Ariana Savalas

Ariana Savalas is an American actress, singer, songwriter, whistler, burlesque performer, and the daughter of Greek-American actor Telly Savalas. She is a resident headlining performer and emcee for Postmodern Jukebox.[2] She was one of the original members of the group alongside Haley Reinhart, Casey Abrams, Robyn Adele Anderson, and Morgan James.

Ariana Savalas
Background information
Born1986 or 1987 [1]
Los Angeles, California, U.S.[1]
GenresAlternative, indie-pop, burlesque, cabaret
Occupation(s)actress, singer, songwriter, burlesque performer
Instrument(s)Vocals, Piano
Websitearianasavalas.com

Savalas tours with the band and has appeared in a number of the group's YouTube videos, two of her videos in the top five most popular videos in the group's history.[3][4][5][6]

She has been called the Dita Von Teese of music, fusing her original music with elements of traditional vaudeville and burlesque.[7] She was described by Las Vegas Magazine as "the musical burlesque queen" and "the mistress of the modern Moulin Rouge".[8]

Early life

Savalas was born in Los Angeles, California, but was raised in Minnesota following Telly Savalas her father's death in 1994.[1] She attended an all-girls Catholic convent school in her teenage years before graduating early and moving to London to pursue a career in performance. She studied Shakespeare and acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and is a member of Playhouse West, a repertory theater directed by Jeff Goldblum.[9]

Before turning to burlesque, Savalas toured and recorded in Europe as a pop singer in her teens with European producer Jack White.[10] She made a guest appearance as Bobby Lainsford on the CBS hit drama Criminal Minds in 2010. Savalas began her music career in Los Angeles as a singer/songwriter playing venues on the Sunset Strip,[11] such as the Whisky a Go Go and Hard Rock Cafe.

Career

Debut singles and EP
Ariana Savalas with Dave Koz

Savalas' first jazz EP, Sophisticated Lady, was a combination of her original compositions as well as two standards from the Great American Songbook, including the song "Sophisticated Lady" by Duke Ellington, Mitchell Parish, and Irving Mills which she named the record after.[12] Savalas was widely known in the cabaret world headlining in venues such as the New York Friars' Club and Michael Feinstein's late New York cabaret Feinstein's.[13] She was the opening act for saxophone legend Kenny G[14] and has toured the world with 14 time Grammy nominee Dave Koz.[15]

Postmodern Jukebox
Ariana Savalas with Postmodern Jukebox

Savalas was introduced to Scott Bradlee in 2015 and began collaborating on online videos and touring with the band soon after. They have performed at venues such as Radio City Music Hall, The Greek Theater, and the O2 Academy in London.[16] Savalas was their first female emcee, and hosted the first-ever PMJ PBS special "Postmodern Jukebox: The New Classics". Savalas has garnered praise for her singing and also for her skill at jazz whistling.[17]

Burlesque
Ariana Savalas at Faena Theater

Savalas began incorporating her own music into live shows, drawing influences from the Weimar Republic era of German Cabaret and the Moulin Rouge. Her 2019 live album, "The Ménage a Tour! Live from Las Vegas" was a showcase of music, songwriting, dance, comedy, and burlesque.[18] Savalas released a single and music video for her original song "Legendary Lover" in early 2020.

The Dead Dance

Savalas released her debut full studio record, The Dead Dance, in early 2020. The album was released exclusively under Cargo Records in Germany and digitally worldwide. The first single, "Memory", features trumpet player Brian Newman.[19]

Discography
  • The Dead Dance[20]
  • Legendary Lover (single)[21]
  • Sophisticated Lady[22]
  • The Ménage a Tour! Live from Las Vegas
  • The Essentials - "No Diggity"[23]
  • Swipe Right for Vintage - "Criminal"[24]
  • Top Hat on Fleek - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)"[25]
  • Selfies on Kodachrome - "Blank Space"[26]
  • PBS presents Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, The New Classics[27]
  • Emoji Antique - "Bad Romance"[28]
  • Historical Misappropriation - "No Diggity"[23]
  • Swing the Vote - "Pony"[29]
  • PMJ is for Lovers - "Blank Space"[26]
  • Fake Blues - "Thong Song"[30]
  • New Gramaphone, who dis? - "It Wasn't Me"[31]
  • Jazz Age Thirst Trap - "Bad Guy"[32]
  • The Essentials II - "All About the Bass"[33]
  • 33 Resolutions Per Minute - "Bye Bye Bye"[34]

References
  1. Streeter, Leslie Gray (August 26, 2011). "Singer Ariana Savalas is proud of her dad Telly, but is making a name for herself". pbpulse.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  2. Sarah Barness (March 3, 2017). "Live Review: Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox". Varsity. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  3. "Fiona Apple's "Criminal" Sounds Pretty Incredible as a Vintage Torch Song". Slate magazine. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016. The main reason this works, though, is singer Ariana Savalas, who matches Apple's pained, pirouetting vocals and adds her own jazzy grace notes to boot.
  4. Sarah Barness (June 10, 2014). "We Like The Way Postmodern Jukebox Covers Blackstreet's 'No Diggity,' All Vintage-y". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  5. Simon Collins (September 14, 2015). "Jukebox crew just the bee's knees". Yahoo! News. The West Australian. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  6. Weingarten, Rachel (May 15, 2015). "Postmodern Jukebox: Behind the Retro-Pop YouTube Sensation". Parade Magazine. New York: Athlon Media Group. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  7. BWW Team (January 30, 2015). "Postmodern Jukebox entertains in their O.C. debut concert". Broadway World. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  8. BWW Team. "Postmodern Jukebox entertains in their O.C. debut concert".
  9. BWW News Desk (March 1, 2010). "Ariana Savalas Comes To The Metropolitan Room 3/19". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 11, 2016. After touring Europe, Ariana was accepted by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London to study Shakespeare and acting. Following her RADA training, she moved to Los Angeles to work with Robert Carnegie at the prestigious Playhouse West Theater, planning to return to London in the fall of that year. After just one month in Los Angeles, with no previous professional acting experience, she auditioned for and won the title role of Miriam Shafer in the feature film?Miriam,?a true story of a Lithuanian Holocaust survivor. The part required the 18-year-old Ariana to play a grueling range of emotions while portraying Miriam from age 15 through 50 years old. Her most recent film is Akrasia by Polish director Xavier Tatarkiewicz.?
  10. Heather Phares. "Ariana Savalas: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  11. Army Archerd (April 16, 2007). "Showbiz Second Generation". Variety magazine. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  12. admin (December 28, 2012). "Herb Alpert's Vibrato, Grill, Jazz, Etc. Presents Ariana Savalas – "Sophisticated Lady"". Arcadia Weekly. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016. Following in her father's footsteps, she also had a guest appearance on one of television's top cop shows CBS' "Criminal Minds." Ariana also appears on famed jazz harp player/pianist (and wife of Mike Stoller of renowned songwriting team Leiber & Stoller) Corky Hale's latest CD release, "Corky Hale…And Friends – I'm Glad There Is You," singing her rendition of the song, "I See Your Face."
  13. Mavis Manus. "Adriana Savalas embraces her musical roots" (PDF). No. March 2011. Hellenic Journal. pp. 4, 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  14. Jim Dail (August 27, 2015). "Ariana Savalas owns the stage through jazz and cabaret". PE Temecula. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  15. Dave Koz. "Artist Lineup". Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  16. Radio City. "Ariana Savalas: Biography". RadioCity. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  17. Guzman, Ivan (May 29, 2015). "Postmodern Jukebox Flips the Idea of a Cover Band On Its Ear". Houston Press. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  18. Patrick Carone. "Ariana Savalas: Biography". Maxim. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  19. "Ariana Savalas - "Memory" feat. Brian Newman (Official Music Video)". February 14, 2020. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2020 – via YouTube.
  20. "THE DEAD DANCE: Ariana Savalas' 1st Major Album – NEO Magazine". neomagazine.com. April 29, 2020. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. Sjostrom, Jan (September 3, 2016). "Ariana Savalas' show at Royal Room returns to cabaret's theatrical roots". Palm Beach Daily News. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  22. "TEMECULA: Ariana Savalas owns the stage through jazz and cabaret – Press Enterprise". pe.com. December 3, 2020. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. Ariana Savalas (June 14, 2014). No Diggity - Vintage Jessica Rabbit- Style Blackstreet Cover ft. Ariana Savalas. Postmodern Jukebox. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  24. Ariana Savalas (July 23, 2015). Criminal - Vintage Torch Song Fiona Apple Cover ft. Ariana Savalas. Postmodern Jukebox. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  25. Ariana Savalas (September 17, 2015). Single Ladies - Vintage "Chicago" / Fosse - Style Beyonce Cover ft. Ariana Savalas. Postmodern Jukebox. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  26. Ariana Savalas (December 16, 2014). Blank Space - Vintage Cabaret - Style Taylor Swift Cover ft. Ariana Savalas. Postmodern Jukebox. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  27. "Announcing PMJ's First-Ever Live Album, The New Classics!". Postmodern Jukebox. October 23, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  28. Ariana Savalas & Sarah Reich (April 15, 2015). Bad Romance - Vintage 1920's Gatsby Style Lady Gaga Cover ft. Ariana Savalas & Sarah Reich. Postmodern Jukebox. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  29. Ariana Savalas (May 12, 2016). Pony - Vintage Jazz Ginuwine Cover ft. Ariana Savalas. Postmodern Jukebox. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  30. Ariana Savalas (April 20, 2017). Thong Song - Postmodern Jukebox 1930s Jazz Version ft. Ariana Savalas. Postmodern Jukebox. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  31. Ariana Savalas (June 22, 2017). It Wasn't Me - '60s Tom Jones Style Shaggy Cover ft. Ariana Savalas - Postmodern Jukebox. Postmodern Jukebox. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  32. Ariana Savalas (June 7, 2019). Bad Guy - Billie Eilish (Tango Style Cover) ft. Ariana Savalas. Postmodern Jukebox. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  33. Haley Reinhart, Morgan James, and Ariana Savalas (March 17, 2015). All About That Bass - Postmodern Jukebox European Tour Version. Postmodern Jukebox. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  34. Aubrey Logan, Sara Niemietz, Ariana Savalas (January 19, 2017). Bye Bye Bye - 2016 North American Postmodern Jukebox Tour Cast Version. Postmodern Jukebox. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
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