Liset Alea Explained

Liset Alea
Image Upright:0.75
Birth Name:Lissette Gonzalez-Alea
Alias:Alea
Birth Date:8 May 1979
Birth Place:Havana, Cuba
Instrument:Vocals, guitar, bass
Occupation:Singer-songwriter
Years Active:1998–current
Label:EMI, Kwaidan
Associated Acts:Nouvelle Vague
Etro Anime
Alexkid
Honeythieves
Dubphonic
Olga Kouklaki
Yasmine Hamdan

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.

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

Appears on

TV/film soundtrack appearances

Songwriting

Year Artist Album Song Credit
2005KaterineKaterine"Catfight"Co-writer
"2much4you"Co-writer
2006Ewa FarnaMěls mě vůbec rád"Kočka na rozpálený střeše"Co-writer
"Nebojím se"Co-writer
2007Sam na sam"Kotka na gorącym dachu"Co-writer
"Nie chcę się bać"Co-writer
2009NoemiNoemi"Stelle Appiccicate"Co-writer
2010Ruben HeinLoose Fit"If Friends Is All"Co-writer
"Somebody to Love"Co-writer
2011Marc Collin and Liset AleaKiss Me OST"Burning Star"Co-writer, singer
2013Chiara GaliazzoUn Posto Nel Mondo"Il Futuro Che Sara"Co-writer
Élodie FrégéAmuse Bouches"Pique-Nique Sur la Lune"Co-writer
"Mes Bas"Co-writer
2014Filippos PliatsikasI Alli Plevra Tou Ble"The Other Side of Blue"Co-writer, singer
2016Nouvelle VagueI Could Be Happy"Algo Familiar"Writer, singer
2017Zuco SoundMuddy / 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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FEARRIQUE . ASCAP . American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers . July 8, 2023.
  2. Christopher Lopez, “Liset Alea Talks Touring With Nouvelle Vague and Her Miami Music Festival Gigs,” Miami New Times, November 11, 2010.
  3. http://universetipping.com/2011/03/15/who-is-liset-alea/ “Who is Liset Alea…?”
  4. http://www.discogs.com/Katerine-Catfight/release/3062200 “Katerine (2) – Catfight,”
  5. http://www.ilmattino.it/spettacoli/musica/chiara_galiazzo_festival_sanremo_ornella_vanoni_federico_zampaglione_il_cile_antonio_maggio_fabio_fazio/notizie/247158.shtml “Sanremo, scoppia il caso Chiara La Vanoni,”
  6. Web site: Nouvelle Vague – "Athol Brose" (Cocteau Twins Cover) . Stereogum . July 27, 2016 . March 17, 2019.
  7. Web site: Rodriguez Jr. & Liset Alea – RJLA Release New Single 'Radio' . Frontview Magazine . February 14, 2019.
  8. https://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/_1O7YK91pZI “Honeythieves – Reminder (RAC Mix) OFFICIAL video,”
  9. Devorah Lauter, “Cultural Exchange: A French fashion designer launches a rock musical,” Los Angeles Times, March 27, 2011.
  10. Anthony Grant, “White Night for fashion crusader,” Times of Israel, June 29, 2012.
  11. Laura Angela Bagnetto, “Nouvelle Vague sprinkles couleurs on Paris,” Radio France Internationale, March 23, 2011.
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20170326050612/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-285784463.html “Varied Notes,”
  13. Karl Avanzini, “Pan-American Pop,” Playback, September 3, 2010.
  14. Web site: Fifteen Questions Interview with Rodriguez Jr. & Liset Alea . 15questions.net . March 17, 2019.