Nadja Benaissa (born April 26, 1982 in Frankfurt am Main) is a German singer, songwriter and occasional actress, who rose to fame as one of the founding members of the pop group No Angels. In 2005 she also launched a career as a solo artist, signed a deal with Universal Records. Encouraged to perform soul, and R&B music with lyrics in German language after a 2001 participation in the Sisters Keepers project’s single “Liebe & Verstand” (released by an all-star cast of female Afro-German musicians), Benaissa decided to focus on writing German lyrics only. As a result she released her first solo single, “Es Ist Liebe”, produced by Tino Oac, in September 2005. The Motown inspired song received a positive reception from music critics, but failed to chart on the German Top 50.
In fall 2005 Benaissa went on tour as supporting act for Simply Red. Afterwards she prepared the release of her second single “Ich Hab Dich”, which was chosen to represent Hesse on the 2nd Bundesvision Song Contest. Nadja eventually finished fourth with 104 points, while the single entered a moderate #36 on the German singles chart. Two weeks later Schritt Für Schritt saw its minor succeeded release. In June 2006 Nadja participated into another non-profit-making aid project, when she provided vocals for a Fury in the Slaughterhouse cover, “Won’t Forget These Days”, released over the course of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Although Benaissa was finishing touches on her yet-to-be-titled second studio album with producers DJ Release, Audiotreats and Monroe and preparing its release for February 2007, the singer decided to shelve upcoming plans for her solo career in favour of a reunion of the No Angels in early 2007. However, according to her official Myspace she’s looking for a release when everything around the band has become “calmer” …
On April 11th she was arrested because of the urgent suspicion that she had sexual intercourse with three people without telling them that she was HIV-positive. At least one person later tested HIV-positive. In case of a conviction she will have to spend up to ten years in prison on the charge of grievous bodily harm. |
