After A Rocky Start, Can Alex & Sierra Recover With Their New Album?
Singing competition shows may be on their way out, but the talent that they produce just keeps getting better and better. Though not every winner finds the same amount of success, the ones that do are the ones that are bringing something new to the table. Alex and Sierra, winner of last season's The X Factor, is fitting the bill perfectly.
The American pop duo is made up of Alex Kinsey and Sierra Deaton, and they became the first ever group to win The X Factor USA when the third season concluded back in December. They'll also be the last group, too, as it was announced that the US version of The X Factor will not be coming back for a fourth season following the departure of mentor Simon Cowell. Oh, and did we mention that Alex and Sierra are dating? Because that just makes it even better, and also pretty adorable. During their run on The X Factor, the two steamrolled through the competition with performances of songs like Taylor Swift's 'I Knew You Were Trouble' and One Direction's 'Best Song Ever, coming first in the public voting every single week. Alex and Sierra's charming on stage chemistry mixed with their impeccable vocals made it clear why they were the winners - and they might just keep up their winning streak when it comes to their new music as well.
More: Check out our Alex and Sierra photo gallery
Following their X Factor victory, Alex and Sierra inked a record deal with Syco Music/Columbia Records and instantly made a splash with their debut single, ‘Scarecrow.’ The song is upbeat and acoustic, and for the most part, it’s a pop adult contemporary dream; its lyric video currently has over a million views. However, when it came to sales and radio, it didn’t pan out exactly as expected. Despite a huge television performance on The Today Show promoting ‘Scarecrow,’ the song failed to chart on Billboard’s Hot 100 - an unfamiliar outcome for a group whose cover songs from The X Factor were pretty popular. Their Billboard flop isn’t a reason to sound the alarms yet, though. For what it’s worth, the previous two winners of the US X Factor didn’t have successful singles either. Season one winner Melanie Amaro had an album that never even saw the light of day; she’s no longer with her label. Season two winner, Tate Stevens? His self-titled record debuted decently on the country charts, but he quickly fell off when it came to subsequent single releases. Basically, despite winning a singing competition these days, it's hardly enough to keep you relevant; you have to have more than just a title to your name - and Alex and Sierra are showcasing that.
Next page: What does the future hold for Alex and Sierra?
Can a third time be the charm when it comes to Alex and Sierra? They’ve definitely got the personnel to succeed. The duo’s debut full-length, It’s About Us, is set for release on October 4, and judging by the songs released thus far, it’s looking like their early struggles may have just had to do with their single. Even though ‘Scarecrowe’ was co-written by hit maker and Boys Like Girls frontman Martin Johnson (Jason DeRulo’s ‘The Other Side,’ Daughtry’s ‘Waiting For Superman’), it didn’t have the sound that falls in line with the current Mainstream/Top 40 radio. Other album tracks, like the unapologetic pop jam, ‘Just Kids,’ could flourish a lot better, and it probably should have been their first single.
‘Little Do You Know’ and ‘Bumper Cars’ have also made their way onto iTunes, and both are somber mid-tempo ballads - a formula that fits the duo very well. When it comes to the rest of the collaborators on It’s About Us, Alex and Sierra have been in the studio with the likes of John Legend and One Direction’s Harry Styles to craft some cuts for the record. "Our favorite song is one that Harry Styles wrote with John Legend, it's beautiful and lovely,” Deaton told The Daily Mirror about the track.
More: Watch Alex and Sierra’s music video for ‘Just Kids’
It hasn’t been an instant ride to the top for Alex and Sierra, but their lack of early success doesn’t mean the two are doomed. The songs they have out now are excellent, and they aren’t relying on a gimmick to make them popular. Currently, they’re on tour with Colbie Caillat and have played shows recently with Train and Lady Antebellum, and playing in front of thousands every night is only going to help their cause. Whether It’s About Us is going to find success or not, they’re talented enough and have the best writers and producers around - so it’s only a matter of time before Alex and Sierra become a staple in the industry.