After graduation, Alvarez visited a friend in Texas, where she discovered the Deep Ellum music scene in Dallas. She became active in the local club scene and signed a record deal with Brando Records. She recorded her debut album Ruleta in Spanish with producer Javier Willis. She wrote and performed all the songs on the album. A few months later, Kevin Lawrie at Sony Norte heard the tracks and signed her to the Miami-based label. Alvarez continued to work in the Latin music scene, getting airplay for her debut single "Hoy" on stations throughout Puerto Rico and the US. Picky Talarico directed the video for "Hoy", which was shot on location in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The program director for Entravision Communications "Super Estrella" network happened upon her while she was performing at the Grove in Los Angeles. The following week "Hoy" was added to the playlist for all of the "Super Estrella" network across the US. This led Sony Norte to release a second single "Cada Momento". The video was directed by Nory Niven.
While touring and performing in Texas, Alvarez became close friends with her Brando Records label mates Blue October, who invited her to sing on two songs: "Come in Closer" off of their album History for Sale and "Into the Ocean" from their platinum-selling album Foiled.
Alvarez also starred in the independent film "Lycanthrope". The movie features one of her original songs, "This Is Love", which can be found on the re-release of her album "Ruleta".
Alvarez landed a spot on the CBS TV show Rockstar: Supernova in 2006. Her outrageous costumes and creative spin on the songs she performed were both praised and derided by the media. Los Angeles Times pop music critic Ann Powers stated that "Rockstar's most intriguing contestant, the Puerto Rican punk chanteuse Zayra Alvarez"while her hometown paper, the Dallas Observer, referred to her "serious, possibly fatal, pitch deficiency".] During her tenure, she covered many well-known songs, including "Call Me", "867-5309/Jenny", and "Everybody Hurts". On week 7, Alvarez took a huge risk by singing her own original song, ""Lluvia de Mar,"" in Spanish on Prime Time TV, and while Supernova (Tommy Lee, Gilby Clarke and Jason Newstead) could not help but like it they still wanted her to sing a more traditional rock song. She was eliminated from the show on August 16. Shortly after her departure from Rockstar:Supernova, the Los Angeles Times ran a feature article on her. In it, the writer Josh Kun stated, "Zayra Alvarez, an aspiring arena goddess born and raised in Puerto Rico, makes it deep into the prime-time CBS-TV competition of "Rock Star: Supernova." She prances around ... in peekaboo cosmic blue cat suits like she's Ziggy Stardust's long lost Caribbean cousin."
After the show Alvarez returned to Texas and moved to Austin. She decided it was time for her to record her songs in English in a style that took her far beyond traditional Latin music. She also dropped her last name and became known simply as Zayra. Her latest album, Baby Likes To Bang, was released on September 14, 2010 by Brando Records. This album represents Zayra's transition into dance music, featuring remixes by top DJs from around the world. Two singles have been released from the album, "V.I.P." and "Baby Likes To Bang."
"V.I.P.", the first single from the album and a Top 5 Billboard Dance Club Hit, was remixed by Dave Audé, Mike Rizzo, DJ Paulo & Alain Jackinsky, Steph Seroussi, and Adrian Benavides. After the release of the single, the blogger Arjan wrote "every summer needs a dance queen and Zayra is turning out to be this season's club royalty."
The second single "Baby Likes To Bang" was released November 8, 2010. It was declared the #1 Dance Breakout by Billboard and was the #3 most added song by DJ's behind Katy Perry and Rihanna. The single features remixes from DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio, Razor N Guido, Mixin Marc & Tony Svejda and Steph Seroussi & Nam. The music videos for "Baby Likes to Bang" and "V.I.P." were composed by Merritt Fields of Rainmaker Artists.
Zayra has been performing around the country in support of the record, including Austin Fashion Week, Atlanta Pride 2010, TigerHeat, and multiple performances in Los Angeles and New York.
Razorblade
Zayra Álvarez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Called the art of growing up
There's an innocence we look for in the stars
To be taken back to younger days
When there was no giving up
On the people we held closest to our hearts
Yeah it is you that I remember in that glowing
It is you I set my standards to... to
I haven't met another you since you were with me.
Sing with me
A brief bout with a razorblade cut me
I freaked out, thinking people didn't love me
I watched closely as the you I knew forgot me
In letting go, I am so proud of what I've done
In a way, I failed religion
I spit the wine from mouth to cup
And I reached for something more than just your God
Uncle, you spared not your children
And while your praying hands are up
There's no forgiveness for you! You sick fuck!
It is you that I remember in their bedroom
It is you that took their first away from them
It is you they set their standards to
You wounded them for life
You were a preacher and suppose to be above men
Sing with me
A brief bout with a razorblade cut me
I freaked out, thinking people didn't love me
I watched closely as the you I knew forgot me
In letting go, I am so proud of what I've done
I tried, I tried to let it go
I want to be proud... proud
I want to be proud.
The lyrics to Zayra Álvarez's song Razorblade appear to represent the struggle and pain associated with coming of age and experiencing disappointment and disillusionment. The first verse speaks to the loss of innocence and the desire to return to the days when there was no giving up on the people closest to our hearts. The second verse touches on a personal experience with self-harm and the fear of not being loved by others. The chorus repeatedly references the razorblade, representing the physical pain and emotional turmoil associated with these experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
In the day by day collision
In the constant clash of daily life
Called the art of growing up
Which we refer to as the process of maturing
There's an innocence we look for in the stars
We yearn for the purity that lies beyond our world
To be taken back to younger days
To return to our youthful past
When there was no giving up
When we didn't know how to quit
On the people we held closest to our hearts
On the ones we loved most deeply
Yeah it is you that I remember in that glowing
I recall you in that shining moment
It is you that took my first away from me
You were the one who stole my innocence
It is you I set my standards to... to
You were who I measured myself against
I haven't met another you since you were with me.
I haven't come across anyone like you since we were together
Sing with me
A brief bout with a razorblade cut me
Join me in song as I share my experience of self-harm
I freaked out, thinking people didn't love me
I panicked, feeling like no one cared for me
I watched closely as the you I knew forgot me
I observed as the person I used to know moved on from me
In letting go, I am so proud of what I've done
By releasing my pain, I'm proud of my progress
In a way, I failed religion
In some sense, I didn't live up to religious expectations
I spit the wine from mouth to cup
I rejected the symbolism of the Holy Communion
And I reached for something more than just your God
I sought something beyond your God
Uncle, you spared not your children
Uncle, you didn't spare your own kin
And while your praying hands are up
Even as you pray
There's no forgiveness for you! You sick fuck!
You don't deserve forgiveness! You disgusting person!
It is you that I remember in their bedroom
I recall you in their very own room
It is you that took their first away from them
You robbed them of their innocence
It is you they set their standards to
They looked up to you as a role model
You wounded them for life
You caused them harm that will last forever
You were a preacher and suppose to be above men
You were supposed to be a moral authority as a preacher
I tried, I tried to let it go
I attempted to move on
I want to be proud... proud
I desire to feel a sense of pride
I want to be proud.
I want to feel proud of myself
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind