo project in collaboration with other artists who serve as the backing band for her project.
Influences
Alexandra's music has been described as having "rock and roll roots" and a "soul influenced style". Her gritty yet soulful vocal style and emotional delivery has been compared to Queen of Rock 'n' Roll Tina TurnerTina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
and Joss Stone
Joss Stone
Jocelyn Eve Stoker , better known by her stage name Joss Stone, is an English soul singer-songwriter and actress. Stone rose to fame in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, The Soul Sessions, which made the 2004 Mercury Prize shortlist...
. She is influenced by the classic American sounds of soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
, Motown, R&B and rock & roll, vocalists such as Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
, Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
, as well as contemporary British female neo-soul singers such as Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
and Adele
Adele
Adele is a female given name of European origin used in English, French, German and Italian with a meaning of noble, kind, and tender...
.
Fashion
Alexandra also combines fashion in her onstage persona, making many of her own stage clothes in collaboration with designers, and has been compared to Lady GagaLady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
for her love of glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
and theatrics, inspired by listening to artists such as David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
.
Early History
Alexandra began her musical training at the age of 5 on violin, though quit classical training to form various punk bands when she moved to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
at age 17, then going by the stage name Sasha Baby.
The Holograms
She briefly was the lead vocalist with Los Angeles based Teenacide Records' all-girl pop-punk band, The Holograms, replacing former vocalist Tammy Ahn in support of their release, "Night of 1000 Ex Boyfriends," produced by Blag DahliaBlag Dahlia
Paul Cafaro , better known as Blag Dahlia, is an American musician, producer, and author.-Music career:Cafaro is a native of Highland Park, Illinois, and is most well known as the front-man of Dwarves, a punk rock band. With the Dwarves he has written and produced 10 full length records over a span...
(The Dwarves) and Bradley Cook (Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
/The Ataris
The Ataris
The Ataris are a rock band from Anderson, Indiana. They have released five studio albums, and their most recent E.P. was released on November 25, 2010 on the Gainesville, Florida based label, Paper + Plastick. It contained the brand new tracks "All Souls' Day" and "The Graveyard of The Atlantic"...
). At the time, their single "Are You Ready for It" had a top 10 Billboard Magazine garage rock chart hit, named one of the Coolest Garage Songs by Little Steven's Underground Garage
Underground Garage
Underground Garage is the name shared by two related but different radio outlets, a syndicated show and a satellite radio station, both created and supervised by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt to present rock 'n' roll and garage rock on radio...
column. She then quit the band, with Sisely Treasure
Sisely Treasure
Sisely Treasure is a singer, songwriter, dancer and actress, notable for the song "All Around the World" released by Dreamworks Records in July 2003 and appearing in Billboard Magazine's Top 40 Dance charts the same year. "Morning Star", another song off the Punk Debutante album, made top ten on...
stepping in as the new lead singer.
The Hollywood Harlots
She then formed The Hollywood Harlots, her spin on The New York Dolls moniker. Sonically, the project was called the "gritty spawn of The New York Dolls" blended with the "dirty girl appeal of Kim FowleyKim Fowley
Kim Vincent Fowley is an American record producer, impresario, songwriter, musician, film maker, and radio actor. He is best known for his role behind a string of novelty and cult rock pop singles in the 1960s, and for managing The Runaways in the 1970s...
’s young swagger street chicks-The Runaways
The Runaways
The Runaways were an American all-girl rock band that recorded and performed in the second half of the 1970s. The band released four studio albums and one live set during its run. Among its best known songs: "Cherry Bomb", "Queens of Noise", "Neon Angels On the Road to Ruin", "California Paradise"...
."
The Hollywood Harlots caught the attention of producer Jeff Saltzman, who also produced The Killers and The Sounds
The Sounds
The Sounds are a Swedish Indie Rock band. Formed in Helsingborg in 1999, the group's musical style has been compared to New Wave acts such as Blondie, The Cars, the Epoxies and Missing Persons....
, at a raucous show at a French restaurant for Alexandra's stage antics of pouring whiskey on her face, jumping onto diners' tables, eating their steaks and drinking their wine. She then recorded a demo EP with Jeff Saltzman, though never officially released it as the band quickly imploded shortly after recording it.
Current
Alexandra is currently recording a debut EP with Grammy-winning producer Bob Cutarella (Paul McCartneyPaul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
, Michael Jackson, Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
, Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
) and collaborated with composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Lou Forestieri, who was the one time band leader of Lena Horne
Lena Horne
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the...
.
On July 21, 2011, Alexandra appeared on Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
with Universal Republic Records recording artist Porcelain Black
Porcelain Black
Alaina Marie Beaton , better known by her stage name Porcelain Black, is an American pop-rock singer-songwriter. She started her music career at 18 under the stage name Porcelain and the Tramps with Virgin Records. However, Black and Virgin could not agree on the music that she recorded and she...
, lending her vocals as a back up singer.