Begonia, aka Alexa Dirks, is not slowing down after celebrating the one year anniversary of her critically acclaimed sophomore album, Powder Blue, which secured a spot on the coveted 2023 Polaris Music Prize Shortlist and earned her a 2024 JUNO Award Nomination. Powder Blue explored self discovery and challenging personal beliefs; in her upcoming EP, Open Swim, she continues that journey by exploring communication with candour and sincerity. Alexa describes the EP as a project that “encompasses the feeling of working through conflict and the elation that can surface when you’re honest with others and ultimately yourself. Sometimes in the process you can feel like you’re swimming for your life through choppy water but on the other side there is the feeling of relief, like floating on your back in the sun.” The Open Swim EP was co-written and produced by Begonia and Marcus Paquin (The National, The Weather Station, Arcade Fire, Julia Jacklin) along with contributions from her frequent collaborators and producer duo, deadmen. Open Swim will be released July 17, 2024 via Birthday Cake Records.

“Get To You”, the first single from the EP, begins by unspooling a story about longing to connect with someone. As each instrumental component builds, the song fills with emotions underpinned by the Poly 6 and Prophet 8 synthesizers working in tandem with Alexa’s sensitive, breathy vocal delivery. Alexa states “this song is about trying to get through to someone you can't seem to get through to. When you feel like you're constantly showing someone who you are and they can't or don't want to see it.” The single is rooted in R&B grooves and showcases a different side to Begonia’s abilities. While she maintains her signature relatability, charisma, and vocal prowess - which are foundational to her sound, there is a reserved maturity to the composition of “Get to You” that feels distinct.

Begonia heads back to the UK this May to perform in Wrexham for Focus Wales, Brighton for The Great Escape, and London to perform at Strongroom. Her summer is packed with festivals including Toronto Pride, Rochester International Jazz Festival, and Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival among others. Begonia’s past year has included a massive headlining tour in North America, supporting Leith Ross on their UK/EU tour, a breathtaking performance at the Polaris Music Prize Gala, and her standout performance for the In Memoriam portion of the JUNO Awards Gala. While on the road, fan favourites from Powder Blue became clear, one of which turned into The Marigold EP, released in September, 2023, an extended exploration of “Marigold” and included 3 remixes. To celebrate the album, the EP, and her fans, Begonia did a two sold-out nights “Vegas-style residency” at Club Regent Casino in Winnipeg, MB. Powder Blue received worldwide recognition and radioplay in Canada, the United States and Germany, the album also hit #1 on the earshot! charts.

Pegged as Canada’s breakout alt-diva, Begonia has built a legion of fans online and at her legendary live shows. Between her debut EP & album, Lady in Mind and Fear respectively, she was named on of NPR’s Artists You Need to Know, had two #1 songs on Canada’s CBC national radio chart, were nominated for a JUNO Award for Alternative Album Of The Year and longlisted for the Polaris Music Prize. Fear spent 10 straight weeks as the #1 album in Canada on Earshot’s Top 50 chart and had songs synced to numerous Netflix and Oprah Winfrey Network shows.