It’s always nice to hear something different… and she is Aletia Upstairs. This bewitching femme fatal has a theatre background and an ardent interest in Music from diverse Cultures. She sings in 10 languages.
After obtaining a Performer's Diploma in Speech and Drama from the University of Cape Town, she performed in Italy and the UK in Musicals, Film and Cabaret, workshopped and directed for the English Theatre of Rome and performed jazz with pianist Romano Mussolini.
In South Africa, she performed Cabaret and gigs with the World Music Band, Soul Fruit and the Latino band, Coraçao. She wrote, composed, produced and recorded her solo album POSSIBILITY, which was released in South Africa in 2006. Her rock star brother, François van Coke (FPK and VCK) was the guest artist at the album launches. The music on POSSIBILITY can be described as Folk Jazz with elements of World Music and Cabaret. Her chanson and Africa inspired songs received interest from Heart FM executives as well as Bush Radio, with regular airplay on Fine Music Radio in the jazz slot. She was billed artist of the month on www.jazzrendezvous.co.za. From the album POSSIBILITY, Too Sober and African Girl, have been branded the champagne hits. Too Sober has been described as ‘a cautionary Vegas lounge haunt’ and African Girl, ‘a noir-jazz hit.’ BPM Magazine writes about her work; ‘She can write… she understands the use of irony.’
In 2007 she stunned audiences in Japan and became resident singer at Toronto Piano Bar in Korea, where she studied Korean popular classics.
In the UK, since 2008, she has been active in the Live Music scene, performing at venues like PJ’s, Viva Viva, Arts Cellar Club, Fahrenheit, All Souls Clubhouse, Digress City, Caipirinha Jazz Bar, Cicada, Zilouf's and Shackology as well as at events such as The Eastern Light Literary Evening at the Waterloo Gallery with poet Nduka Otiono and various Cultural Charity Events. She’s received airplay on Jazz FM with praise from Bob Sinfield; ‘This versatile artist did very well in South Africa and is now conquering the UK.’
In 2008 she was invited and offered a scholarship to The International Cabaret Conference at Yale and also received an invitation to present her work at the International Spoken Word Conference at the University of Udine, Italy.
She continues her studies in Musicology and is preparing a Cabaret based on South African, British and American examples.
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