Leslie Feist

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Feist
Image:Feist newmain ingrid johansson.jpg
Background information
Birth name	Leslie Feist
Born	February 13, 1976 (age 31) Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada
Origin	Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Genre(s)	Pop rock
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals Guitar
Years active	1998 – present
Label(s)	Arts & Crafts Cherrytree/Interscope
Associated acts	Placebo By Divine Right Broken Social Scene
Website	ListenToFeist.com

Leslie Feist (born February 13, 1976) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She performs as a solo artist under the name Feist, and as a member of Broken Social Scene.

1 History
2 Discography
3 Videography
4 Awards and nominations
5 See also
6 External links

Born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, she was raised in Regina, Saskatchewan and Calgary, Alberta. Feist got her start in music as the lead vocalist for a Calgary punk band called Placebo (not the more famous British band Placebo), who won a local Battle of the Bands competition and were awarded the opening slot at a Ramones concert. After five years of touring, Feist was forced to take time off from music to recover from voice damage. She moved from Calgary to Toronto in 1998 and took up guitar; by 1999, she was the guitarist for By Divine Right. She also released her debut solo album, Monarch (Lay Your Jewelled Head Down), that year.

In 2000, Feist moved in as a roommate with Peaches – the '701' – and Gonzales, and appeared as a guest vocalist on The Teaches of Peaches. She also performed with Peaches as "Bitch Lap Lap". She spent more than two years in Berlin with Gonzales and Peaches, and began developing songs with Gonzales that would later appear on Let It Die. She then joined the recording sessions for Broken Social Scene's albums Feel Good Lost and You Forgot It in People. She subsequently moved to Paris. While in Europe, she collaborated with Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience as a guest vocalist on their album Riot on an Empty Street. She also appears on The New Deal's 2003 album Gone Gone Gone, and on Apostle of Hustle's 2004 album Folkloric Feel.

Feist recorded her second solo album, Let It Die, in Paris in 2002 and 2003. That album, a combination of jazz, bossa nova and indie rock, was hailed as one of the best Canadian pop albums of 2004, and attracted a significant international audience as well. On these records, and in performances, Feist played a 1965 Guild Starfire which aided in her jazz-like tone.

Feist's single "Mushaboom", from Let It Die, is featured in advertisements for Lacoste perfume. This is most likely due to her popularity in France, where she recorded Let It Die.

In 2005, she contributed to the UNICEF benefit song, "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?"

In early 2006, Feist returned to Europe to record a follow up to Let It Die with Gonzales, Mocky, Jamie Lidell, and Renaud Letang. An album of remixes and collaborations titled Open Season was released April 18, 2006 in Canada.

The online bank, HSBCdirect.com, has been using the Open Season remix of Gatekeeper in their television advertisement campaign.

Feist's third solo album, The Reminder, will be released on April 23, 2007 world wide, and on May 1, 2007 in Canada and the USA.

Feist recently collaborated with former flatmate Peaches on a track entitled "Give 'Er", which appeared on Peaches' album Impeach My Bush. Feist contributed backup vocals.

Feist has had her music covered by many artists such as fellow Nova Scotians Travis MacRae and Buck 65, as well as band mates Broken Social Scene and former tour mate Bright Eyes. Buck 65, with whom Feist has toured as an opening act, appeared in the music video for "One Evening". Feist has also collaborated with The Postal Service.

Feist now resides in Paris, France.