Sister Bliss

Sister Bliss

Sister Bliss in 2008
Background information
Birth name Ayalah Deborah Bentovim
Born 30 December 1970
London, England
Genres House, psychedelic trance, progressive house, electronica, trip hop, chill-out, pop, electro
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, record producer, DJ, keyboardist, pianist, composer
Instruments Piano, synthesizer, keyboard
Associated acts Rollo Armstrong, Jamie Catto, Maxi Jazz, Faithless, Dido

Sister Bliss (real name Ayalah Deborah Bentovim, born 30 December 1970) is a British keyboardist,[1] record producer, DJ, composer and songwriter. In the studio she is best known for her work with Rollo Armstrong, particularly as part of Faithless.

Career

Sister Bliss is the daughter of Arnon Bentovim. She started music at the age of five, when she learned how to play the piano. She eventually moved on to the violin, saxophone and then bass.

Faithless

Sister Bliss formed Faithless in 1995 with Rollo, Jamie Catto and Maxi Jazz. Bliss constructed most of the music of Faithless herself electronically, but also played the piano, violin, saxophone and bass guitar. Various others have been members and collaborators over the years including Zoë Johnston and, frequently, Rollo's sister Dido, who began her musical career providing backing vocals for the band. Faithless toured extensively, and while Rollo preferred to stay in the studio, Sister Bliss could be seen on stage with Maxi Jazz. Faithless enjoyed a 17-year career, that included 7 albums, including two number ones, and six top 10 singles. To date, Faithless have sold in excess of 15 million records worldwide and have played live to millions across the world.

She released a two-disc compilation entitled Headliners: 02 in 2001.[2]

On 10 September 2006 she gave birth to a son named Nate. The track "Nate's Tune" found on the Faithless album To All New Arrivals is dedicated to him. Later on, Faithless founded their own record label called Nate's Tunes.[3]

She released Nightmoves[4] on 14 July 2008.

Post Faithless

Following Faithless' retirement from touring in April 2011, she has concentrated on different projects. She presents a weekly show on Ministry of Sound Radio at 7pm on Friday evenings.[5]

Sister Bliss has collaborated with Dido, Boy George, Cat Power, Robert Smith (The Cure), The Temper Trap and Example amongst others. A gifted musician and composer, Sister Bliss has written music for film, TV and theatre. Credits include 2012ʼs film Knife Fight starring Rob Lowe, and directed by 2-times Oscar winner, Bill Guttentag, commissions for Sex & The City 2, Danny Boyleʼs The Beach, acclaimed British film The Hide, Crossing The Line and popular TV drama Life Begins. For theatre, Bliss has written music for The Black Album and The Emperor Jones at The National Theatre in London, as well as composing an original piece for the London Sinfonietta, which was performed at Fuse Festival, UK.

Inspired by her love for discovering new music through her radio show and DJ sets, 2013 will see Sister Bliss launch her own label: Junkdog Records. An outlet for signing new music she believes in, Junkdog already has a busy schedule of new artists and exclusive originals from the lady herself.

The 'Faithless Sound System' – a stripped down live act featuring a live PA from Maxi Jazz, DJ set from Bliss and percussion – has appeared at a number of festivals worldwide since the full Faithless band's split. The sets are typically one hour or less in duration.

She has occasionally appeared at medium-sized clubs in the UK in recent years, often as a headline DJ act playing sets of house music.

Junkdog Records is her current record label, which has released Sister Bliss solo singles, her remixing of others' tracks and also independent artists.[6]

On 31 May 2013, she reunited with Maxi Jazz for a Faithless live PA and DJ set at the Electric Brixton nightclub in London. The 1,500 capacity event was in aid of the youth academy for Crystal Palace football club.[7] A similar arrangement of her DJing house tracks between Faithless songs featuring Maxi Jazz on live vocals, was performed at a festival in the United States in March of the same year.[8] The Brixton Electric gig was repeated on 6 June 2014 and was described as an "annual fundraiser", indicating that it will continue to be a once-yearly event.

She released the mid-tempo house track Dancing Home under the name of 'Bliss' in 2014. Featuring vocalist Janne Schra, it was remixed by the artists Tuff City Kids and Yoon.

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

  1. ↑ Pauletta, Michael (21 November 1998). "Dance Trax". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "Sister Bliss – Headliners: 02 (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 12 June 2003. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  3. ↑ "Nate's Tunes". Beatport. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  4. ↑ "Music – Review of Sister Bliss – Nightmoves". BBC. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ "Interview – Sister Bliss: On Faithless, dirty bass music and never saying never". TNT Magazine. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  7. ↑ The Electric Brixton presents Faithless Live PA and DJ Set – Skiddle.com
  8. ↑ Faithless at Ultra Music Festival, Miami 16.03.2013 – Soundcloud
  9. ↑ "Sister Bliss – Future Pulse / The Future Is Now (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  10. ↑ "Sister Bliss – Cantgetaman Cantgetajob (Life's A Bitch) (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  11. ↑ "Sister Bliss – Oh! What A World (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  12. ↑ "Sister Bliss – Bad Man (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  13. ↑ "Sister Bliss Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 30 December 1970. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
  14. ↑ "Sister Bliss Feat. John Martyn – Deliver Me (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-07-28.

External links