Born Leslie Feist on February 13, 1976, in Amherst, Nova Scotia, this Canadian singer-songwriter achieved worldwide fame under the mononym Feist. Her tracks have featured in advertisements for global brands and topped music charts. Yet, before becoming an international pop sensation, she took her first steps in Calgary, earning recognition as a prominent figure in alternative music. Read more about her life and career journey on calgary-trend.
Early Life
Leslie was born into an artistic family. Her American father was a professor of visual arts at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, and a noted abstract painter. Her mother, originally from Saskatchewan, studied ceramics.
After the birth of her brother Ben, the family moved from Amherst to Sackville, eventually leading to her parents’ separation. Leslie and her older brother were raised by their mother, first in Regina, Saskatchewan, and later in Calgary. Leslie attended Bishop Carroll High School and an alternative high school there.
Initially aspiring to be a writer, Leslie shifted to music and sang in a youth choir. At age 12, she performed with a 1,000-member dance ensemble during the opening ceremony of the Calgary Winter Olympics. Encouraged by her mother, who borrowed $200 for Leslie’s first demo recording, she began her musical journey. However, the loan’s repayment caused some familial tension. At 17, Leslie left home.
Band Membership
Feist’s professional music career began in 1991 at age 15, when she co-founded and became the lead vocalist of Calgary punk band Placebo. The group won a local Battle of the Bands competition and headlined the Infest Festival in 1993.
However, struggling with the band’s loud sound, Leslie left in 1996 and moved to Toronto, taking a six-month break from music to heal damaged vocal cords. Later, she joined Noah’s Arkweld as a bassist, despite never having played bass before. She also became the rhythm guitarist for indie rock band By Divine Right and played live with Bodega, though not as an official member.
Launching a Solo Career
In 1999, Feist released her debut solo album, Monarch, funded by a Canadian government grant. That same year, she moved in with her friend Merrill Nisker, better known as Peaches, an edgy electro-rock artist. Feist collaborated with Peaches, gaining connections with Canadian producer Chilly Gonzales. Together, they relocated to Europe and eventually settled in Paris.
In 2001, Feist self-produced The Red Demos, a collection of seven songs recorded at home, though it was never commercially released. That year, she also joined Toronto indie rock band Broken Social Scene, contributing vocals to several tracks.
Breakthrough Albums
Feist recorded her second album, Let It Die (2004), in Paris. Combining pop, folk, indie, electronica, and Latin influences, the album received critical acclaim, winning the Juno Award for Best Alternative Album. With both original songs and innovative covers, Let It Die showcased her vocal prowess and established her as a versatile artist.
Her next album, The Reminder (2007), elevated her to pop stardom, debuting atop Canadian charts and earning four Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. The album spawned hits like “1234,” featured in an iPod Nano commercial, and “My Moon My Man,” used in an LG phone ad. Feist’s work also garnered 11 Juno Awards, including two Artist of the Year titles, and achieved Gold certification in the U.S.
Collaborations and Continued Success
Feist has collaborated with artists like Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience, DJs Tiësto and Morgan Page, and indie rock bands Wilco and Grizzly Bear. In 2011, her fourth album, Metals, recorded in Northern California, further cemented her reputation, earning three Juno Awards in 2012.
Her 2017 album, Pleasure, took on a political edge, addressing issues like Donald Trump’s presidency. In 2021, Feist launched the Multitudes tour across Canada and Germany, performing new songs without releasing a corresponding album.
Personal Life
In late 2019, Feist adopted a two-year-old girl named Tihui. Speaking to CHATELAINE, she shared her long-standing desire for motherhood. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she moved from Los Angeles to Toronto to be closer to family. Despite the challenges of early parenthood, she found inspiration and wrote new songs for Multitudes during this period.
From her punk beginnings in Calgary to her evolution into an indie-pop icon, Feist remains a beacon of artistic integrity and versatility. Her ability to connect with diverse audiences and break musical boundaries has solidified her place as a global music sensation.
