Leslie Feist is a Canadian singer and songwriter that was born on February 13, 1976 in Calgary, Alberta. Although, she is best known for performing as a soloist under the stage name Feist, Leslie is also a member of the Broken Social Scene, an Indie group formed in 1999 that actually encompasses 19 members.
Daughter to artist’s parents, Feist dreamed of becoming journalist while singing in choirs until she discovered that music was her real vocation at age 15. By then, Leslie Feist formed a punk band called Placebo (not to be confused with Placebo UK's band) that won the local competition "Garage Warz Battle of the Bands".
Feist and Placebo were awarded playing the opening gig for the Ramones. From then and forward, Feist would continue singing for five years touring the country until her voice was too strained. At that time, she was forced to stay away from the stage after a medical specialist told her that would never sing again.
In 1998, Feist relocated to Toronto and learned to play guitar. This was not only an escape valve while she was unable to sing, but also the quintessential element to craft her own pop style inspired by Astrud Gilberto and Jane Birkin.
The next year, Feist was back on the road now playing guitar for By Divine Right and later in 1999, she released her debut album, "Monarch (Lay Your Jeweled Head Down)". Feist kept playing small local gigs until she moved with Merrill Nisker to an apartment located on Queen Street West.
In 2000, Feist and Merril performed together in the electro-punk experiment Peaches. Feist toured with the band and supported their debut album "The Teaches of Peaches" appearing as guest vocalist. Then she met Gonzales, a Canadian musician that resides in Paris, France.
Feist, Peaches, and Gonzalez flew to Europe and stayed more than two years in Berlin working on an upcoming second album "Let it Die". Back to Toronto, she joined the Broken Social Scene, but eventually she moved back to Paris.
She has also contributed with numerous groups and projects, releasing four solo albums and recording "Do they know it is Halloween?" for UNICEF among many other activities and live presentations.
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