Liset Alea is the stage name of Lissette Gonzalez-Alea, 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.Christopher Lopez, “Liset Alea Talks Touring With Nouvelle Vague and Her Miami Music Festival Gigs,” Miami New Times, November 11, 2010. 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.“Who is Liset Alea…?” universetipping.com, March 15, 2011. 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.“Katerine (2) – Catfight,” Discogs. Accessed February 9, 2013. She later co-wrote "Il Futuro Che Sara" for Chiara Galiazzo, which was in competition at the 2013 Sanremo Music Festival in Italy.“Sanremo, scoppia il caso Chiara La Vanoni,” Il Mattino, January 26, 2013.
In 2010, Alea independently wrote and co-produced a Spanish-language album, Sin Cera. 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. She sings a cover of the Cocteau Twins song "Athol Brose" on Nouvelle Vague's 2016 album I Could Be Happy. After 8 years of touring with the band, she left the group in 2017.
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. The trio's song "Reminder" was in 2009 episodes of Entourage and 90210, and was remixed by RAC’s Andre Anjos.“Honeythieves – Reminder (RAC Mix) OFFICIAL video,” NME. Accessed February 18, 2013.
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,Devorah Lauter, “Cultural Exchange: A French fashion designer launches a rock musical,” Los Angeles Times, March 27, 2011. and at the 2012 White Nights Festival in Tel Aviv.Anthony Grant, “White Night for fashion crusader,” Times of Israel, June 29, 2012.
Alea has been singled out for her unique style and presence, and for "providing a strong, sultry voice and some amazing vocal pyrotechnics."Laura Angela Bagnetto, “Nouvelle Vague sprinkles couleurs on Paris,” Radio France Internationale, March 23, 2011. She has toured the world with Nouvelle Vague, including North America, Europe, Russia and South Africa. 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.Karl Avanzini, “Pan-American Pop,” Playback, September 3, 2010. 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.
Personal life Alea was born in Havana, Cuba. She was raised in Miami, Florida, and has lived in New York City, Costa Rica, Paris, London and Amsterdam. She is in a relationship with musician Rodriguez Jr.
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 Credit2005KaterineKaterine"Catfight"Co-writer"2much4you"Co-writer2006Ewa FarnaMěls mě vůbec rád"Kočka na rozpálený střeše"Co-writer"Nebojím se"Co-writer2007Sam na sam"Kotka na gorącym dachu"Co-writer"Nie chcę się bać"Co-writer2009NoemiNoemi"Stelle Appiccicate"Co-writer2010Ruben HeinLoose Fit"If Friends Is All"Co-writer"Somebody to Love"Co-writer2011Marc Collin and Liset AleaKiss Me OST"Burning Star"Co-writer, singer2013Chiara GaliazzoUn Posto Nel Mondo"Il Futuro Che Sara"Co-writerÉlodie FrégéAmuse Bouches"Pique-Nique Sur la Lune"Co-writer"Mes Bas"Co-writer2014Filippos PliatsikasI Alli Plevra Tou Ble"The Other Side of Blue"Co-writer, singer2016Nouvelle VagueI Could Be Happy"Algo Familiar"Writer, singer2017Zuco SoundMuddy / Sweet"Heavy Love"Co-writer, singerRodriguez Jr.Baobab"Take a Walk"Writer, singer"The Heart Is a Woman"Writer, singer"Waste Tomorrow"Writer, singer
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