Lizzy Mercier Descloux

The French singer/songwriter Lizzy Mercier Descloux released a half-dozen albums during the late-1970s and 1980s, combining elements of new wave, no wave, and post-punk into a critically-acclaimed sound. She was born as "Martine-Elisabeth Mercier Descloux" in Paris, France, on December 16, 1956. Descloux struck up a romantic relationship with record producer Michael Esteban during her teenage years, and the two became central figures in France's punk community. They later relocated to New York City, where Esteban teamed up with Michael Zilkha to form the label ZE Records. Descloux's first release on ZE Records was the self-titled debut EP of her short-lived performance art project, Rosa Yemen, in 1978. One year later, the label released Descloux's solo debut, Press Color, which combined clashing harmonies, elementary guitar riffs, and dance grooves. The album was a critical success, if not a commercial windfall, and Descloux headed to the Bahamas to record her follow-up release, Mambo Nassau. The record was released in 1981, featuring a newfound emphasis on African rhythms. Her interest in African music intensified throughout the early 1980s, culminating with her third album, Zulu Rock, and its hit single "Mais où Sont Passées les Gazelles?" 1986's One for the Soul was recorded in Brazil with help from jazz legend Chet Baker, who played trumpet on several tracks. After releasing Suspense in 1988, Descloux began focusing on other artistic pursuits, including painting, acting, and writing. Although she recorded several songs for film soundtracks, she never released another album. Diagnosed with cancer in 2003, she fought the disease for a year before passing away on April 20, 2004, at 47 years old.