Be sure to tune into “American Idol” this Sunday night as local singer-songwriter Lexi Weege will appear on the show. Weege recently tried out for the singing competition show and her audition will be part of the series season opener that will air on ABC at 8 p.m. Now in its 20th year, the popular series has launched the careers of Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and Adam Lambert, among others.
Weege, who has been performing since the age of 8, is a popular and frequent performer on our local music scene. A native of Westfield who now lives in Montague, the 28-year-old first gained local attention as a member of the Woman Songwriter Collective. She later branched out and performed as a solo artist as well as leading her current band Weege and the Wondertwins. In addition, she frequently performs with JJ Slater and has worked as a member of the Franklin County Sweethearts.
Weege plays guitar and piano and is a musical chameleon who refuses to be pinned down to a specific genre. Her powerful, versatile voice is equally adept at singing a country tune, crooning a jazz number or roaring through a blues track. Her nimble voice and wide range and knack for unique phrasing is what sets her apart and makes her a perfect candidate for a show like “American Idol.”
How will all this turn out for Weege? Will she move forward in the competition?
“All I’m really allowed to say right now is that I auditioned for American Idol and that you’ll have to tune in on February 27 to see how I did!” she wrote in a recent email, referring to the network’s restriction on contestants communicating with the press before the show airs.
“America Idol” isn’t the only project Weege has been involved with lately. In late January, Weege and the Wondertwins released a new single called “Adelaide,” a quirky waltz that is the follow-up to the band’s self-titled album that came out in the summer. She also released a single called “Hydrangea” last Friday that will be available on all streaming services.
“Hydrangea” is a bluesy-jazzy number that starts with some understated keyboard and drums before Weege launches into “I could see every star in the sky/As we drove on down that highway/Ah, I heard every word as clear as day.”
The power of Weege’s voice that moves from gentle hush to a fierce roar is evident throughout the track as the guitar and drums follow her each step of the way. Weege said that she worked on “Hydrangea,” a song that deals with some of the complicated feelings that come with love, for years.
“It wasn’t until everything came to a complete stop and I was forced to slow down due to the pandemic that I actually had the time to sit down with it and figure out what I was trying to say,” she explained.
Weege said the song started out capturing the moments that one feels comfortable, relaxed and present in a relationship, but it evolved over time.
“When I picked the song back up again, I came to the realization that I wanted to write about how conflicting that feeling can be; letting another person in is terrifying and risking losing yourself and your identity in a relationship is a daunting thought,” Weege said.
“I felt something to this day that I could not explain/I feel like I am living with another man’s soul/ I lost myself a long time ago,” she sings as the song delves into the feelings of a narrator who is deeply conflicted by feelings of comfort, a need for love and a wish to remain independent and strong.
It’s a powerful song that has a lovely retro feel while also sounding incredibly fresh. “Hydrangea” was recorded at Sleeper Cave studio in Williamsburg and is from Weege’s forthcoming solo album that will be released at the end of the year.
Sheryl Hunter is a music writer who lives in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national magazines. You can contact her at soundslocal@yahoo.com.