Irish-American singer/songwriter Alexandra King is the featured performer on this video for Americana UK’s mini-gig series. Music has been central to King’s life from the beginning. Raised in a musical family, she first stepped onstage at just three years old and later performed in pubs across New York and Ireland, where her raw, heartfelt songwriting found its natural home. Summers spent in Counties Leitrim and Westmeath, paired with a brief stint studying at the University of Galway, deepened her connection to Irish storytelling traditions that continue to influence her sound today. She now resides in Nashville where this video was recorded at her producer, Evan Sieling’s studio.
Her journey to Nashville, however, was marked by extraordinary resilience. In 2020, a diving accident caused a cervical spinal cord injury that temporarily left her partially paralysed. During recovery, King relearned how to hold a guitar pick while still in the hospital — a moment that reshaped her path forward.
King has played music since she was a young girl with her dad’s local family band. She released her first single in August of 2024. “Across the Pond” is her first full-length album (release date June 5, 2026). It blends pub-born ballads, Americana warmth, and modern country sensibility while honouring her heritage. She threads together the heartbreak, humor, and grit gathered in each place into one cohesive artistic statement. The result? A heartfelt roots project born from a lifetime of straddling two folk traditions that share more DNA than people often realise.
The LP builds on her 2025 EP, incorporating all four tracks — “Lose Me to Dublin,” “Freckles (in an Old Pub),” “Galway Girl,” and “Willie McBride.” Her 2024 singles, including “Chasing Rainbows” and “I’d Be Lying,” which highlight King’s fearless vulnerability, reflecting the full scope of her artistic voice. Here, she appears accompanied by her dog Pillsbury playing a sweet-sounding Martin guitar with a mahogany finish. Below she lists the songs on the video along with her notes on them. To find out more about Alexandra King’s music, navigate to her website, listen on Spotify and follow her on Instagram.
1) Freckles (in an old pub) – This is a playful, storytelling song I wrote inspired by spontaneous nights in Irish pubs, those moments when conversations with strangers, a few pints, and a bit of chaos turn into unforgettable memories. Drawing from my own experiences between New York and Ireland, it captures the magic of fleeting connections and the carefree spirit of pub culture. It’s a celebration of those nights that don’t last forever but stay with you long after they end.
2) I’d Be Lying – In a writing session with two other writers, I unexpectedly opened up about my doubts about staying with my long-term boyfriend, admitting that even though we loved each other, I knew deep down the relationship wasn’t right for the future. I shared personal stories—like backing out of getting matching tattoos even though he went through with it and feeling embarrassed and concerned about his drinking when he met my family in Ireland, which eventually became the verses of the song. The chorus reflects the painful inner debate of whether to end a long relationship, and ultimately choosing myself even though I wanted it to work.
3) Bottoms Up – The last one is a fun, timeless drinking song meant to feel like it could’ve been written decades ago or just last week, celebrating the spirit of the Irish pub. It’s a love letter to the pubs of New York and Ireland—the music, conversation, warmth, and sense of community where no one ever feels alone. The song is especially personal because I grew up in pubs with my dad, and we’re filming the music video in the very pub where I spent much of my childhood.
