Nashville's Alexandra King Reflects on Growing Up "17th of October" – Out Today
NASHVILLE-BASED SINGER-SONGWRITER
ALEXANDRA KING
RELEASES INTROSPECTIVE SOPHOMORE SINGLE
“17TH OF OCTOBER”
ACCOMPANIED BY PENSIVE LYRIC VIDEO
Above: “17th of October” Single Artwork
NASHVILLE, TN (October 18, 2024) — Nashville-based singer-songwriter Alexandra King unveils her reflective sophomore single, “17th of October,” capturing the bittersweet essence of growing up. Titled after her birthday, the track showcases Alexandra’s heartfelt vocals against a captivating guitar backdrop, infused with her signature Irish melodic influence.
STREAM “17TH OF OCTOBER” HERE.
“I miss when my brain only thought about the happiness of the day and which kind of cake I’d like,” she jokes, and refers to the track as a “sad girl autumn” song. The lyric video beautifully captures the emotions surrounding birthdays, as Alexandra conveys the pressure to create the perfect day while navigating the challenge of celebrating.
WATCH THE “17TH OF OCTOBER” VISUALIZER BELOW:
Alexandra King has spent most of her life behind a microphone, guitar in hand, playing pubs across New York and Ireland, where her raw, honest songwriting comes alive. Growing up surrounded by music, it’s no surprise that she’s now in Nashville, diving into co-writing sessions with just about anyone she can find in the city. But her path wasn’t without hurdles. After overcoming a life-altering accident, it was her deep love for music that helped her pull through. Now, with her heart on her sleeve and unstoppable determination, she’s ready to make her mark on the music scene.
Alexandra released her debut single “Chasing Rainbows” on August 9, now followed by “17th of October.” Both singles showcase her talent for earnest storytelling. Often exploring the theme of seeking happiness beyond love, she embraces her independence, allowing her heart to guide her path.
“Chasing Rainbows” was inspired by a soul-searching drive along the country roads of Ireland, where rainbows appeared in the sky at every turn. “I just kept on driving blindly towards a rainbow and said to myself wow this is sort of emblematic of what I’m doing with my life post-accident,” Alexandra says. “I’m chasing this dream that may never be attainable and is seemingly far off in the distance still, but despite that reality, I have something driving me and fueling me to chase this dream and goal because I have hope.”
STREAM “CHASING RAINBOWS” HERE.
WATCH THE ACOUSTIC VERSION OF “CHASING RAINBOWS” BELOW:
Alexandra’s parents met through music, and it was clear she was destined to be a musician even before she was born. “They bought me a piano before I was born, hoping that if I couldn’t sing, at least I could play something!” she laughs. As luck would have it, she began singing as soon as she could talk and joined her dad on stage by age three. This sparked a deep love for Irish culture, especially during annual trips to County Leitrim and Westmeath to visit family. “I’d join in a few tunes during our pub crawls, but I really loved learning from seasoned performers who seemed born with instruments in their hands. Their talent inspired me to hone my craft even more,” she explains.
In 2020, Alexandra’s world was shaken by a spinal cord injury that nearly left her paralyzed. “I kept asking for reassurance that I would be fine, but none was given,” Alexandra recalls of her hospital experience. “It was a rush to the operating room, and the surgeons weren’t optimistic. They warned I might become a quadriplegic.”
Despite the odds, she remained determined not to give up on herself. “The OTs brought in a keyboard, and I had my dad bring my guitar,” Alexandra recalls. “I couldn’t hold a pick or press the keys, but with persistence, I kept practicing these skills and eventually regained the ability to do both. In those four white walls of the hospital, I knew I would get healthy enough to move to Nashville and pursue my true passion. I refused to let this break me; instead, it became my making.”
In January 2022, she loaded her car — complete with lemons stuffed in her boots for celebratory lemon drop martinis upon arrival — and cranked up Maren Morris as she took the exit ramp into Nashville, finally realizing her dream. Alexandra beams, “I finally made it. The uphill battle of the music scene was just beginning, but after everything I went through, I knew I had the strength to face whatever came my way.”
Alexandra’s music reflects her journey, from the joyful moments of singing Celtic hymns with her family to the struggle of reclaiming her life. She aims to share her story with as many people as possible, hoping to highlight the importance of perseverance. She concludes, “I want to move people — help them through whatever they’re facing because I’ve seen the magic of music and experienced it firsthand. I’ll wear my heart on my sleeve and be as honest as I can, so they can relate and understand that life isn’t always butterflies and roses — but we have to keep going anyway. If my music can help anyone, I can lay my head on the pillow at night with a smile.”
Above: Alexandra King; Credit: Julian Mendoza