Arlissa (born Arlissa Joann Ruppert) is a singer-songwriter of half German and half American descent, raised in Crystal Palace, London. Arlissa began writing music whilst still at school, studying for her A-levels. At 19 years old she was signed to London Records and then with Jay Z ’s Roc Nation. "I was writing and recording with a friend. He got some people from London Records down to the studio and they offered me a contract the same day. "The label were playing my music to some people at Roc Nation in New York. Joe Brown walked past, heard the music and said on the spot, ‘I want her’. I flew out the next week, met Joe and signed a management deal.” Arlissa’s track Hard To Love Somebody gained attention from a publisher, which eventually was passed on to Nas . After hearing the track Nas approached her to feature on it, he flew Arlissa out to LA in order to record the collaboration in person. On working with Nas, Arlissa said, "The whole experience was completely surreal, my ex was obsessed by Nas, and we used to listen to him all the time." "He just makes you feel so comfortable.” "It wasn’t until I was on the plane home that I suddenly realised, '****, I just did a track with Nas’. It’s been an incredible opportunity." Arlissa is only the second UK artist to collaborate with Nas after Amy Winehouse. Hard To Love Somebody was chosen as Scott Mills’ record of the week on Radio 1 in November 2012. Arlissa was named as one of the BBC’s one to watch for 2013, when she made the longlist for the sound of 2013. Arlissa second single Sticks & Stones was released on 3rd March 2013. The Daily Star gave the track a 9/10, saying “There’s so much more to the Londoner than just fitting into a scene - she's already duetted with Nas, and she doesn't sing like anyone else around. The funky percussion sounds like Sticks & Stones, but ultimately it's just a fierce pop song. She'll definitely stick around.” Arlissa followed up Sticks & Stones with another single, Into The Light, released in November of the same year. It featured on multiple Littlewoods advertisements during Christmas. Her debut album, Battles, is still awaiting a release; a new single, which is a cover of the Olive song You're Not Alone is gaining radio airplay and is set to be released soon.
