With her elegant and warm, yet also strong and articulated vocals, Estonian singer Susanna Aleksandra adds an album full of originality and creativity to the jazz-pop song catalogue.
The Siren demonstrates lyrical mastery, with each of the 11 tracks telling captivating narratives and particularly celebrating feminine strength and charm and love’s infinite power to heal our pasts. Fusing a variety of sources including Finnish folk song, original composition and a jazz standard, Aleksandra creates an exciting and diverse sound world, one which invites attentive listening.
The title track showcases Aleksandra’s lyrical depth, the siren being a metaphor for a woman who appears “so elegant but possesses a lot of inner strength.” This is replicated musically through Aleksandra’s sophisticated yet powerful delivery of this waltz piece.
The ballad Blame It On My Youth creates an intimate listening experience which further exemplifies Aleksandra’s gift as a storyteller; she gives it a nostalgic and evocative feel. Conversely, Clumsy reveals a more upbeat side and is filled with Aleksandra’s controlled yet exciting scatting.
In terms of instrumental accompaniment, The Siren features Joonas Haavisto on piano and synthesiser, Joonas Tuuri on double bass and Ville Pynssi on drums. The interaction between these musicians and Aleksandra is impressive: they never overpower the vocals but given an opportunity to shine in instrumental breaks they do, the change of mood making Aleksandra’s voice seem even more radiant when it returns.
Through lyrical complexity and her natural elegant charm, Aleksandra takes you on a journey full of positivity and reflective thinking.
Discography
The Siren; Your Path; Clumsy; Blame It On My Youth; Summer Came Early; The Love Song; Souls Of The Night; Ever Afters; Let’s Call It A Day; Ruusu Laaksossa; I Will (56.00)
Aleksandra (v); Joonas Haavisto (p, syn); Joonas Tuuri (b); Ville Pynssi (d); Abdissa “Mamba” Assefa (pc) (track 5). Finland, 29 January 2021.
Eclipse Music
