American Idol - Alex Preston {Season 13} Appreciation #2: "What I love about your performances, they always hold my attention. It's very raw and it's fragile" ~Keith

***dancing in the rain*** · 03-03-2017, 02:29 PM

Welcome to the 2nd Alex Preston Appreciation Thread

Biography
Alexander Preston Philbrick (born May 6, 1993), better known as Alex Preston, is an American singer from Mont Vernon, New Hampshire,
who was a finalist on the thirteenth season of American Idol, coming in third place. His main genres are Indie folk, folk-pop, folk rock and indie pop.

Alex wrote his first song called "Fish Food" when he was 12. He attended Souhegan High School in Amherst,
New Hampshire where he played the guitar in a jazz band, and in the percussion section in concert and a marching band.
He also formed a band with friends, Dustin Newhouse, Josh Brackett and Tucker Brown, called Undertow. He graduated from high school in 2011, and studied at the University of New Hampshire.

Preston has written songs with his cousin Jo Dee Messina, the rock band Framing Hanley, and Aria Summer. His song was used in the CD "Voices for Heroes," a benefit for Sandy Hook.
He won the "Open For MixFest" competition organized by a radio station to open for acts such as Backstreet Boys, Gavin DeGraw and Of Monsters and Men.
His single "The Light Was Already Here" was released in September 2013.

Source: Wikipedia

"When I hear the song, I think of how I would do it. I usually take an hour or so and run through the song--run through alternative chordal structures.
Then I meet with my vocal and arrangement coaches and we spend quite awhile on another arrangement that fits my style.
I think that's how I really had the most fun this season is making those arrangements my own. It was a blast."

Fans
dancing in the rain

American Idol Performances

#1 | Audition

"Fairytales" ~ Alex Preston

#2 | Hollywood First Solo ~ Acapella
"Scream & Shout" ~ will.i.am feat. Britney Spears

#4 | Hollywood Final Solo
"Fairytales" ~ Alex Preston

#5 | Top 31 Performance | Personal Choice

"Volcano" ~ Damien Rice
~~~

#6 | Top 13 Performance | This Is Me

"A Beautiful Mess" ~ Jason Mraz
~~~

#7 | Top 12 Performance | Songs that Remind Them of Home

"I Don't Want to Be" ~ Gavin DeGraw
~~~
#8 | Top 11 Performance | Songs from the Movies

"Falling Slowly" ~ Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová

Harry: "I'm so glad that on a platform like American Idol there is room for a guy to sing a simple song with out fireworks. I remember the first time we saw you and I was hoping we'd have moments like this along the way. I'm really proud of you."
Keith: "What I love about your performances is they always hold my attention. It's very real, you don't ever phone in, it's authentic. I love your artistry."
Jennifer: "It was a perfect song for you. You sang it perfectly. It was beautiful."
~~~

#9 | Top 10 Performance | Billboard Top 10

"Story of My Life" ~ One Direction
Studio Version
~~~
#10 | Top 09 Performance | I'm with the Band!

"Don't Speak" ~ No Doubt
Studio Version
~~~
#11 | Top 08 Performance (1) | Duet with Jena Irene

"Just Give Me a Reason" ~ Pink feat. Nate Ruess

#12 | Top 08 Performance (2) | Back To The Start ~ Audition Song

"Fairytales" ~ Alex Preston
Studio Version
#13 | Top 08 Redux Performance (1) | Songs from the 1980's ~ Duet with Sam Woolf

"The Girl is Mine" ~ Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney

#14 | Top 08 Redux Performance (2) | Songs from the 1980's

"Every Breath You Take" ~ The Police
Studio Version

Harry: "Here's what I really liked, it sounded like a new tune. You put your own touch on the song."
Keith: "First of all I want to say when you start singing you grab my attention like that man, you really do, that's a good thing."

~~~

#15 | Top 07 Performance (1) | Duet with Sam Woolf

"Let Her Go" ~ Passenger

#16 | Top 07 Performance (2) | Competitor's Choice

"The A Team" ~ Ed Sheeran
Studio Version

Jennifer: "I have to say I agree with them Alex, that's why I let them have a moment you deserved that applause. You should really thank your boy Dexter because that was a perfect song."
Harry: "That was a perfect song. As I have gotten to know you over the weeks, I have realized that you realize there is great beauty in smaller performances. I always question is that going to be able to win? But your conviction in that world - that was a great song. By far my favorite performance of the night."
Keith: "You know Alex, you have your signature things that you do and they're yours, you just respond naturally. You're chugging along artistically and suddenly you make it an Alex song. You do it really really well, it was great."

~~~

#17 | Top 06 Performance (1) | Rock'n'Roll

"Animal" ~ Neon Trees
Studio Version
~~~

#18 | Top 06 Performance (2) | Country

"Always on My Mind" ~ Brenda Lee
~~~
#19 | Top 05 Performance (1) | America's Request ~ Solo (1)

"Sweater Weather" ~ The Neighborhood
Studio Version
~~~

#20 | Top 05 Performance (2) | Trio with Jena Irene & Sam Woolf

"Best Day of My Life" ~ American Authors

#21 | Top 05 Performance (3) | America's Request ~ Solo (2)

"Say Something" ~ A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera
Studio Version
~~~
#22 | Top 04 Performance (1) | Love ~ Breakups

"Too Close" ~ Alex Clare
Studio Version

#23 | Top 04 Performance (2) | Love ~ Dedications

"I'm Yours" ~ Jason Mraz

#24 | Top 04 Performance (3) | Love ~ Makeups

"Yellow" ~ Coldplay

#25 | Top 03 Performance (1) | Randy Jackson's Choice

"Pompeii" ~ Bastille

#26 | Top 03 Performance (2) | Judges' Choice

"Stay" ~ Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko

#27 | Top 03 Performance (3) | Hometown's Choice

"Story Of My Life" ~ One Direction

Videos ;

Alex's Diary

Previous Threads;
#1

***dancing in the rain*** · 03-03-2017, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cereal Killer (View Post)

Alex has started a Kickstarter campaign for his 2nd album:

Alex Preston Album #2

Quote:

Two years ago I launched a Kickstarter on a whim and raised a significant amount of money to record my debut album. I packed up a car by myself, headed to the desert, and recorded an album completely isolated with only the help of a few friends. The project was a success. However, as much as people enjoyed the music, none of the songs broke into the mainstream or even the indie circuit.

I am in Nashville, TN now and I have met a few great people that really want me to record some of this new music I have been writing. It is tough living here compared to back in the Northeast. Back home I obviously have more work opportunities (my agency is based in Boston), more fans, and a cheaper cost of living. However here in Nashville, the network is hard to beat. It is a struggle but in the end I think it will be worth it.

My goal is to record an album here in town using my resources in the cheapest possible way. Labels always say you cannot make an album for under $20,000, but I think that is completely false. This is a DIY project, and I think my skills have improved significantly in the last two years. With some help from you, I think that we can make something great. I want this one to make a dent in the industry. I think it can. However, I need your help.

I am going to rent a studio room here in town and do this record right. I am going to hire a few musicians (from John Mayer’s band), and get a real organic feel. I don’t have a label financially supporting this project, or touring for that matter. Everything I do comes out of my own pocket. It is tough, so I am turning to my fans for help. I want you guys to be a part of this project, just like you were a part of the last one. You all are the only reason I am able to do any of this; that is the truth.

Very cool, thanks for posting! And wow, he's got ~13k, congrats to him. Some cool prizes for the high payers, which he got with a $2500 backer and another $5000 backer!

Cereal Killer · 03-05-2017, 03:08 AM

Thanks for the new thread! The OP is so pretty.

And you're welcome! Yes, he's got a nice amount already! Yeah those high payers' prizes are awesome and it's great someone pledged them.

***dancing in the rain*** · 03-05-2017, 11:09 AM

Yeah glad it was a success! Can't wait to start getting bits about him recording, seems like he's planning for a Summer release.

A new cover.

Cereal Killer · 03-19-2017, 07:18 AM

I'm glad too! And yeah, those bits will be interesting, I guess he should start recording soon.

Thanks for the video! Great cover as always.

***dancing in the rain*** · 03-21-2017, 11:11 AM

Yeah, seems like he had a pre-production meeting last week.

He sounded great

Cereal Killer · 04-02-2017, 12:05 AM

Looks like things are rolling.

He did like he always does.

***dancing in the rain*** · 04-14-2017, 08:38 AM

And more

I love that song and it's very "Alex", he did great with it.

Cereal Killer · 04-16-2017, 06:09 AM

The video is not working for me.

***dancing in the rain*** · 04-16-2017, 01:34 PM

That's weird because it was working for me when I posted it. How about now?

Cereal Killer · 04-16-2017, 01:48 PM

It works now, thanks! That's such a lovely cover.

The song fits Alex perfectly and he did a great job with it as always.

***dancing in the rain*** · 04-16-2017, 01:57 PM

Embedding always seems to want to mess with me

It is a beautiful cover

Cereal Killer · 04-16-2017, 03:00 PM

Glad you were able to fix it though.

Yeah it was, he does so well with that type of songs, they're always so pleasant to listen to.

***dancing in the rain*** · 04-20-2017, 09:28 AM

Agreed on both

So Alex posted a VLog a couple of weeks, it has a bit of recording and some nice guitar strumming, also his cute dog and him feeling "super weird" about doing a VLog

Cereal Killer · 07-02-2017, 02:13 PM

Wow, I love the guitar part.

But yeah, that was an adorable vlog even if he felt weird about it.


Fan Forum > Archived Television Shows > American Idol > Alex Preston {Season 13} Appreciation #2: "What I love about your performances, they always hold my attention. It's very raw and it's fragile" ~Keith