Leena Maria "Awa" Peisa (born 16 March 1979) is a Finnish keyboard player. Her former bands include Lordi, Punaiset Messiaat and Dolchamar. Currently, she plays in Lordi's ex-drummer's Kita's band "Sampsa Astala & Qma".[1]

Leena Peisa
Awa on stage in 2006
Awa on stage in 2006
Background information
Birth nameLeena Maria Peisa
Also known asLady Awa, Lady Awa De Paysant, Lende Mielihyva
Born (1979-03-16) 16 March 1979 (age 45)
Vantaa, Finland
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Keyboards, synthesizer, vocals
Years active1994–2012, 2018–present

Biography edit

Leena Maria Peisa was born in Vantaa although she spent her teenage years in Porvoo. She has been playing the piano since she was six years old. She took to playing the synthesizer in her teens. Her first band was Punaiset Messiaat which she joined in autumn 1994. While in Punaiset Messiaat she used the stage name "Lende Mielihyvä". Mielihyvä is the Finnish word for pleasure. After Punaiset Messiaat disbanded in 1998, Peisa concentrated on her education and studied Social Studies at the University of Helsinki.

In 2003, she joined the Esperanto band Dolchamar, and in 2005 was invited to join Lordi by drummer Kita to replace the keyboardist Enary.[2] In Lordi, she takes on the persona of an unearthly vampire countess. The name Awa comes from Be Aware. On the band's website she is said to have many other names.[3] Some Greek television channels claim to have videos and photos of the band without stage make-up.[4] On 25 July it was announced through the band's website that she is leaving the band after their concert on 11 August 2012.

In February 2018, Leena joined the Finnish rock band Dingo, replacing former keyboardist Pete Nuotio.

Discography edit

 
Peisa performing in 2010

With Punaiset Messiaat edit

Albums edit

  • Back in Bu$ine$$ (1995)
  • Lemmentykki ('Cannon of Love') (1996)
  • Älä osta; varasta ('Don't buy; steal') (1997)

EPs edit

"Punainen Iktivisto" (1992)

  • Punk on pop ('Punk Is Hip') (1996)
  • Tuu mun luo ('Come to Me') (1996)
  • Hornan hovin häät ('A Wedding at the Abode of Evil Spirits') (1997; includes a horror comic book)

Singles edit

  • Onko tää rakkautta?! ('Is This Love?!') (1996)
  • Oma rotta ('My Own Rat') (1996)

With Dolchamar edit

Albums edit

  • Rebela Sono (The Rebel Sound) (2005)

With Lordi edit

Albums edit

Singles and EPs edit

With Dingo edit

Singles edit

  • Tähtenä taivaalla (2018)

References edit

  1. ^ "Sampsa Astala". sampsaastala.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Bmgfinland.com". Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2008.
  3. ^ Official Lordi Site
  4. ^ Eurovisionclub.com

External links edit

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
2006
(as part of Lordi)
Succeeded by
Preceded by Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest
2006
(as part of Lordi)
Succeeded by