Lea Maria Fries, born in 1989 in Switzerland, embarked on her musical journey initially through piano lessons before shifting her focus to voice at the age of 14. She then pursued her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Performance at the Lucerne School of Music from 2009 to 2014, specializing in jazz vocals under renowned professors such as Susanne Abbuehl, Lauren Newton, and Hans Feigenwinter. In 2010, she became the only Swiss and youngest participant to reach the semi-finals of the international jazz vocal competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival, with Quincy Jones on the judging panel. Seeking alternative sounds and inspiration, she moved to Berlin in 2014, where she spent four years exploring textures, compositions, and self-discovery. Subsequently, Fries relocated to France. Today, she resides and works in both Paris and Switzerland. Fries was an esteemed sidewoman in various bands and musical styles early in her career, collaborating with acts such as Dutronc & Dutronc, Eric Legnini, Julien Herné, Macha Gharibian, Empire Of Sound or Louis Matute.Her musical style draws influence from jazz, pop, rock, electronic, and black music, with a particular appreciation for the freedom of improvisation. She blends these diverse influences as a performer, bandleader, composer, and lyricist in her bands et.nu and her jazz quartet 22° Halo, as well as in other projects. As a co-author, she contributed to projects such as Gauthier Toux’s „For A Word,“ Louis Matute’s „Large Ensemble,“ and Macha Gharibian’s trio. With her versatile voice and confident sense of rhythm, groove, and phrasing, she excels in various musical contexts, shining brightly on stage.
