Alina Bea
Alina Bea on the rise.
Alina Bea is fronted by Alina Cutrono, joined by Theo Karon, Geoff Halliday, & Brijesh Pandya who continue to electro-pop lit adventures with the world premiere of “Live Undone”. The title track found off Alina’s debut EP from New Professor Records finds the Los Angeles based artist adventuring on a solo path that journeys past her former group Body Parts to embark upon more pointed and punchier pop emeralds sung from the most emotionally charged corners of the mind and heart. Beyond her recent output found on the imprint Father / Daughter Records from her former band, Alina’s background in the arts has seen her engaging in only the most visceral outlets of performance that defies art-school conventions. With an education in modern dancing, Alina is known for her exquisite yarn creations, laying on nail beds, worm eating sideshows, Houdini level straight-jacket derring-do, and more; “Live Undone” along with her debut EP of the same name exhibits those similar streaks of wonder and unfiltered paths of smart and succinct pop theatrics.
Finding rightful place with her opposite coast vocal pop court of contemporary monarchs like Destiny Frasqueri, Empress Of, Fielded, Frame, and more; Alina Bea breaks down the hive walls and binding threads that contain beauty in a cocoon longer than necessary on “Live Undone”. The title track breaks free from the bonds of expectation and the tightened and restrictive fabrics from previous situations. The EP title track illustrates Alina’s solo turning point in moving away from the artistic and intimate ties of Body Parts on a healing route that undoes the previous attachments for new self-assured experiences, and fresh new futures. The evocative and sparse arrangement presents affirmation of firm resolve, as Alina experiments with lyrical delivery various meters, breaths, arrangements, and back-up overdub samples that creates a striking effectiveness of transferring the feelings involved in an acute manner. The entire builds up to the strong confrontational center of the song that stays with you long afterward that lays everything on the line with; “I’m so sick and tired of you telling me what I should and shouldn’t do, whatcha gonna do, without me, never at your beck and call, you got your wish, now you’re free, just you and your empty soul, you never could give me the chance, I never got my turn, I always knew what I could be, now you’re about to learn…” Alina Bea’s makes music for everyone that understands the pain and trials and newfound testaments of discovering new strength in a sound that speaks to most familiar of emotions. We had a chance to catch up with Alina about her new solo ventures, and more.
Tell us about moving focuses from Body Parts to your solo work how and your own sound and aesthetic has shifted.
The aesthetic of Body Parts was constantly shifting and evolving. The one that we had settled on in the last phase of the band was heavily influenced by 80s art pop innovators like Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel. I think that the music I make as Alina Bea is a logical progression from that, but with more of my personal influences mixed in, like Bjork and Fiona Apple. In Body Parts, we did a lot of layering complex vocal harmonies. And that is pretty much my favorite thing to do, so that definitely carries over. But I am mostly working with an electronic palette instead of with a full band and that changes the sound quite bit. And my song-writing/lyric voice is very different from Ryder’s (from Body Parts). Since I am now a front-woman, I get to fully realize and develop every aspect of this project (both sonically and visually), which is wonderful. It’s a lot more personal, confessional, and visceral. A lot less cerebral.
Describe what the making of Live Undone was like for you.
It was very difficult, but so important and ultimately a very rewarding and empowering experience. I had a bit of an identity crisis when I quit Body Parts. I felt like I didn’t know my own aesthetic and didn’t know what I wanted to say, when I had previously felt very sure of myself in that regard. But then I took the songs to my producer, Mike Richardson. We spent months and months listening to reference albums and working on sounds. When we started laying down tracks and really digging into these songs, it all took shape in a very natural way. It took about a year, which feels ridiculous for only five songs, but that’s what it took for me to figure out that I do in fact have my own unique sound, haha. Ryder Bach (the lead singer in Body Parts) actually ended up doing some co-production on it at the end of the process, but in a way that was very collaborative with me. Which felt very poetic. The whole story came full circle.
Profiling and striking a pose; Alina Bea.
Interested in hearing about how your background in performance has informed your own musical inspirations.
I grew up dancing as well as playing/writing music. I kind of had to make a choice between the two when I graduated high school and I chose music, but it has always been a dream of mine to fully meld those two worlds. I am really obsessed with Kate Bush and basically want to model my career after hers (besides the whole “no-touring” thing). I also like the way that FKA Twigs and St. Vincent incorporate dance into their videos and live set and I’m starting to head in that direction. Currently working on a fully-choreographed video for “Live Undone” that I am thrilled about.
What have you been listening to, reading, & watching these days?
Majical Cloudz’s new album, Are you Alone? and Chairlift’s new album, Moth and Bjork’s newest, Vulnicura. I’m “reading” Dune for the first time, which I put in quotes because I am listening to it on audiobook, so I can knit at the same time. I am really in to knitting right now. I watch a lot of cooking competition shows and I’m looking forward to the newest season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which is the best show of all time.
What’s next for Alina?
Our EP release show is on February 26 at Resident, which is a new venue here in downtown LA. Then we go to SxSW in March. I’m also working on this video and working on the songs for a full-length record. So basically, no sleep ever again is what’s next for me. But it’s worth it!
Alina Bea’s debut EP Live Undone is available now from New Professor Records.
