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AlaskaSpanish-Mexican pop and rock singer, DJ
Date of Birth: 13.06.1963
Country:  Mexico |
Content:
Biography of Alaska
Alaska is a Spanish-Mexican pop and rock singer, DJ, music producer, and actress who achieved immense popularity in Spain and Latin America. She was one of the main figures of the cultural movement called "Movida," which emerged after the end of Francisco Franco's dictatorship in Spain. The Movida movement brought together music, visual arts, cinema, and even the fashion world to reveal the true face of society under the dictator's rule and become a driving force behind the revival of the Spanish economy and the emergence of a new national consciousness.
Early Life
Alaska, whose real name is Olvido Gara Jova, was born on June 13, 1963, in Mexico City. Her father, Manuel Gara, was a Spanish man who fled from Franco's regime, while her mother, América Jova, was a Cuban refugee who escaped from Fidel Castro's regime. For the first ten years of her life, Alaska lived in Mexico City, where she developed a passion for comics and TV series like "Star Trek," "Lost in Space," and "I Love Lucy." Her first record purchase was an album by Raphael. In 1973, she moved to Madrid with her parents and grandmother, immersing herself in a completely different life.
Music Career
Alaska became a big fan of Lou Reed, the band T-Rex, and David Bowie, who had the most significant influence on her. She even told her mother that she wanted to be a boy so she could be gay. The emergence of the punk subculture also played a crucial role in shaping the young singer's musical style, and soon she decided to form her own band. Alaska found her first musicians at El Rastro, a flea market in Madrid, where she met Nacho Canut and Carlos Berlanga. In 1977, they formed "Kaka de Luxe," one of the first Spanish rock-punk bands, with Alaska on bass guitar, Nacho Canut, Carlos Berlanga, Fernando Márquez, and Enrique Sierra. In 1979, Alaska, Canut, Berlanga, Ana Curra, and Eduardo Benavente formed the group "Alaska y los Pegamoides," where Alaska first performed as the lead vocalist. After Berlanga left the group due to disagreements, Alaska and Canut formed the popular electro-pop group "Dinarama." In 1982, "Pegamoides" disbanded, and Alaska joined her old friends. Their first album, "Canciones Profanas," was released in 1983. In 1989, Carlos left the group during a tour supporting their last album "Fan Fatal," and Alaska and Canut formed the duo "Fangoria." It is worth noting that "Dinarama" gifted the Spanish pop and rock scene several of the most beautiful songs of its time and was undoubtedly one of the most influential groups in the history of Spanish music. "Fangoria" changed their style, moving towards electronic music in the vein of "Pet Shop Boys" and released several interesting albums. However, despite their fans considering their songs fantastic, Alaska and Canut mainly worked in the studio and had few live performances. During this time, Alaska became very active in supporting the Madrid gay community. Interestingly, despite her somewhat scandalous reputation, in the late 80s, the singer became the host of a children's television program called "La Bola de Cristal."
Acting Career and Activism
Since the early 80s, Alaska has played 13 roles in films and TV series, including a collaboration with Pedro Almodóvar in "Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón," and has worked on soundtracks for numerous Spanish films. Alaska is a staunch opponent of bullfighting and actively collaborates with PETA, an animal rights organization.
