Liset Alea
Liset Alea is the stage name of Lissette Gonzalez-Alea,[1] a Cuban-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who lives in Paris, best known as a solo artist and lead singer in Nouvelle Vague.
Liset Alea | |
|---|---|
 Alea in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lissette Gonzalez-Alea |
| Also known as | Alea |
| Born | May 8, 1979 Havana, Cuba |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, bass |
| Years active | 1998–current |
| Labels | EMI, Kwaidan |
Career
Early collaborations and solo work
In 1998, Alea co-founded drum & bass/trip hop band Etro Anime. She co-wrote all the songs and provided lead vocals on their 2003 album See the Sound.[2] Soon after, she left the band to pursue a solo career. Her debut LP, No Sleep, was released in multiple European territories on EMI in 2005.[3] Around that time, she also began writing songs for other artists, including "Catfight," a single from Belgium’s Star Academy winner Katerine’s 2005 debut.[4] She later co-wrote "Il Futuro Che Sara" for Chiara Galiazzo, which was in competition at the 2013 Sanremo Music Festival in Italy.[5]
In 2010, Alea independently wrote and co-produced a Spanish-language album, Sin Cera.[2] It has not been released.
Nouvelle Vague
In 2008, Alea met Marc Collin, the founder of Nouvelle Vague. She opened for the group in Miami, and officially joined them as a lead singer in 2009.[2] She sings a cover of the Cocteau Twins song "Athol Brose" on Nouvelle Vague's 2016 album I Could Be Happy.[6] After 8 years of touring with the band, she left the group in 2017.[7]
Music in television
While residing in Paris, Alea began collaborating with French DJ Alexkid, appearing on his 2003 album Mint. In 2009, Alea, Alexkid and French producer/DJ Rodriguez Jr formed the Honeythieves.[2] The trio's song "Reminder" was in 2009 episodes of Entourage and 90210,[2] and was remixed by RAC’s Andre Anjos.[8]
Performances and collaborations
“Ceremony," a multimedia "costume show turned concert" created and directed by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, was based on Nouvelle Vague's repertoire. Alea participated in all live performances of the musical, including presentations of the show at the 2011 digital arts festival Exit at the MAC Creteil art center in Los Angeles,[9] and at the 2012 White Nights Festival in Tel Aviv.[10]
Alea has been singled out for her unique style and presence, and for "providing a strong, sultry voice and some amazing vocal pyrotechnics."[11] She has toured the world with Nouvelle Vague, including North America,[9] Europe,[11] Russia[2] and South Africa.[12] She has done a European tour with Alexkid in support of the release of Mint, a tour supporting Sananda Maitreya (formerly known as Terence Trent D'Arby), and performed with Raul Paz.[13] She shared the stage with Juanes at the 2009 Paz Sin Fronteras II concert in Cuba, performing to an audience of 1.2 million people.[13]
Personal life
Alea was born in Havana, Cuba.[2] She was raised in Miami, Florida, and has lived in New York City, Costa Rica, Paris, London and Amsterdam.[2][13] She is in a relationship with musician Rodriguez Jr.[14]
Discography
Solo
- No Sleep (2005, EMI)
- Sin Cera (2010, unreleased)
- Hunter and Tiger EP (2016)
- Heart-Headed (2016)
Appears on
- Etro Anime – See the Sound (2003)
- Alexkid – Mint (2003)
- Alexkid – Caracol (2006)
- Dubphonic – Relight (2009)
- Olga Kouklaki – I U Need (2012)
TV/film soundtrack appearances
- Las Vegas – "Come With Me" (with Alexkid) (2003, Season 1, Episode 9)
- Six Feet Under – "Don’t Hide It" (with Alexkid) (2005, Season 5, Episode 59)
- Entourage – "Reminder" (with Honeythieves) (2009, Season 6, Episode 11)
- 90210 – "Reminder (RAC Remix)" (with Honeythieves ) (2009, Season 2, Episode 3)
- Holy Rollers – "If You Forget Me" (with Remix Artist Collective) (2010)
Songwriting
| Year | Artist | Album | Song | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Katerine | Katerine | "Catfight" | Co-writer |
| "2much4you" | Co-writer | |||
| 2006 | Ewa Farna | Měls mě vůbec rád | "Kočka na rozpálený střeše" | Co-writer |
| "Nebojím se" | Co-writer | |||
| 2007 | Sam na sam | "Kotka na gorącym dachu" | Co-writer | |
| "Nie chcę się bać" | Co-writer | |||
| 2009 | Noemi | Noemi | "Stelle Appiccicate" | Co-writer |
| 2010 | Ruben Hein | Loose Fit | "If Friends Is All" | Co-writer |
| "Somebody to Love" | Co-writer | |||
| 2011 | Marc Collin and Liset Alea | Kiss Me OST | "Burning Star" | Co-writer, singer |
| 2013 | Chiara Galiazzo | Un Posto Nel Mondo | "Il Futuro Che Sara" | Co-writer |
| Élodie Frégé | Amuse Bouches | "Pique-Nique Sur la Lune" | Co-writer | |
| "Mes Bas" | Co-writer | |||
| 2014 | Filippos Pliatsikas | I Alli Plevra Tou Ble | "The Other Side of Blue" | Co-writer, singer |
| 2016 | Nouvelle Vague | I Could Be Happy | "Algo Familiar" | Writer, singer |
| 2017 | Zuco Sound | Muddy / Sweet | "Heavy Love" | Co-writer, singer |
| Rodriguez Jr. | Baobab | "Take a Walk" | Writer, singer | |
| "The Heart Is a Woman" | Writer, singer | |||
| "Waste Tomorrow" | Writer, singer |
References
- "FEARRIQUE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- Christopher Lopez, “Liset Alea Talks Touring With Nouvelle Vague and Her Miami Music Festival Gigs,” Miami New Times, November 11, 2010.
- “Who is Liset Alea…?” Archived April 12, 2013, at archive.today universetipping.com, March 15, 2011.
- “Katerine (2) – Catfight,” Discogs. Accessed February 9, 2013.
- “Sanremo, scoppia il caso Chiara La Vanoni,” Il Mattino, January 26, 2013.
- "Nouvelle Vague – "Athol Brose" (Cocteau Twins Cover)". Stereogum. July 27, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- "Rodriguez Jr. & Liset Alea – RJLA Release New Single 'Radio'". Frontview Magazine. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
- “Honeythieves – Reminder (RAC Mix) OFFICIAL video,” NME. Accessed February 18, 2013.
- Devorah Lauter, “Cultural Exchange: A French fashion designer launches a rock musical,” Los Angeles Times, March 27, 2011.
- Anthony Grant, “White Night for fashion crusader,” Times of Israel, June 29, 2012.
- Laura Angela Bagnetto, “Nouvelle Vague sprinkles couleurs on Paris,” Radio France Internationale, March 23, 2011.
- “Varied Notes,” The Sunday Independent (South Africa), April 8, 2012.
- Karl Avanzini, “Pan-American Pop,” Playback, September 3, 2010.
- "Fifteen Questions Interview with Rodriguez Jr. & Liset Alea". 15questions.net. Retrieved March 17, 2019.