Alejandro Aranda


Alejandro Aranda, known by his stage name Scarypoolparty, is an American singer, musician, and reality television personality from Pomona, California, and runner-up on the seventeenth season of American Idol. His debut album Exit Form was released on November 22, 2019.

Early life

Alejandro Aranda was born on August 11, 1994 in Pomona, California. While he has attested to having two parents as well as a sister, not much is known about his past. In an interview with Launch Left, he talked about his family and the fact that he was not close to them. However, he drew a lot of inspiration from his past to determine the type of person he wanted to be.
He started playing the piano and picked up guitar around the age of 19 or 20. Busking on the streets of Pomona, CA he got comfortable with being himself in front of people, he also played at Open Mic Nights and backyard concerts, basically wherever he could. Of this time, he said it took him a year to get comfortable with singing.
He started taking music seriously when he almost injured his hand in a factory working and the sleeve of his shirt was caught. He said of this incident:
“When I turned 20, I almost lost my hand,” Aranda, now age 25, reveals to Yahoo Entertainment. “I was working at a warehouse and I got my hand stuck in the conveyor belt, and I could've really lost my hand. … It got stuck in between, and then it caught my flannel shirt; I was wearing a long sleeve and it caught. If I wasn't wearing that, it would have basically ran my whole hand through it.” While Aranda was thankfully able to extricate himself from the machinery without any serious injuries, the situation served as a wake-up call.
On Mar 15, 2016 he posted Blesser on YouTube. Many consider this to be his most brilliant song to date. The judges were so blown away by his performance that Lionel Richie called it “History in the making.”
The incident was referenced in the lyrics of his song "Millennial Love".
On March 17, 2016 he posted his song “10 Years” on YouTube. The song “10 Years” was written for a friend going through a divorce.
In 2017, he was named Artist of the Year by California State University. This was the first time he had a break in the music industry.
In 2018, Twin Shadow asked him to go on the road with him as a musician. He played festivals and even made an appearance on the Conan O’Brien Show.

''American Idol''

He received a private audition through someone who attended a backyard concert that he performed, and on April 6, 2019 he auditioned on Season 17 of American Idol in Los Angeles, CA. Alejandro performed two original songs, “Out Loud” and “Cholo Love.” Immediately, the judges were drawn to him. Luke Bryan said, “I just feel like I’m in the presence of greatness.” and “It was like watching my favorite movie that I did not want to end.” Katy Perry said, “Okay Alejandro, I think you're the winner. I think you're really special. I think you're an absolute genius.”
His audition video was released on April 6, 2019, and as of August 22, 2019 it had reached 14 million YouTube views, 8.5 million more than any other Season 17 contestant’s audition.
Unlike other contestants, who typically perform covers of other artists' songs, throughout Aranda's Idol journey, he performed seven different original songs.
EpisodeThemeSong ChoiceOriginal ArtistOrder #Result
AuditionAuditioner's Choice"Out Loud"HimselfN/AAdvanced
AuditionAuditioner's Choice"Cholo Love"HimselfN/AAdvanced
Hollywood Round, Round 1Contestant's Choice"Sorry"Justin BieberN/AAdvanced
Hollywood Round, Round 2Group Performance"Go Your Own Way" Fleetwood MacN/AAdvanced
Hollywood Round, Round 3Contestant's Choice"10 Years"HimselfN/AAdvanced
Showcase Round / Top 40Contestant's Choice"Yellow"Coldplay21Advanced
Top 20 Solo & DuetContestant's Choice"I Fall Apart"Post Malone16Advanced
Top 20 Solo & DuetContestant's Choice"There Will Be a Light" Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama18Advanced
Top 14Contestant's Choice"One Dance"Drake11Safe
Top 14Victory Song"Cholo Love"Himself13Safe
Top 10Disney Night"Remember Me"from Coco3Safe
Top 8Queen Night"Under Pressure"Queen5Safe
Top 8Movie Duets"Mrs. Robinson" from The Graduate10Safe
Top 6Woodstock"White Rabbit"Jefferson Airplane5Safe
Top 6Showstoppers"Poison"Himself8Safe
Top 5Bobby Bones' Choice"No Woman, No Cry"Bob Marley and the Wailers3Safe
Top 5Elton John Night"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"Elton John8Safe
Top 5Hero Dedication"Blesser"Himself14Safe
FinaleContestant's Choice"Millennial Love"Himself3Runner–up
FinaleContestant's Choice"Tonight"Himself6Runner–up
FinaleContestant's Choice"Out Loud"Himself8Runner–up

Post-''American Idol''

Pomona declared May 19, 2019 "Alejandro Aranda Day". Aranda was scheduled to go on a seven-date US tour in July 2019. After tickets went on sale on the morning of May 23, they all sold out in minutes. American Idol judge Katy Perry jokingly begged Aranda to be a "roadie" on his tour. Because of the overwhelming amount of support, he announced on June 11 that he would put on a free concert in Nashville on July 3, joined by Bizz & Everyday People. On June 23, Aranda announced that he was working on a new album, and on June 24, he announced he would go on a twenty-eight stop tour from October 10 to November 21, and on June 25, he added a twenty-ninth stop in Los Angeles for November 22. He also performed at Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 3, 2019, and will perform at Life Is Beautiful in September 2019 and Austin City Limits Music Festival in October 2019. He has been announced as one of the supporting acts for Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds on their fourth annual destination tour in Mexico in February 2020.
He released the single "Tonight" under the name Scarypoolparty on June 28, 2019, after signing with Hollywood Records. The song was co-written and co-produced by Twin Shadow. On August 7, 2019, he released the ballad "Cholo Love". On October 4, 2019, he released the single "Diamonds".
On November 5, 2019, he announced his debut album, Exit Form, which was released on November 22, 2019.
DateLocationDescriptionTour Name
July 3, 2019Nashville, TNFourth of July CelebrationFestival
July 8, 2019Washington, DCDC9 - Sold OutSummer Tour 2019
July 9, 2019Brooklyn, NYBaby's All Right - Sold OutSummer Tour 2019
July 10, 2019Boston, MASonia's Nightclub - Sold OutSummer Tour 2019
July 11, 2019Chicago, ILSubterranean - Sold OutSummer Tour 2019
July 13, 2019San Francisco, CASwedish American Hall - Sold OutSummer Tour 2019
July 15, 2019Los Angeles, CAMoroccan Lounge - Sold OutSummer Tour 2019
July 17, 2019Pomona, CAThe Glass House - Sold OutSummer Tour 2019
July 18, 2019Pomona, CAThe Glass House - Sold OutSummer Tour 2019
August 2, 2019Chicago, ILLollapalooza - After Show - Park WestFestival
August 3, 2019Chicago, ILLollapalooza - Lake Shore StageFestival
September 22, 2019Las Vegas, NVLife is BeautifulFestival
October 4, 2019Austin, TXAustin City Limits Music FestivalFestival
October 10, 2019Berkeley, CAThe UC Theater - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
October 11, 2019Sacramento, CAAce of Spades - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
October 13, 2019Portland, ORCrystal Ballroom - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
October 14, 2019Seattle, WANeptune Theatre - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
October 16, 2019Salt Lake City, UTThe DepotFall Tour 2019
October 18, 2019Aspen, COBelly UpFall Tour 2019
October 19, 2019Boulder, COFox Theatre - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
October 21, 2019Kansas City, MOThe Truman - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
October 22, 2019Minneapolis, MNFirst Avenue - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
October 23, 2019Chicago, ILVic Theater - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
October 25, 2019Detroit, MIMajestic Theatre - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
October 26, 2019Cleveland, OHHouse of Blues - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
October 28, 2019New York, NYPlaystation Theatre - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
October 29, 2019Philadelphia, PAUnion Transfer - Sold outFall Tour 2019
October 30, 2019Boston, MARoyale - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 1, 2019Baltimore, MDBaltimore Sound Stage - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 3, 2019Charlottesville, VAJefferson Theatre - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 4, 2019Raleigh, NCLincoln Theatre - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 5, 2019Charlotte, NCThe Underground - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 7, 2019Atlanta, GABuckhead Theatre - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 9, 2019Orlando, FLThe Plaza Live - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 10, 2019Ft. Lauderdale, FLRevolutionFall Tour 2019
November 12, 2019New Orleans, LAHouse of Blues - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 13, 2019Houston, TXWhite Oak Music Hall - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 15, 2019Austin, TXEmo's - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 16, 2019Dallas, TXHouse of Blues - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 19, 2019San Diego, CAHouse of Blues - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 21, 2019Los Angeles, CABelasco Theater - Sold OutFall Tour 2019
November 22, 2019Los Angeles, CABelasco Theater - Sold OutFall Tour 2019

Discography

Studio albums

Singles