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.
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 ‘Too Sober’ and ‘African Girl’, have been branded the champagne hits. ‘Too Sober’ has been described as “a 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.”
She has entertained audiences in South Africa, Italy, Germany, Korea, Japan, the USA and is now based in London where she has been active in the Live Music scene, performing at venues like The Wilmington Arms, 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 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.
Her solo cabaret 'Miss Demeanour', based on South African, British and American examples recently had a successful debut run in London. At the same time she is in the studio adding finishing touches to her 2 new singles due for release later this year.
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