Arlissa

Arlissa is a singer-songwriter born in 1992, raised in Crystal Palace, London, and of half German and half American descent. She is known for pop and R&B-influenced material, and for writing and recording while still at school, during her A-levels.

Early life and background

Arlissa Joann Ruppert begins her career in London, where she grows up in Crystal Palace. She starts writing music while still at school. Her background is described as half German and half American.

Record deals and early releases

At 19, she is signed first to London Records and then to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Her music reaches Roc Nation through a London Records session, leading to a management deal. One of the people involved hears her music and expresses interest immediately, after which she flies to New York the following week to sign.

Her track Hard To Love Somebody attracts the attention of a publisher and is passed on to Nas. After hearing it, Nas asks her to feature on the song, and they record the collaboration together in Los Angeles. Arlissa is the second UK artist to collaborate with Nas, after Amy Winehouse.

Radio play and recognition

Hard To Love Somebody is chosen as Scott Mills’ record of the week on Radio 1 in November 2012. Arlissa is also named among the BBC’s ones to watch for 2013 and appears on the longlist for Sound of 2013.

Singles and later work

Her second single, Sticks & Stones, is released in March 2013. A review in the Daily Star describes it as a fierce pop song and notes her duet with Nas and her distinctive vocal style. She follows it with Into The Light later in 2013, and the song features in several Littlewoods Christmas advertisements.

Her debut album, Battles, remains unreleased in the information given. She also records a cover of Olive’s You're Not Alone, which receives radio play.