Begonia (musician)

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Begonia is the stage name of Alexa Dirks, a Canadian pop singer-songwriter from Winnipeg, Manitoba. [1] She is most noted for her 2019 album Fear, which was longlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize [2] and shortlisted for the Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2021. [3]

Formerly a member of the Juno Award winning band Chic Gamine, [4] Dirks launched her solo career in 2017 with the EP Lady in Mind. [5] The EP's single "Juniper" reached #1 on the Radio 2 Top 20 . [5]

The single "Hanging on a Line" was released in June 2019 as a preview of Fear. [6] She undertook a Canadian tour over the summer, before releasing Fear in September. [7]

Her album Powder Blue was shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize, [8] and received a Juno Award nomination for Adult Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2024. [9]

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References

  1. "No shrinking violet: Begonia talks power and confidence ahead of Saskatoon jazz fest shows". CBC News Saskatoon, June 24, 2017.
  2. Lau, Melody (June 15, 2020). "Daniel Caesar, Jessie Reyez, Caribou and more make the 2020 Polaris Music Prize long list". CBC Music .
  3. Holly Gordon, "The Weeknd, JP Saxe, Jessie Reyez and Justin Bieber lead 2021 Juno Award nominations". CBC Music, March 9, 2021.
  4. "Chic Gamine follow their musical instincts; Juno-winning Winnipeg band 'always evolving'". Edmonton Journal , February 27, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Kerry Doole, "Begonia, Lady in Mind". Exclaim! , February 8, 2017.
  6. Calum Slingerland, "Begonia Unveils Debut Album 'Fear'". Exclaim! , June 21, 2019.
  7. Chaka V. Grier, "Review: Canadian pop singer Begonia wrestles with big questions on Fear". Now , September 24, 2019.
  8. "Here's the 2023 Polaris Music Prize short list". CBC Music, July 13, 2023.
  9. "Here are all the 2024 Juno nominees". CBC Music, February 6, 2024.