Alice is the performance name of Italian singer-songwriter Carla Bissi, also known as Alice Visconti. She is born in Forlì, Italy, in 1954 and is active from 1965, first appearing as a young talent before adopting the Alice name in the mid-1970s.

Career

She begins recording under her real name with the single Il Mio Cuore Se Ne Va after winning the Castrocaro Music Festival in 1971. In 1975 she switches to the Alice pseudonym and releases her debut album, La Mia Poca Grande Età. Her wider breakthrough comes in 1981 when she wins the Sanremo Music Festival with Per Elisa.

Alice follows that success with a series of singles that become familiar across Europe, including Una Notte Speciale, Il Vento Caldo dell'Estate, Messaggio, Chan-son Egocentrique, Prospettiva Nevski and Nomadi. Albums such as Capo Nord, Gioielli Rubati, Park Hotel, Elisir and Il Sole nella Pioggia chart in continental Europe, Scandinavia and Japan.

In 1984 she represents Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest with I Treni Di Tozeur, a duet with Franco Battiato, a longtime collaborator. Her partnership with Battiato continues later in her career, including Live in Roma, issued in 2016 as her last work with him.

Style and collaborations

Her later work moves through classical, contemporary jazz, electronica and ambient. She works with a wide range of musicians, including Giusto Pio, Roberto Cacciapaglia, Phil Manzanera, Tony Levin, Paolo Fresu, Peter Hammill, Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri, Dave Gregory, Michele Fedrigotti, Mino Di Martino, Danny Thompson, Gavin Harrison, Jakko Jakszyk, Trey Gunn, Mick Karn, Skye and Stefan Waggershausen.

Later activity

She appears in the 2021 live tribute Invito al Viaggio: Concerto Per Franco Battiato. Her studio album Eri con me is followed by a live tour beginning in 2025.