Maltese indie-folk artist Alexandra Alden announces new album & shares ‘magnolia’
New album When Is It Too Late? out October 10th
"Stylistically, Alden's song material is thoughtful, revelatory in narrative, with songs rooted in psychological observations. The singer's personable style is smooth and one of ease." CLASH
Malta-born indie artist Alexandra Alden returns with her evocative new single, ‘magnolia,’ a song that delicately explores themes of vulnerability, resilience, and cultural identity. The single is the first glimpse into her upcoming album When is it too late?, set for release this autumn.
The song’s genesis can be traced back to a romantic dawn encounter with magnolia blossoms in a small Welsh town, followed by a spontaneous night on Brighton beach during The Great Escape Festival. Just as the magnolia flower blooms before its protective leaves appear, ‘magnolia’ captures the fragile yet unwavering strength of stepping into the unknown. ‘magnolia’ celebrates beauty breaking through the cracks.
The accompanying music video is a collaboration with animator and director Gideon van der Stelt, the ŻfinMalta National Dance Company, and Malta’s Museum of Archaeology. Van der Stelt, whose work explores liminal spaces and isolation, developed a visual narrative that blends historic frescoes with contemporary movement, creating a dreamlike meditation on the anticipation before a performance. Shot during the 2024 edition of Intimate Żfin - coinciding with the inaugural Malta Biennale - the video showcases choreography by ŻfinMalta’s Artistic Director, Paolo Mangiola, illustrating the tension between stillness and transformation.
Alden’s upcoming album, When is it too late?, takes inspiration from Sylvia Plath’s fig tree metaphor, exploring the weight of choices and the paths left untaken. This deeply introspective collection follows her previous albums, Wild Honey (2018) and Leads to Love (2021), and represents her most fully realised work to date. Drawing on her multicultural upbringing and nomadic experiences, the album’s sonic landscape is a fusion of indie and ambient influences where British and American new-wave folk meets Mediterranean warmth, appealing to fans of artists like Laura Marling, Billie Marten, Adrianne Lenker, and Weyes Blood.
Reflecting on her journey, Alden shares: “For a while, my self-esteem had eroded so far that I was becoming a stranger to myself for many reasons. I spent time away in the Austrian mountains, contemplating a different life altogether from that of making music. But in the end, I found myself on the road again, playing tiny shows in Italian villages, rediscovering the magic of connection and the joy of doing what I love. That sense of movement, of longing, of finding beauty in the in-between, runs through this album. I returned home knowing I needed to make changes, even though the idea of that scared me and I didn't realise how challenging it would be to take the leap of faith that I so needed to take.”
With her distinctive lyricism and continuously evolving songs, Alexandra Alden continues to carve out a space for introspection and transformation through her music. With a musical journey that has seen her navigate everything from being a controversial judge on Malta's X-Factor to performing intimate European and US tours, Alden continues to prove that art is about connection.
