CLEO by LEA MARIA FRIES

Lea Maria Fries emerges from Switzerland's expanding music scene with her debut album ‘Cleo’. Predominantly written and composed by the artist, with production coming from her bassist, Julien Herné. This deep and delicate work is full of stories recounting an artist's quest to write her own future. Tales told with confidence, maturity and sensitivity. 

Her music, rooted in black music and jazz also has some experimental leanings, jumping from different styles and even languages, these 13 tracks showcase sonic leanings with elegance and beauty. 

Lea's voice and charisma may evoke the explorations of Mélanie De Biasio and also the bewitching presence of Portishead’s Beth Gibbons. Like her peers the stage is her domain, she inhabits and dominates it with charisma and elegance, with an attitude that she claims is both “classy and trashy” 

‘Cleo’ is the fruit of transformation…. an album telling stories of a young Swiss woman setting out to learn about the world. Starting out in Lucerne Switzerland, via Berlin and now to Paris. 

Against the backdrop of The Alps, Lea Maria Fries (pronounced Fri-ès) was born in the Swiss countryside. Thanks to her music teacher with a tendency for improvisation and the close proximity of the renowned Willisau Festival, Lea discovered herself as a jazz singer and more broadly, a musician. Practised her scales and exploring free music, she then moved away from singing in search of more freedom and experimentation. This exposure to so much from a young age gave her a unique taste for musical tinkerings, explorations and invention. 

Trained at the Haute École de Jazz in Lucerne, Lea overcame her shyness and entered the Jazz Vocal Competition at the Montreux Festival, accompanied by one Quincy Jones. At 21 years old, she was the youngest of the finalists. Thisnwas the first time she had been on a stage, and that was a total turning point for her, leading her on to a long series of performances and projects on the blossoming Swiss scene, 

Soon it became apparent that she would need to leave local comforts behind, in order to grow as an artist. She headed for Berlin, the great unknown city and it was here she found solitude, self-doubt and in turn, inspiration. Taking influence from - Björk, Joni Mitchell, Shirley Horn and Meshell Ndegeocello. The singer-turned-writer-composer subsequently founded a trio, with which she toured Russia and played extensively in Eastern Europe. 

Finally, when she was back home in Switzerland at the Cully Jazz Festival, she met her current accomplices. Pianist Gauthier Toux, and bassist/producer Julien Herné. It was with Julien that she founded the duo Et.nu, a veritable sound laboratory where she honed her writing skills. 

On ‘Cleo’ Julien helps create electronic textures to carry the singer’s words in; English, French, German and even her mother tongue, Swiss German. 

Highlighted on the track ‘Chrüz’, which is a reflection of the region where she grew up. ‘It's a reflection on my origins, on the history of the women in my family and the role that religion may have played in their lives’ 

The place of women in society and also within the arts is also central to Lea's work. The eponymous title track is dedicated to all women, with lyrics by modern-day Cleopatras such as Tina Turner, Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, Joni Mitchell and even her own mother. On ‘Umleitung’, she invites French-Catalan trumpet player Raynald Colom, where as; ‘Life Below’ metaphorically asks questions of the subconscious. Lighter moments on the record are found on ‘Fungi’ which is a tribute to... mushrooms! - and their role in nature, which absolutely fascinates Lea! 

Sung in French the only cover on the album is second single ‘India Song’, appropriates tactfully and accompanied by Vincent Peirani on accordion. A song she chose as it fits well with the theme of the album. She says of the track… “It emits sensuality, mysticism and pain - to grow, you have to die. You must get rid of the useless and face your fears’. 

Later on the album we find Lea asserting her independence on the track ‘Get Off My Back’. While ‘Jools’ written for her partner is a subtle reference to the Beatles' famous ‘Hey Jude’, exploring the fears and challenges facing the human race. 

Album closer, ‘Liquid’ echoes album opener, 

‘Liquid Thoughts’, symbolising the eternal change that allows us all to evolve in an interconnected world.