17.11.2008

Biografie: Ring Frei (English)


"Ring frei"
Release: January 2nd, 2009

She's back! Powerful and strong like we know her! After releasing her impressive single "Ring frei" in November LaFee (17) is soon releasing her third album "Ring frei". As the single already promised we can expect an album carrying a very personal résumé of the last three years. "Ring frei" is a reckoning, provocation, calling and announcement! "Ring frei" runs in LaFee's musical history: sharp lyrics haunted by hard guitars. This time LaFee is even more to the point and more self-confident than ever. But also the singer doesn't miss the chance to show us her other, her soft and vulnerable - her light side, like she calls it. But like we said: "Ring frei" is also a calling, an announcement, cause the daughter of a Greek and a German is bound and determined to continue her one-of-a-kind career! "So many great things happened to me during the past three years. I played three tours, have been constantly on the road, won three Echos - you have to imagine that! And even though so many people called me a "One-Hit-Wonder". With "Ring frei" I tell them: "Hey, I'm back! And I'm not done yet! I'm still hungry and I want more! This is the next call. Watch out!"

You should look out for something special. Cause in point of fact LaFee (17) is the most successful German female singer of the moment and her career is very unique and hard to compare. Being no older than 15 years when she started out with her first single "Scabies" (in 2006) she approached something that hasn't been possible for a newcomer in Germany in a long time. Her debut album "LaFee" (2006) went straight to No. 1 and sold over 300.000 units. By today the record went platinum and triple gold. Wherever she appears - her fans go totally crazy. She played three great tours and has been on countless coversheets of the biggest music- and teen magazines. Her success continued with the release of her second album "Now's The Time" (2007), which went gold and platinum - as well. The highlight - career wise - so far: The German music industry honored her in 2007 with two ECHO awards - "Best Female Artist National" and "Best Newcomer"! In 2008 she won the category "Best Female Artist National" again. A career you normally only can dream of - in less than 24 month! Now, her "Ring frei" video counted 150.000 hits just in the first week after put on YouTube.

That's actually what Christina aka LaFee always dreamed of, when she was a little girl, spending her afternoons with her friends in her parent's living room - singing and dancing. "I never wanted to do anything else than singing. I started to "entertain" my family really early. And I remember a conversation I had with my dad. I sat in front of the TV watching a music show. And I asked my dad: How did these people make it and why doesn't someone spot me out?", tells LaFee. "My dad said: Be patient it will happen some day!" Christina patient? No, she started to work for her success. Even being not older than nine she started - with the help of her mum - to send tapes to TV shows. She actually performed in three of them. That was the key! One of her TV performances, Christina was 13, was watched by Bob Arnz, a very successful German producer. And Bob Arnz had a vision: He wanted to build up a young female singer. One that would sing about topics of her generation - bedded in sharp rock music with elements of metal. The most important thing: Arnz wanted a direct, clear language - without phrases - direct to the point - ribald - like the kids talk these days. He immediately saw Christina's unique talent and got in touch with her. She also liked the idea of German lyrics and being direct, open - of talking back. "That's how I am - I say things straight to your face. I always hated people that talk behind your back and are to afraid to talk face to face." A couple of months and a couple of talks later Christina was standing in Arnz' studio in Ibiza, recording.

The debut album "LaFee" showed a manifold young singer: naughty and self-confident, not afraid to speak her mind and full of energy. The music: driven by hard guitars. That's her one side, her dark side. Her light side is shown through her ballades. LaFee: "It was really important for me to show all the emotions in me: Being angry, talking back but also being soft and emotional. I'm not only angry but I'm always real." After a short break in December 2006 (LaFee: "I needed some time off to REALISE what just had happened. And I had to study for my school exams. I really wanted to get my degree!") she and Bob Arnz went back into the studio and recorded "Now's the time". Her voice developed and sounded stronger, wider, and more emotional. You can hear the emancipation of a young girl to a self-confident young woman. Her lyrics - even more ironic and nasty but soulful at the same time. Topic wise both albums have no bondages. "I wanted to sing about things that really happen, that people my age know and even about things that everybody knows but nobody likes to speak about!" So she sings about eating disorders and self-confidence, betrayal and love, family fights and having fun, suicide and even about sexual abuse.

In the beginning of 2008 whole Europe is infected by the LaFee-mania! Fans all over Europe are calling for the 17 years old singer and want their new star to perform in their countries - above all France, Italy and Spain. Recording an English album was the next step and the result was "Shut Up". "Shut Up" is a perfect mixture out of her first and second German album. A mixture that reflects her career and shows the artist and person LaFee best. But, resting on her laurels is really not LaFee's thing. She is a driven artist. So - after traveling all over Europe, LaFee feels it is time to go back into the studio. In late summer of 2008 Arnz and she start working on "Ring frei" in Ibiza. LaFee: "It's been always important to me that all my lyrics are personal, but "Ring frei" is definitely the most personal album so far! I show my whole personality, every peace of me and everything that has happened to me!" You could call "Ring frei" a tribunal -handling the cases "live" and "love" ("Scheiß Liebe") - outspoken, with no political correctness and no shame. LaFee summons her Ex lover ("Was hat sie" / "Eigentlich") and her rival, all smartasses that tried to manipulate her live ("Hand in Hand"), calculating bitches, trying to get everything, but not because of love ("Eiskalter Engel") and all mockers and disbeliever ("Ring frei"). She shows herself being annoyed, hurt, betrayed, bombarded with lies and ignored on the one hand. On the other hand she's self-confident and strong, knowing she's o.k. the way she is and that she's doing the right things ("Ich bin ich"), knowing that she's loved and being thankful for her live ("Danke")! There's no doubt. The emancipation of LaFee is done: Meet a young woman who is standing on her own feet, being in control of and responsible for her live! "Especially the last year was very exciting - with all it's Ups and Downs. I had to face some problems and this really changed me much. I feel strong know and focused and determined. I know what I want and I won't allow people to screw with me", says LaFee. "I really wanted to show that attitude, so I changed my look as well. I wanted a look that says: "I made plans! Watch me know!"

EMI Music Germany will release "Ring frei" on January 2nd 2009 - in May LaFee will start her fourth tour. It's the next lap for the singer and she is eager to excite her fans and to leave the critics behind her - speechless once again!

www.lafee.de
www.myspace.com/emilafee

"Ring frei Tour"
DO 07.05. Siegen, Schlossplatz
FR 08.05. Erfurt, Thüringenhalle
SA 09.05. Stuttgart, Theaterhaus
MO 11.05. Berlin, Columbiahalle
DI 12.05. Dresden, Schlachthof
MI 13.05. Leipzig, Auensee
FR 15.05. Hannover, Capitol
SA 16.05. Osnabrück, Hydepark
MO 18.05. München, Circus Krone
DI 19.05. Erlangen, Stadthalle
MI 20.05. Mannheim, Maimarktclub
FR 22.05. Köln, E-Werk
SA 23.05. Vacha, Vachwerk
MO 25.05. Hamburg, Docks
MI 27.05. Bremen, Aladin
DO 28.05. Trier, Europahalle
FR 29.05. Pratteln, Z7

Discography:

03/06 "Virus" ("Scabies)- Single
06/06 "Prinzesschen" ("Little Princess")- Single
06/06 "La Fee" - Album
09/06 "Was ist das" - Single
11/06 "Mitternacht" ("Midnight") - Single
11/06 "La Fee - BRAVO Edit" - Re-Release Album
11/06 "Secret Live" - DVD

05/07 "Heul doch" ("Shut Up")- Single
07/07 "Jetzt erst recht" ("Now's The Time") - Album
08/07 "Beweg deinen Arsch" ("Come On") - Single
09/07 "La Fee jetzt erst recht mit VIVA" ("LaFee Now's The Time") - Live DVD
11/07 "Wer bin ich" - Single
11/07 "Wer bin ich" - DVD Documentary
11/07 "Jetzt erst recht - BRAVO Edit" ("Now's The Time -BRAVO Edit") - Re-Release Album

05/08 "Shut Up" - Single
06/08 "Shut Up" - Album

21. November 2008 "Ring frei" - Single
02. Januar 2009 "Ring frei" - Album

AWARDS

LaFee "LaFee" CD (2006)
3x Gold in Germany
3x Gold in Austria
1x Platinum in Germany
1x Platinum in Austria
1x Gold in Switzerland

LaFee "Secret Live" DVD (2006)
1x Gold

LaFee "Jetzt erst recht" CD (2007)
1x Gold in Germany
1x Platinum in Germany
1x Gold in Austria

Additional awards:

Echo Award (2007) (Best Newcomer)
Echo Award (2007) (Best Female Artist
National)
Jetix Award (2007) (Hottest singer)
Kids Choice Award (2007) (Best singer)
Silver Bravo Otto (2007) (Best singer)
Echo Award (2008) (Best Female Artist
National)
Golden Bravo Otto (2008) (Best Singer)