Through her atypical experiences, the singer Emilie Lesbros blurs the boundaries between genres. Her training, between classical education – she studied classical and jazz voice at the conservatory – and eclectic musical projects in various forms ranging from rock to electronic music, led her to develop an insatiable curiosity regarding sound. She was the lead singer of Rosa, a rather unique rock band.

Her encounter with the bassist Barre Phillips was crucial in her explorations within the field of improvised music. Emilie Lesbros expands her vocal and corporal investigations by working with theater, contemporary dance and contemporary circus companies. These many collective experiences enabled her to refine her own choices and to explore on-stage performance, thereby allowing her to forge a singular presence before the public.

After passing through many by ways, Emilie Lesbros decided to concentrate on solo expressions, occasionally accompanying herself at the piano, the bass or the violin. These solos, which go beyond simple sound performances, blend finely melodic compositions with moments of pure improvisation. Her music exudes strong theatrical and poetic elements in a tight-rope-balanced equilibrium between humor and seriousness. Like an intimate and zany self-portrait, or world-portrait…! Her first solo album, “Attraction terrestre,” was released on May 23, 2011 by DFragment Music/Full Rhizome.

She is currently working on her new album under Miss Sorbsel, a new rock recording, she is the lead singer of Single Room with Julia Kent (cello and electronic) and Rafaelle Rinaudo (electric harp) for an eccentric Pop music.

Singer, composer, improviser, and bandleader, Emilie Lesbros will perform on March 12th at The Nuyorican Poets Cafe to celebrate the release of her EP, “Miss Elie Sorbsel Sings Emilie Lesbros”.  Her band includes JJ Jungle(bass), and Hassan Hurd(drums) from the revolutionary Oakland hip hop group, The Coup, and Christopher “Zumbi” Richards(trombone). Featuring a guest appearance by the Coup’s charismatic front man, Boots Riley, who will perform several songs with Elie Sorbsel’s band and discuss his screenplay, “Sorry To Bother You”.

“As a singer, [Emilie Lesbros] combines the intimate lyricism and visceral power of music with the freedom and experimental potential of improvisation, creating a new musical language that is direct and authentic but also universal and dynamic…” – All About Jazz

Guests: violinist and poet Sarah Bernstein, and more surprises…

Emilie Lesbros EP Release Party
Nuyorican Poets Cafe
236 E 3rd St, New York, NY 10009
March 12, 2015 @ 9 PM
Tickets + Info