Alex Vargas Explained

Birth Name:Alexander Vargas Blay
Birth Date:17 February 1988
Birth Place:Hørsholm, Denmark
Years Active:2003–present

Alexander Vargas Blay (born 17 February 1988) is a Danish singer, guitarist and songwriter. He was born in Denmark to a Danish-English mother and a Uruguayan father.[1] [2]

Career

Vargas relocated to London at age 17 to pursue his musical career where he was signed to Geffen Records and formed the band Vagabond. The band toured the UK selling out two headline tours and also performed at the Glastonbury, T in the Park and V music festivals.

On 16 February 2010, Vargas disbanded Vagabond in order to pursue a solo career.[3]

On 12 and 13 October 2013, Vargas performed as a vocalist with trance band Above & Beyond at their acoustic show at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. He co-wrote and featured on 5 songs from their fourth studio album We Are All We Need, which debuted at No. 1 on the US Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard) chart, No. 12 on the UK album chart and No. 34 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

In 2014, Vargas signed with Copenhagen Records and started working on material for his forthcoming EP and album with collaborator Tommy Sheen who also performs live with Vargas. The first release on Copenhagen Records was the single "Till Forever Runs Out" followed by "Solid Ground" on 30 March 2015. "Solid Ground" became a viral hit and is included on the EP Giving Up the Ghost released 22 January 2016. The title track however premiered on US music blog Pigeons & Planes on 16 September 2015.[4] The EP peaked at No. 1 on the Danish and Dutch iTunes Album Charts while the feature single, "Shackled Up" made it to No. 1 on the Danish iTunes Singles Chart and No. 4 on the Dutch iTunes Singles Chart.

UK press and blogs have described Alex as "engrossing, poetic and openly emotional, Vargas' soulful approach is winning fans – prepare to become one of them". –Clash Music[5]

Vargas is a BMI writer and is published by Atlas Music Publishing out of New York.

On 16 February 2017, Vargas announced that his second full-length album, Cohere, would be released on 31 March 2017.[6]

He co-wrote Bulgaria's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. The song called "Beautiful Mess" was performed by Russian-born Kristian Kostov and reached 2nd place, Bulgaria's best ever result.[7]

Discography

Albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
DEN
[8]
Rookie
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: VIA Music[9]
  • Formats: CD
—
Cohere 11
Ego (Super/Trip/Maniac)
  • Released: 18 October 2019
  • Label: Alex Vargas, Copenhagen[13] [14]
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download
14
Big Big Machine
  • Released: 3 March 2023
  • Label: Stellar Records, Embassy of Music
  • Formats: LP, digital download
3
[15]
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released

EPs

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertificationsSales
DEN
Howl
  • Released: 26 September 2013[16]
  • Label: Alex Vargas, Tiger Music[17]
  • Formats: CD, digital download
—World: 10,000[18]
Giving Up the Ghost 14
superEGO —
EGOtrip —
Alex Vargas Synger Toppen Af Poppen —
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released

Singles

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
DEN
NLD
[25]
"More"2012— 88Non-album singles
"Till Forever Runs Out"2014— —
"Solid Ground"2015— — Giving Up the Ghost
"Shackled Up"201626 95
  • IFPI-DEN: Platinum[27]
"Higher Love"[28] — — Cohere
"Higher Love (Decco Remix)"[30] — —
"Inclosure"[31] 2017— —
"Slowly"[32] 2018— —
"Silent Treatment"[33] — —Ego
"Now That I Think About It"[34] — —
"The Killing Kind"2019— —
"Police Bells & Church Sirens"202131 —Toffen af Poppen 2021 Synger Simon Kvamm
"Yougazer"[35] 2022— —BIG BIG MACHINE
"Mama, I've Been Dying"[36] — —
"Pages"[37] — —

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2016Danish Music AwardsDanish Artist of the YearAlex Vargas[38] [39]
New Danish Name of the Year
Danish Songwriter of the Year
New Danish Name of the YearGiving Up The Ghost
Danish Release of the Year
P3 GuldThe P3 AwardAlex Vargas[40]
The P3 Listeners' Top Track"Shackled Up"[41]
GAFFA-PrisenDanish Album of the YearGiving Up The Ghost[42]
Danish Pop Album of the Year
Danish Male Artist of the YearAlex Vargas
New Danish Name of the Year
Danish Live Name of the Year
2017Zulu AwardsNew Name of the YearAlex Vargas

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Musical varm luft . 12 May 2004 . 4 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160320133143/http://www.bt.dk/underholdning/musical-varm-luft . 20 March 2016 . live.
  2. Web site: GAFFA-Pris-aktuelle Alex Vargas: Den fortabte søn vender slagkraftigt hjem . 4 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208100745/http://gaffa.dk/nyhed/101947 . 8 December 2015 . live.
  3. Web site: Xenomania news: Vagabond are no more . xenomanianews.blogspot.co.uk . 30 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151001072315/http://xenomanianews.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/vagabond-are-no-more.html . 1 October 2015 . live.
  4. Web site: Premiere: Alex Vargas – "Giving Up The Ghost" . 30 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151001160724/http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2015/09/premiere-alex-vargas-giving-up-the-ghost/ . 1 October 2015 . live.
  5. Web site: Premiere: Alex Vargas – 'Solid Ground' . 29 May 2015 . 30 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151001102937/http://www.clashmusic.com/videos/premiere-alex-vargas-solid-ground . 1 October 2015 . live.
  6. Web site: Alex Vargas. Facebook.
  7. Web site: Kristian Kostov – Eurovision Song Contest Kyiv 2017 . 12 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170615113126/https://eurovision.tv/participant/kristian-kostov/info . 15 June 2017 . live.
  8. Web site: Discography Alex Vargas . www.danishcharts.dk . 19 October 2019.
  9. Web site: Alexander Vargas Blay – Rookie (CD, Album) at Discogs . . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160310000254/https://www.discogs.com/Alexander-Vargas-Blay-Rookie/release/3357277 . 10 March 2016 . live.
  10. Web site: Cohere by Alexander Vargas on Apple Music . . 31 March 2017 . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222061527/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/cohere/1204458530 . 22 December 2017 . live.
  11. Web site: Alexander Vargas – Cohere (Vinyl, LP Album) at Discogs . 31 March 2017 . . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170523111214/https://www.discogs.com/Alex-Vargas-Cohere/release/10082401 . 23 May 2017 . live.
  12. Web site: Alex Vargas "Cohere" IFPI . . August 6, 2021 . October 16, 2022 .
  13. Web site: EGO (super/trip/maniac) by Alex Vargas on Apple Music . Apple Music . 18 October 2019 . 19 October 2019 .
  14. Web site: EGO - Alex Vargas (LP) (2019) - imusic.dk . imusic.dk . 19 October 2019 .
  15. Web site: Album Top-40 Uge 10, 2023. Hitlisten. 15 March 2023.
  16. Web site: Atlas Music Publishing – Alex Vargas "Howl" . Atlas Music . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051704/https://www.atlasmusicgroup.com/track/ODkzOTE5LTI4MTM1NQ/ . 22 December 2017 . live.
  17. Web site: Alex Vargas . Tiger Music . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053004/http://www.tiger-music.com/en/alexvargas . 22 December 2017 . dead . dmy-all .
  18. Web site: GAFFA-Pricing Current Alex Vargas: The lost son is turning home to battle . Danish . GAFFA . 3 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208100745/http://gaffa.dk/nyhed/101947 . 8 December 2015 . live.
  19. Web site: Giving up the Ghost – EP by Alexander Vargas on Apple Music . 10 February 2015 . . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222054417/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/giving-up-the-ghost-ep/1154066655 . 22 December 2017 . live.
  20. Web site: Alex Vargas (5) – Giving Up The Ghost (Vinyl) at Discogs . 22 January 2016 . . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052401/https://www.discogs.com/Alex-Vargas-Giving-Up-The-Ghost/release/8420638?ev=rr . 22 December 2017 . live.
  21. Web site: Alex Vargas 'Giving Up The Ghost' EP . . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051907/http://ifpi.dk/?q=content%2Falex-vargas-giving-ghost-ep . 22 December 2017 . live.
  22. Web site: superEGO – EP by Alex Vargas on Apple Music . 3 May 2019 . . 19 October 2019.
  23. Web site: superEGO – EP by Alex Vargas on Apple Music . 24 May 2019 . . 19 October 2019.
  24. Web site: Alex Vargas Synger Toppen Af Poppen - EP by Alex Vargas on Apple Music . 25 September 2021 . . 16 October 2021.
  25. Web site: Alex Vargas – More – dutchcharts.nl . . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222114048/http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Alex+Vargas&titel=More&cat=s . 22 December 2017 . live.
  26. Denmark. 8002. Alex Vargas "Solid Ground" IFPI . May 2, 2019 . October 16, 2022 .
  27. Denmark. 10537. 6 September 2021.
  28. Web site: Higher Love - Single by Alex Vargas on Apple Music. Apple Music. Oct 14, 2016. 3 November 2018.
  29. Denmark. 10673. Alex Vargas "Higher Love" IFPI . October 12, 2021 . October 16, 2022 .
  30. Web site: Higher Love (Decco Remix) - Single by Alex Vargas on Apple Music. Apple Music. Dec 23, 2016. 3 November 2018.
  31. Web site: Inclosure - Single by Alex Vargas on Apple Music. Apple Music. Feb 16, 2018. 3 November 2018.
  32. Web site: Slowly - Single by Alex Vargas on Apple Music. Apple Music. Feb 16, 2018. 3 November 2018.
  33. Web site: Silent Treatment - Single by Alex Vargas on Apple Music. Apple Music. Sep 21, 2018. 3 November 2018.
  34. Web site: Now That I Think About It - Single by Alex Vargas on Apple Music. Apple Music. Nov 2, 2018. 3 November 2018.
  35. Web site: Yougazer - Single by Alex Vargas on Apple Music. Apple Music. June 3, 2022. October 16, 2022.
  36. Web site: Mama, I've Been Dying - Single by Alex Vargas on Apple Music. Apple Music. July 22, 2022. October 16, 2022.
  37. Web site: Pages - Single by Alex Vargas on Apple Music. Apple Music. September 16, 2022. October 16, 2022.
  38. Web site: The nominees for Danish Music Awards 2016 are ... . Danish . . 4 October 2016 . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052249/http://ifpi.dk/?q=content%2Fde-nominerede-til-danish-music-awards-2016-er . 22 December 2017 . live.
  39. Web site: The winners at DMA 2016 . Danish . . 14 November 2016 . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052519/http://ifpi.dk/?q=content%2Fvinderne-ved-dma-2016 . 22 December 2017 . live.
  40. Web site: P3 Gold 2016: The performers and nominees are ready . Danish . . 14 October 2016 . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051840/https://www.dr.dk/presse/p3-guld-2016-de-optraedende-og-nominerede-er-klar . 22 December 2017 . live.
  41. Web site: P3 Gold 2016: Who has made this year's listening hit? . Danish . . 17 October 2016 . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222075630/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/kultur/p3-guld-2016-hvem-har-lavet-aarets-lytterhit . 22 December 2017 . live.
  42. Web site: GAFFA Prize: And the nominees are ... . Danish . GAFFA-Prisen . 24 February 2017 . 21 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170831000837/http://gaffa.dk/nyhed/115103/gaffa-prisen-og-de-nominerede-er . 31 August 2017 . live.

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