Alicia Blue began her creative pursuits with a deep immersion into poetry that spanned her earliest years and filled her days with words, art, and stories. In 2019 Alicia Blue independently released her first EP, which included her earliest songs, and was near-immediately contacted by Starbucks to have her song “Magma” featured in stores worldwide via their Starbucks Acoustic playlist on Spotify. Garnering immediate attention as a songwriter and singer, Alicia quickly became a pivotal figure on the LA songwriting circuit and drew attention from various labels, managers, and media outlets. She’s been featured in publications like Billboard and Atwood Magazine, as well as LA’s legendary KCRW. She’s opened for artists like BØRNS and sang alongside Bill Withers at a tribute to the legend.
Alicia Blue’s first full-length album, Bravebird, was released April 2020, securing spots on Spotify’s influential Fresh Finds Pop and Fresh Finds Rock playlists and garnering a whole new round of buzz and attention. In January 2021, she was listed at the top of Atwood Magazine’s “2021 Artists to Watch.” 2022 has her heading into a new adventure, splitting time between LA and Nashville, having signed a label deal and recording a new album with producer Lincoln Parish (Cage the Elephant).
Alicia returned to LA to perform at The Troubadour on February 27 as one of the featured artists for Fan Girl Cafe’s art and music event. So naturally, I flew back home as well for this show. As I walked into the all too familiar venue, there was artwork on the first and second floor of the venue featuring live music photography by some of LA’s talented photographers. Some of my work might have possibly been featured as well. The venue was packed. I ran into several familiar faces. I made my way to the green room to greet Alicia and her band before showtime.
Ten minutes before Alicia’s set, I situated myself at the front of the stage. It gave me so much joy to see the audience mesmerized by Alicia’s songs as much as it has done for me. She took everyone on a journey through her life that night. She described the whoas of being young through her song “Young,” a song she wrote with John Paul White of The Civil Wars. Her song “Dog Days In LA” is her love song to LA and it almost felt like a “farewell for now,” as this was her last show in Los Angeles for a while. She ended the night with “Dirty Hippie.”
Alicia is currently preparing for the first single off her new album. “Dog Days In LA” will be released in April with a music video to follow that. She is leaving for her SXSW tour March 15th through the 21st. I am honored to be joining the team and documenting this tour. Keep a look out for more of Alicia Blue soon!
