Sophia Alaska Reid (born 1996), known professionally as Alaska Reid, is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She is known for her electronic[2] and country-tinged[3] indie rock sound and narrative-driven lyrical content.[2] She is also known for her collaborations with boyfriend A. G. Cook.

Alaska Reid
Background information
Birth nameSophia Alaska Reid
BornMichigan, U.S.[1]
OriginMontana, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2015–present
Labels

She initially began releasing music with her band Alyeska in 2015, releasing an EP titled Crush in April 2017.

She began releasing solo material in 2019 with her debut single "Quake". She released her first full-length released titled Big Bunny in December 2020, under Terrible Records.[4] Her debut album Disenchanter was released on 14 July 2023 via Luminelle Recordings.[5]

Early life

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Reid was born and Michigan and moved to Montana when she was four years old.[6] Reid is one of five children. She grew up in Park County, Montana, and went to high school in Los Angeles. She took up singing lessons from age 6 until age 20.[7] She started writing music and performing at gigs on the Sunset Strip at age 14,[8] such as The Pig & Whistle, House of Blues[2] and The Viper Room.[3] She additionally appeared in the fourth episode in the eleventh season of Criminal Minds.[9]

She cites The Breeders, Dinosaur Jr., Joni Mitchell,[4] country music and americana as early influences on her.[2] She also cites initial feelings of frustration because of the way she was perceived as a young female singer-songwriter.[2]

Career

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Reid formed the band, Alyeska. They released their debut EP Crush in April 2017, produced by John Agnello. The sound of the band has been described as raw[10] and "punky".[4] Alyeska additionally appeared in the film Viena and the Fantomes. The band eventually split.[3]

Reid released her A. G. Cook-produced debut solo single, "Quake", in May 2019. It was noted as being "decidedly poppier" than her previous efforts with Alyeska.[11] This was followed by "Mermaid Tears" in September 2019.

Her next single, "Amber", was released in March 2020. She additionally performed vocals on Alex Somers' score for the Apple TV+ animated special, Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth in April 2020. Reid announced her signing to indie label Terrible Records in August 2020, alongside the release of her single "Boys From Town".[12] Reid additionally appeared heavily on A. G. Cook's two 2020 albums, 7G and Apple. Reid then announced her debut EP, Big Bunny, with the release of the single, "Oblivion".[13] Big Bunny was released on 11 December 2020,[4] preceded by the two single releases of "Big Bunny",[14] and "Warm".[15]

In March 2021, Reid released the "Oblivion Tears" double single, reworked versions of "Mermaid Tears" and "Oblivion", produced by Cook. Reid, Cook and other frequent collaborator Waylon Rector (a.k.a. jonny gorgeous) released a cover of "Bad Moon Rising" under the pseudonym, Minotaur Jr.. A cover of Dinosaur Jr.'s 1994 single "Feel the Pain" was released in May 2021.

"Always" was released as the lead single in October 2021 for her next release,[16] and toured the US with indie rock outfit Del Water Gap until early December 2021. She spent 2022 working on her next release, and supporting Charli XCX during Crash: The Live Tour, as well as Porches, Magdalena Bay and the Drums. In February 2023, she supported Maya Hawke on her European tour. In March 2023, Reid released "Back To This" as a single from her album Disenchanter, released on 14 July 2023 via Gorilla vs Bear's Luminelle Recordings label.[5]

Personal life

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Reid divides her time between Montana and Los Angeles.[2]

One of Reid's siblings is actress and artist Lilliya Scarlett Reid. Lilliya and Alaska collaborate frequently, with Lilliya appearing in, as well as directing Alaska's music videos.[citation needed]

Reid began a relationship with English music producer, singer and head of record label PC Music, A. G. Cook in 2018. Since they began dating, they have frequently collaborated with each other. He quarantined with her and her family in Montana during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. He helped produce Charli XCX's How I'm Feeling Now album while in Montana.[citation needed]

Discography

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Albums

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Disenchanter (2023)

All tracks written by Alaska Reid, except where noted.

All tracks produced by A. G. Cook, except tracks 2 and 10, produced by Reid and Cook, and track 7, produced by Reid.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."French Fries"2:57
2."Dogs & Girls" 2:50
3."She Wonders" 3:25
4."Leftover" 3:33
5."Palomino"
  • Reid
  • Cook
  • Waylon Rector
4:01
6."Back To This"
  • Reid
  • Cook
3:10
7."Arctic Heart" 3:09
8."Always"
  • Reid
  • Hershenow
2:13
9."Seeds" 3:25
10."Airship" 3:51
Total length:32:34
Big Bunny (2020)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Big Bunny"ReidCook3:40
2."Warm"
  • Reid
  • Hershenow
  • Hershenow
  • Cook[a]
3:26
3."Oblivion"
  • Cook
  • McDonald
4:11
4."Quake"
  • Reid
  • Cook
Cook3:27
5."City Sadness"Reid
  • Reid
  • Rector
3:29
6."Boys From Town"
  • Reid
  • Tom Stafford
  • Cook
  • Stafford
  • Cook[a]
3:39
7."Mermaid Tears"ReidAndrew Sarlo3:03
8."Blood Ice"ReidMcDonald3:08
9."Pilot"Reid
  • Reid
  • Rector
4:16
Total length:32:23
Vinyl bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
10."Amber"
  • Reid
  • Hershenow
  • Hershenow
  • Cook[a]
2:59
Total length:35:22

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer

Singles

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Title Year Album
"Quake" 2019 Big Bunny
"Mermaid Tears"
"Amber" 2020
"Boys From Town"
"Oblivion"
"Big Bunny"
"Warm"
"Mermaid Tears"
(Midnight)
2021 Oblivion Tears
"Oblivion"
(Midnight)
"Feel the Pain" Non-album single
"Always" Disenchanter
"Back To This" 2023
"She Wonders"
"Palomino"
"French Fries"

Guest appearances

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Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Sun Begins to Pour" 2016 Koresma Non-album single
"Modern World" 2018 Collapsing Scenery Let's Burn Down the Cornfield / Modern World
"Spins Around Us" 2020 Alex Somers Here We Are (Apple TV+ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
"Here We Are"
"Find Your Way"
"Own Light"
"Floating In Space"
"Light Source"
"Clear Night"
"Long Way"
"Constellations"
"Into Place"
"Green Beauty" A. G. Cook 7G
"Crimson and Clover"
"Just What I Needed" Minotaur Jr., jonny gorgeous, A. G. Cook Appleville (Golden Ticket)
"Oh Yeah" A. G. Cook Apple
"Beautiful Superstar"
"Haunted"
"That's How I Don't Love You" Non-album single
"Oblivion (Pop Carol Mix)" Pop Caroler's Songbook
"Mermaid Tears (Pop Carol Mix)"
"Being Shy" 2021 jonny gorgeous Jonny Relax
"Bad Moon Rising" Minotaur Jr., jonny gorgeous, A. G. Cook Non-album single
"Machine"[b] Messer Roses
"Stop Making This Hurt (A. G. Cook Remix)" 2022 Bleachers, A. G. Cook Non-album single
"Vampire" Dylan Fraser 2030 Revolution
"If I Knew" 2023 Thy Slaughter Soft Rock
"Come & Gone" 2024 Lewis OfMan Cristal Medium Blue
"Luddite Factory Operator" A. G. Cook Britpop
"Pink Mask"

Notes

  • ^[b] signifies a non-vocal, guitar-only appearance.

References

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  1. ^ "Alaska Reid". Spotify. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Interview: Alaska Reid Goes Solo on Big Bunny EP". Audiofemme. 2020-12-11. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  3. ^ a b c "Alaska Reid Tells Intimate Stories On Brilliant Debut EP, 'Big Bunny'". American Songwriter. 2020-12-14. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  4. ^ a b c d "Feature: Alaska Reid's 'Big Bunny' EP Is a Stunningly Visceral & Beautifully Breathtaking Reckoning". Atwood Magazine. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  5. ^ a b "Alaska Reid announces new album, shares "Back To This"". The FADER. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  6. ^ "Alaska Reid". Spotify. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Artist Spotlight: Alaska Reid". Our Culture. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  8. ^ "Diandra Reviews It All- Interviews Alaska Reid: Music Is A Big Bunny". Diandra Reviews It All. 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  9. ^ "Criminal Minds" Outlaw (TV Episode 2015) - IMDb, retrieved 2021-05-10
  10. ^ Mosk, Mitch (2017-11-09). "Feature: Alyeska Debut with Crushing Weight and a Raw Energy". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  11. ^ "Alaska Reid - "Quake"". Stereogum. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  12. ^ "Alaska Reid – Boys From Town". Gorilla vs. Bear. August 5, 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  13. ^ "Dive into the abyss with Alaska Reid's "Oblivion"". The FADER. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  14. ^ "Alaska Reid Shares Snowy 'Big Bunny' Single". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  15. ^ Kayden, Sean (2020-12-10). "Alaska Reid shares poignant new single "Warm" ahead of debut EP [Video]". EARMILK. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  16. ^ Mosk, Mitch (2021-10-25). "Today's Song: Anxiety & Overdrive Come to Life in Alaska Reid's Softly Searing "Always"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-09.