Alexandra releases new single “Criminal”

The pop scene can be a bland affair but every now and then an artist emerges that surprises you for all the right reasons. The case in point on this occasion is an Australian alternative artist who goes by the name of Alexandra. Although the name seems familiar and perhaps sounds unremarkable, her new single Criminal is everything but.

Alexandra, real name Alexandra Murat, is determined to break into the industry in her own way and this can be heard directly in her music. Criminal is filled with her rough and angsty persona, permeating through as if was impossible for it to be contained. It seems, at least from this release, that Alexandra has an edge to herself and her music reflects that.

Criminal blends rock, RnB, pop and rap and sounds like a mix of Alanis Morisette, Christina Aguilera and Nicki Minaj. In the track, Alexandra speaks about a guy she’s seeing who is guilty of something but she’s sticking by him and has his back. Sounds like she likes bad boys and her delivery suggests that she has a toughness about her as she skilfully skirts between singing and rapping to get her point across in what is an aggressive manor.

what makes the track interesting is the contrast of the vocal delivery to the instrumental. Alexandra’s urban vocal style is juxtaposed against a hard rock guitar line and drum beat. As a result the song has a touch of Michael Jackson’s Beat It. Criminal is a decent demo that has some potential even if it’s slightly rough around the edges, the sentiment can be respected. Alexandra is trying to do empowered female pop with an edge, and adding a rock backdrop helps her go some way to achieving that.

Watch the music video for Criminal below: