Taleesa

Taleesa, born Emanuela Gubinelli (also known under the alias Teleesa), first gained recognition as Marina Lai: in 1977 she won the Castrocaro Festival. The win was followed by many radio and TV appearances and the release of several successful 45s. She also lent her voice to TV advertising jingles, including one for Postal Market.

In 1982 she entered the Sanremo festival performing Centomila amori miei. Although it did not reach the final, it achieved solid sales. From the second half of the 1980s, she moved away from Italian pop to focus on dance and techno-dance. In her early years in that scene, she worked mainly as a session singer for various dance projects, including Morena (recording 7 singles), as well as Ann Sinclare and Linda Ross.

In 1990 she co-wrote I Say Yeah and Keep on Jammin for Stefano Secchi. In 1991 she wrote Ocean for Den Harrow and Heart on the Line for Novecento. Around the same years, she sang backing vocals on albums by Cristiano de André (1987 and 2001), Franco Fasano (Un cielo che non sai), Jo Squillo (Movimenti), Patrizia Bulgari (Il bar degli arrivisti) and Papa Winnie (One Blood One Love). In 1987 she also appeared in the backing vocals on Day by Day by Den Harrow.

In 1992 she became Taleesa and was selected by Co. Ro. as the vocalist for Because the Night. The single sold over 700,000 copies in Europe and charted in several countries, including top 6 in France, top 7 in Belgium, top 16 in Germany and top 14 in Austria. Still with Co. Ro., she recorded two more singles: 4 Your Love and There's Something Going On.

In 1993 DJ Stefano Secchi chose her for A Brighter Day, a cover of Una storia importante by Eros Ramazzotti; she also worked with him on We Are Easy to Love. During the summer of 1993 she began a collaboration with Aladino on Make It Right Now, then took part in Brothers in the Space (autumn/winter 1993–1994) and Call My Name.

In autumn 1994, Taleesa started her solo career and released I Found Luv. In December 1994 she participated in the production of the Christmas track Radio Deejay 4 Christmas – Song for You. In spring 1995 she released Let Me Be, often regarded as one of her best-known songs, followed by Burning Up in summer 1995. Falling in Love, her last single released in Italy, came out in 1996; from then on, she recorded mainly for foreign markets, especially Brazil.

In 2000 she began collaborating with De La Cruz, recording five tracks: Listen To My Heart (2000), My Love Is A DJ, There's No Right (2002), In My Mind (2003) and Where You Belong. These releases marked a shift in sound towards trance. In 2003 she recorded her last single as Taleesa, Over You, and in the same year recorded The Promise You Made for DJ Stefy.