3 French women singers worth knowing

Ça va les gars? As some of you already know, I've been living in the French-speaking area of Belgium for a few months now, and before that, I've had a France detour too. Although my relationship with the language has always been on-and-off, music has lately been a great source to improve my skills. So here you go, 3 French-speaking singers - all women, girl power mode on - that I find both musically good and useful for language practice. Will they tempt you into a French course? Peut-être - wink wink.

Zaho de Sagazan

With her unique mix of electronics and gentle ballads, Zaho de Sagazan has been this year's revelation in my playlist. Her latest album La Symphonie des Éclairs (2024) unveils the talent of a peculiar performer. An inventive, creative, experimental, original mélange of influences and genres spanning from synth sounds, chanson française, and 80s electro beats. Cherry on top, her voice and language. In this case, French (and even some German!) really adds the missing touch. She plays with words, and that usually makes me tomber amoureuse. The album is a futuristic journey through her universe - as the cover suggests. It feels like a trip between the clouds and the stars - melancholically seductive and dreamy, but also tense and rough, like watching a movie. She can pull off such a musical variety that I think it's rare to find. Bonne écoute!

Poupie

Leaning towards some more trappish and urban pop sound, Poupie is another multilingual singing artist. She sings in French, English, and Spanish and shows it all off in her album Enfant Roi. A scratchy voice giving a little rough touch to her reggae beats + slow piano pieces combo, and another good lyricist who knows what she's about. Vue Sur la Mer is the little hymn of my young-girl-abroad life, but the whole record, as the title says, is played on the duality between kid and king. Innocence and playfulness on one side, life responsibility and duty on the other. All reflected in the music, ranging from upbeat pop to more introspective tracks.

Suzane

At the intersection of electronic, urban pop and socially engaged lyrics, Suzane is also very attentive to the visuals in her videos. Her style has been labeled as electro-chanson, and she tackles issues like harassment, gender equality and societal pressure in her texts. Ironic and provocative, she's one of the French artists who are making their way through the contemporary music scene. You can enjoy her catchy beats while singing about our planet dying. That's the vibe.

I have a soft spot for Poupie and Zaho, but Suzane's witty and bold style surely has something. And you? What's your favorite? Have you already picked up your French course book to sing along? À la prochaine!