Alexandra Rebecca Parks, (born 26 July 1984) is a Cornish singer and songwriter. She is best known for winning Fame Academy in 2003, and her subsequent single and album.
Out as a lesbian since the age of 14, Parks started songwriting a year later. At college, she studied theatrical/performing arts, with a specialty in clowning. Her hobby then was being in a local rock band, where she performed as lead singer. During her time in the band, she was introduced to indie/folk/rock music, songwriting and playing guitar by her fellow band members. After a while the band eventually broke up, but Parks continued to write songs just for herself.
On her behalf, her father submitted an impromptu application for BBC's Fame Academy, an interactive television programme where beginning musical talents were given a combination of media attention, musical education and vocal development training. Parks eventually excelled in this 2003 programme and was given the opportunity to showcase Maybe That's What It Takes, which she wrote during her time in the Academy, to a public audience. The song was released on 17 November 2003 and peaked at number 3 in the UK Top 40 the following week. Judge Richard Park regularly compared her to singer/songwriter Annie Lennox.
She is a skilled guitar player and prefers to write her own songs. She recently travelled to the United States to develop her songwriting further.
Introduction
Her debut album Introduction, released on 24 December 2003, comprised six cover-renditions and seven original compositions, some of which are co-written with selected songwriters. The album reached No. 5 in the UK Top 40 Album charts.
Track Listings
- Maybe That's What It Takes
- Cry
- Dirty Pretty Words
- Imagine
- Not Your Average Kind Of Girl
- Mad World
- Everybody Hurts
- Beautiful
- Stones & Feathers
- Here Comes The Rain Again
- Yellow
- Wandering Soul
- Over Conscious
Her new album is still in production and is hoped to be released soon this year. It is titled 'Truth or Dare' and features many collaborations with respected song writers.
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