Biography

MisSiss (born Sissy Handler, May 6, 1976) is an Austrian singer-songwriter, co-producer and vocal coach. Born into a musical family, she started to sing in her very early days. Her grandmother’s piano was the very first instrument she fell in love with as soon as she was old enough to reach the keys. Singing and playing around on the piano came very naturally and MisSiss loved to find new melodies and discover new voices. She tried piano lessons, but found that her teacher’s musical taste and teaching system didn’t go well with her expectations. So she just continued playing what she heard.

At the age of eight, MisSiss started classical ballet training, which really influenced her musical development. In addition to the grand Classical Ballet composers, such as Chopin, Tchaikovski, Ravel and Prokoview, two modern ballets influenced her heavily; Astor Piazzolla’s “The 5 Tangos” and “Love songs” - sung by Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick. She really connected with the deep emotions and intensity of soul music.

After her grandfather’s death she wrote her first song, which was only the beginning of her various and multi-faceted song collection.

Although she studied classical singing and musical theatre, and enjoyed her first stage role, “Sister Robert Anne” in the show “Nunsense”, MisSiss realized that her everlasting love for soul music was a greater passion. So she set out to work with the best teachers and vocal coaches all over the world and learn how to sing everything she wanted to sing.

In 2006 she brought “Soulistics”, her very first project as a lead singer and songwriter, to life. The music is a refreshing mix of Pop, Soul and neo R&B. By 2008, “Soulistics” had already made it to the finals of the Austrian radio band contest “Ö3 Souncheck”.

“Gospel & More” is another important project, combining traditional and neo gospel styles with soul and pop tunes, which she joined in 2006.

With Ingrid Diem and Barbara Fichtenbauer, MisSiss created “Voicedimensions”, a new form of vocal coaching for singers in Austria, in 2008.

Without a doubt, her biggest success began in 2009, when “Sissita’s Soul Tangos”, an incredible world music project with producer Ariel Gato from Buenos Aires, was born. They combined forces and released an extraordinary first album in 2010 in Argentina and Austria. The music is a beautiful mix of Soul and Tango with much respect for both styles. The album was produced and arranged in Buenos Aires, written and sung by MisSiss and recorded in Buenos Aires and Vienna. Live concerts in Argentina, Uruguay, Austria and Europe followed directly after the album was released.

MisSiss is endorsed by the legendary American Microphone brand “Audio Technica” in Austria.