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Leila (music producer)

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Leila
Background information
Birth nameLeila Arab
Also known asGrammatix,[1] Little Miss Specta
Born (1971-09-03) 3 September 1971 (age 53)[2]
Tehran, Pahlavi Iran[2]
OriginLondon, England[2]
GenresElectronic
Occupation(s)Producer, DJ
Years active1993-present
LabelsRephlex Records, Warp, XL Recordings
Websitewarp.net/artists/91393-leila

Leila Arab (Persian: لیلا عرب, born in 1971), professionally known as Leila, is an Iranian-born record producer and DJ based in London, England. She has released music on the labels Rephlex, XL and Warp.[3] She has also worked extensively with Icelandic singer Björk.[4]

Biography

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Arab was born in Pahlavi Iran and spent part of her childhood there.[5] Her family fled to London following the Iranian Revolution in 1979.[6] She became interested in DJing and keyboards, and left college to perform with singer Björk in 1994, later working with her as a sound engineer and live mixer.[5] She met Richard D. James while both were on tour with Björk, and both James and Grant Wilson-Claridge suggested she release her solo recordings on their label Rephlex Records.[7]

In 1998, Leila released her debut album, Like Weather, on Rephlex.[8] In 2000, she released Courtesy of Choice on XL Recordings.[9] Ben Thompson of The Telegraph referred to these releases as "two collections of spooky electronic soul which [...] established her as an integral member of the Nineties' golden generation of British writer-producers."[6]

After a hiatus following the death of her parents, she released Blood Looms and Blooms in 2008 on Warp.[10] It included vocal contributions from Terry Hall and Martina Topley-Bird.[11] In 2009, she contributed a cover of an Aphex Twin song, "Vordhosbn", to the Warp20 (Recreated) compilation album.[12]

In 2012, she released her fourth LP U&I on Warp.[13] In 2015, she released a collaborative EP with Zebra Katz, titled Nu Renegade, on ZFK Records.[14]

Discography

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Albums

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EPs

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Singles

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  • "Don't Fall Asleep" (1997)
  • “Space, Love" (1998)
  • "Feeling" (1998)
  • "Sodastream" (1999)
  • "Mettle" (2008)
  • "Deflect" (2008)
  • "(Disappointed Cloud) Anyway" (2011)

References

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  1. ^ "Leila Arab". British Council. 12 October 2005. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Dalton, Stephen (31 January 2012). "A talented diaspora presents a new kind of Iranian music". The National. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  3. ^ Saxelby, Ruth (8 May 2015). "Zebra Katz And Leila Debut Snarling "You Tell Em" Video". The Fader. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  4. ^ Savvides, Alexandra (19 September 2008). "Leila interview by Alexandra Savvides". Cyclic Defrost. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b Bush, John. "Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  6. ^ a b Thompson, Ben (5 July 2008). "Postcards from the planet Leila". The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  7. ^ Warwick, Oli. "Label of the month: Rephlex". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  8. ^ Cardew, Ben (24 January 2017). "The 50 Best IDM Albums of All Time (2/5)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  9. ^ Turner, Luke (2012). "Leila - U&I - Review". BBC Music. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  10. ^ Padilla, Sean (3 August 2008). "Leila: Blood, Looms and Blooms". PopMatters. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  11. ^ Lynskey, Dorian (3 July 2008). "Leila, Blood, Looms and Blooms". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  12. ^ Breihan, Tom (1 July 2009). "Warp20 Box Set Tracklist Revealed". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  13. ^ Gilard, Stephane (3 February 2012). "Leila - U&I". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  14. ^ Rosario, Richy (10 December 2015). "Premiere: Jump Into Zebra Katz's Mind Twisting World In the Video For "Nu Renegade"". Vibe. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
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