Adele Bertei

Adele Bertei is an American singer, songwriter, and writer born in 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio. She achieved professional recognition in the 1970s as a member of the no wave ensemble the Contortions and for establishing the ensemble the Bloods. Her recording career includes the tracks “Button Up” (1981) and “Build Me a Bridge” (1983), the latter produced by Thomas Dolby. She achieved professional recognition for her performance on the track “Hyperactive!” (1984) by Thomas Dolby and for collaborating with Jellybean Benitez on the track “Just a Mirage” (1988). Bertei released the debut solo studio recording Little Lives (1988), which featured the track “Little Lives, Big Love” (1988). She provided backing vocals for artists including Tears for Fears and Blondie. Her discography includes the memoir Twist: An American Girl (2023) and the book No New York: A Memoir of No Wave and the Women Who Shaped the Scene (2026).