Scott Alexander grew up in the tough streets of Mendota Heights, Minnesota and studied bassoon and lute at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. It was clear, however, that Scott could never submit to the classical aesthetics of consistency and technical flawlessness. Scott transferred to UCLA where he earned a degree in ethnomusicology studying musical function, aesthetics, and performance contexts in various societies. Motivated by the power and possibilities of musical culture, he was also frustrated by academic detachment from his own: the suburban and eclectic countercultures, which are often overlooked as culture altogether. Scott Alexander’s music recognizes the power and substance of American musical traditions by maintaining an intelligible pop-sensibility, while offering an alternative aesthetic that celebrates everyday wandering thought: embracing mistakes, imperfection, and instability.

 

Although Scott exhibits inspiration from artists such as Lou Reed, Jonathan Richman, Billy Bragg, and Tom Waits, the influence of his classical training can be witnessed in his music as well. Scott structures his songs to emphasize the emotions and thoughts behind them. His music lies somewhere between drama and song. Catchy for about 6 seconds at a time, his songs are void of verse-refrain repetition, opting instead for a constant melodic and rhythmic flux that emphasize a wide range of topics most are too self conscious to talk about with such intense sincerity. Alone with an electric guitar, Scott’s music is appropriately naked, bearing and embracing every nuance of an unstable moment.

 

Scott’s unique approach to songwriting and performance transcend into many other aspects of his artistry. His promotional efforts are approached as performance art, creatively executed to be as personal and sincere as possible. In addition to teaching music in inner city and suburban classrooms, he founded and directed the Choice Chamber Music Program, which was uniquely designed to remove music from a school context and catered to those with a more casual ambitions. Scott also authors Our Music, a column on Cdbabel.com that addresses cultural self-consciousness in response to a rapidly evolving industrial influence

 

Before his recent move to Brooklyn, Scott was living in Baltimore where he produced his debut album, Scott Alexander Makes Mistakes. He has given performances on live radio and numerous cities including Baltimore, New York, Minneapolis, and San Francisco. Scott’s shows remain true to his songwriting, eagerly diving into an evening of fluid mishaps, personal interactions, and lyrics so intimate that everyone gets a little awkward.