Zaz
Zaz in 2014
Zaz in 2014
Background information
Birth nameIsabelle Geffroy
Born (1980-05-01) 1 May 1980 (age 43)
OriginTours, Indre-et-Loire, France
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years active2001–present
LabelsPlay On
Websitewww.zazofficial.com

Isabelle Geffroy[1] (born 1 May 1980), known professionally as Zaz, is a French singer and songwriter who mixes jazz, French variety, soul and acoustic. She is known for her single "Je veux", taken from her self-titled debut album, released on 10 May 2010.[2] Worldwide Zaz has sold over 5 million albums, including 2 million outside France.[3]

Early life

Zaz was born in Tours, France. Her mother was a Spanish teacher, and her father worked for an electric company. In 1985, she entered the Conservatoire de Tours with her sister and her brother, attending courses from the ages of 6 to 11. She studied music theory, specifically the violin, piano, guitar, and choral singing. In 1994, she moved to Bordeaux. In 1995, she took singing lessons and played sports for a year in Bordeaux. In 2000, she won a scholarship from the regional council, which allowed her to join a school of modern music, the CIAM (Centre for Musical Activities and Information) of Bordeaux. Her musical influences included 'Four Seasons' by Vivaldi, jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, and other singers such as Enrico Macias, Bobby McFerrin, and Richard Bona, as well as African, Latin, and Cuban rhythms. In 2006, she moved to Paris.

Career

Zaz performing with Benoit Simon at the TFF Rudolstadt festival in 2011

In 2001, she started her singing career in the blues band "Fifty Fingers". She sang in musical groups in Angoulême, especially in a jazz quintet.[4] She became one of the four singers of Izar-Adatz (Basque for "Shooting Star"), a variety band which consisted of sixteen people with whom she toured for two years, especially in the Midi-Pyrenees and the Basque Country. She worked in the studio as a backing singer in Toulouse and performed with many singers, including Maeso, Art Mengo, Vladimir Max, Jean-Pierre Mader, and Serge Guerao.

In 2011, Zaz won an EBBA Award. Every year the European Border Breakers Awards (EBBA) recognize the success of ten emerging artists or groups who reached audiences outside their own countries with their first internationally released album in the past year.

In May 2010, French magazine Télérama announced: "Rumor has swelled in recent weeks: Zaz is an extraordinary voice, and she will be the revelation of the summer!".[5] On 10 May 2010, Zaz released her first album. It contains songs she wrote ("Trop sensible") and co-composed ("Les passants", "Le long de la route", "Prends garde à ta langue", "J'aime à nouveau", "Ni oui ni non"). Kerredine Soltani produced the album on the label "Play On" and wrote and composed the hit single "Je veux". The pop singer Raphaël Haroche wrote her songs "Éblouie par la nuit", "Port Coton" and "La fée". In 2010, she signed a contract for her tours with Caramba and publisher Sony ATV. She was invited to make several television appearances (such as Taratata or Chabada) and was featured in several programs on the radio. On Sunday 6 October 2013, Zaz appeared on BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show in London and sang "Je veux" live.

Zaz performing at the Royal Albert Hall, London on 31 March 2022
Zaz (Paris Tour) in Brest in 2016.

Zaz then toured France (Paris, La Rochelle, Montauban, Saint-Ouen, Chateauroux, Landerneau, Fécamp...), performed at the Francofolies of Montreal (Canada), and sang in Monthey (Switzerland), Brussels, Berlin, and Milan. In autumn Zaz topped the charts in Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria. Matthieu Baligand, her manager and producer at Caramba Entertainment, explained to Libération: "There's a lot about her right now and people want to see her tour... But despite the demand, it seems preferable for her to begin touring in fifty small places, which will make her more credible. Zaz is a popular, intuitive artist, who is familiar with music, who can sing, but doing a quality show is something else (...)." In November 2010, the debut album Zaz became double platinum and she was awarded "Revelation Song" by the Académie Charles Cros. Zaz also won the European Border Breakers Award: she was named the French artist most played abroad in 2010. According to a survey published by L'Internaute, Zaz was the most popular French singer in the 2010 ranking.[6]

She is also featured on the song "Cœur Volant" for the soundtrack of the 2011 film, Hugo. Her live CD and DVD Zaz live tour Sans Tsu Tsou was revealed.

Her song "Eblouie Par La Nuit" was featured in the 2013 American neo-noir crime thriller, "Dead Man Down".

In 2012, Zaz went on tour and held concerts in various countries around the world including Japan, Canada, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Czech Republic (Colours of Ostrava), Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Turkey, among other countries.[7]

With her album Paris she won the 2015 Echo award for best international female rock/pop artist.[8]

In 2016, Zaz was invited to perform in Zacatecas City, Mexico as part of the Festival Cultural Zacatecas.[9]

In September 2018, Zaz released "Qué vendrá", the first track from an upcoming album titled Effet miroir ("Mirror Effect"). The track's title and chorus are in Spanish.[10]

In 2019 Zaz took a career break in order to, "look after myself...There has to be a balance because it's Isa [a contraction of her real name] who feeds Zaz, not Zaz who feeds Isa."[11] In October 2021 Zaz released her fifth studio album, Isa.

In September 2023, Zaz performed Lucienne Delyle's "Mon amant de Saint Jean" at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup in the Stade de France.[12]

Philanthropy

In 2011, Zaz joined the Les Enfoirés charity ensemble.

Zaz created the project Zazimut to "develop and promote projects for a society more respectful of life in all its forms". Since 2017 Zazimut has been one of the joint organisers of the annual Crussol Festival which aims to "raise awareness of building together a more sustainable, happy and supportive society."[13]

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Work Category Result Ref.
2014 World Music Awards Herself World's Best Female Artist Nominated
World's Best Live Act Nominated
Zaz World's Best Album Nominated
Recto Verso Nominated
"Si" World's Best Song Nominated
"On Ira" Nominated
World's Best Video Nominated
Žebřík Music Awards Paris Best International Album Nominated [14]
2015 Herself Best International Live Nominated

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak positions Certifications
FRA
[15] 		AUT
[16] 		BEL
(FL)
[17] 		BEL
(WA)
[18] 		CAN
[19] 		GER
[20] 		NLD
[21] 		POL
[22] 		SPA
[23] 		SWI
[24]
Zaz 1 12 51 1 200 3 56 1 93 10
Recto Verso
  • Released: 13 May 2013
  • Label: Play On, Jo & Co, Parlophone
  • Formats: CD, CD+DVD, LP, digital download
 2 4 16 3 16 2 73 5 21 1
Paris
  • Released: 10 November 2014
  • Label: Jo & Co, Play On, Warner
  • Formats: CD, CD+DVD, LP, digital download
 2 4 8 2 9 5 54 2 17[A] 3
Effet miroir
  • Released: 16 November 2018[36]
  • Label: Warner, Play On, Jo & Co
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
 5 18 16 9 43 3 63 25 25 5
Isa
  • Released: 22 October 2021
 2 10 15 4 — 10 — 24 48 5

Box sets

Title Details Peak positions
FRA
[15] 		SPA
[23]
Recto verso / Zaz
  • Released: 2 June 2014[37]
  • Label: Warner
  • Format: CD
 48 —
Coffret 4 albums
  • Released: 28 June 2019[38]
  • Label: Warner
  • Format: CD
 — 56
Effet miroir / Recto Verso
  • Released: 7 August 2020[39]
  • Label: Warner
  • Format: CD
 — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
FRA
[15] 		BEL
(FL)
[17] 		BEL
(WA)
[18] 		CAN
[19] 		POL
[22] 		SPA
[23] 		SWI
[24]
Sans tsu tsou: Live Tour
  • Released: 5 December 2011[40]
  • Label: Play On, Jo & Co, Parlophone
  • Formats: CD, CD+DVD
 24 — 27 — 17 — —
Sur la route
  • Released: 30 October 2015[42]
  • Label: Warner
  • Formats: CD+DVD, digital download
 4 36 10 48 18 71 9
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
FRA
[15] 		AUT
[16] 		BEL
(FL)
[17] 		BEL
(WA)
[18] 		GER
[20] 		SWI
[24]
"Je veux" 2010 34 16 34 2 22 23 Zaz
"Le long de la route" 62 — —[B] 16 — —
"La fée" 2011 40 — —[C] 7 — —
"Éblouie par la nuit" 13 — —[D] 34 — —
"Cette journée" 2013 — — — —[E] — — Recto Verso
"On ira" 12 74 —[F] 16 47 15
"Comme ci, comme ça" — — —[G] —[H] — —
"Si" 34 — —[I] —[J] — —
"Gamine" 2014 169 — — —[K] — —
"Paris sera toujours Paris" 48 — —[L] —[M] — — Paris
"Sous le ciel de Paris" 170 — —[N] — — —
"Champs Élysées" 177 — —[O] —[P] — —
"Si jamais j'oublie" 2015 11 — —[Q] 27 — 43 Sur la route
"Tous les cris les S.O.S." 16 — — —[R] — — Balavoine(s)
"Qué vendrá" 2018 — — —[S] —[T] — — Effet miroir
"Demain c'est toi" — — —[U] — — —
"Nos vies" 2019 — — —[V] —[W] — —
"On s'en remet jamais" — — —[X] — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

Title Year Peak positions Album
FRA
[15] 		BEL
Tip
(WA)
[46]
"L'hymne de nos campagnes 2019"
Tryo featuring Bigflo & Oli, Claudio Capéo, Gauvain Sers, Sylvain Duthu, L.E.J, Vianney and Zaz) 		2019 183 8 XXV ans
"I Dare You (Appelle ton amour)"
(Kelly Clarkson featuring Zaz) 		2020 — 26 Non-album single
"Le jardin des larmes"
(Till Lindemann featuring Zaz) 		2021 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Charity singles

Other charted songs

Title Year Peak positions Album
FRA
[15] 		BEL
(WA)
[18]
"Trop sensible" 2013 52 — Zaz
"Belle" 119 — None
"Demain de bon matin"
(Boulevard des airs featuring Zaz) 		2016 — 43 Bruxelles
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

  1. ^ The Spanish edition of Paris peaked at number 58 in Spain.[23]
  2. ^ "Le long de la route" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 32 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  3. ^ "La fée" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 18 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  4. ^ "Éblouie par la nuit" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 17 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  5. ^ "Cette journée" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 31 on the Walloon Ultratip chart.[45]
  6. ^ "On ira" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 33 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  7. ^ "Comme ci, comme ça" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 26 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  8. ^ "Comme ci, comme ça" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number six on the Walloon Ultratip chart.[45]
  9. ^ "Si" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 36 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  10. ^ "Si" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number three on the Walloon Ultratip chart.[45]
  11. ^ "Gamine" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number seven on the Walloon Ultratip chart.[45]
  12. ^ "Paris sera toujours Paris" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 27 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  13. ^ "Paris sera toujours Paris" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 21 on the Walloon Ultratip chart.[45]
  14. ^ "Sous le ciel de Paris" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 31 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  15. ^ "Champs Élysées" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 18 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  16. ^ "Champs Élysées" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 22 on the Walloon Ultratip chart.[45]
  17. ^ "Si jamais j'oublie" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number three on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  18. ^ "Tous les cris les S.O.S." did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 23 on the Walloon Ultratip chart.[45]
  19. ^ "Qué vendrá" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number eight on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  20. ^ "Qué vendrá" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 10 on the Walloon Ultratip chart.[45]
  21. ^ "Demain c'est toi" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 31 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  22. ^ "Nos vies" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 18 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]
  23. ^ "Nos vies" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 22 on the Walloon Ultratip chart.[45]
  24. ^ "On s'en remet jamais" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 45 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[44]

References

  1. ^ "Zaz : de saltimbanque chanteuse de rue... au sommet des charts !" (in French). Purepeople. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  2. ^ "interview et live de Zaz, chanteuse aux actualités A2" (in French). 2424actu. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  3. ^ Goncalves, Julien. "Zaz "très émue" : elle a vendu 5 millions d'albums dans le monde !". Pure Charts. Webedia. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Zaz n'a pas la voix dans sa poche" (in French). Respectmag. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Zaz – chanson". Telerama (in French). Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  6. ^ "Musique: Zaz personnalité préférée de l'année" (in French). Linternaute. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  7. ^ "ZAZ – Bandsintown – Facebook". Facebook.
  8. ^ Brunner, Ula (27 March 2015). "'Die Helene-Fischer-Festspiele haben begonnen'" [The Helene Fischer festival has begun]. RBB online (in German). Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Zaz". Mexico Es Cultura. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  10. ^ Qué vendrá. 7 September 2018.
  11. ^ Vigneault, Alexandre (22 October 2021). "" Je voulais que Zaz meure "". La Presse. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Zaz sous la douche". football.fr. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Un festival éco-citoyen Depuis 2017". crussolfestival.com. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Historie – Anketa Žebřík".
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Discographie Zaz". lescharts.com (in French). Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Discographie Zaz". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  17. ^ a b c "Discografie Zaz" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d "Discographie Zaz" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  19. ^ a b Peak chart positions for albums in Canada:
  20. ^ a b "Suchen nach 'Zaz'" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  21. ^ "Discografie Zaz" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  22. ^ a b Peak chart positions for albums in Poland:
  23. ^ a b c d "Search for: Zaz (Albums)". spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  24. ^ a b c "Zaz". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Les Certifications (Albums – Double Diamant)" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2012". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  27. ^ a b c d "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Zaz)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  28. ^ a b c "Austrian certifications – Zaz" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  29. ^ a b c d e "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Zaz)". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2012 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Les Certifications (Albums – Diamant)" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2013". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2016 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  34. ^ a b c d "French certifications – Zaz" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2015". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  36. ^ "Effet miroir by ZAZ". Apple Music. France. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  37. ^ "Recto verso/zaz – Zaz – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  38. ^ "Zaz Coffret – Zaz – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  39. ^ "Effet Miroir Recto Verso Coffret – Zaz – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  40. ^ "Sans tsu tsou – Live CD + DVD – Zaz – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  41. ^ "Certifications Albums Or – année 2011" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  42. ^ "Sur la route Inclus DVD – Zaz – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  43. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2014". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Zaz – Le long de la route" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Zaz – Le long de la route" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  46. ^ Peak chart positions on the Walloon Ultratip chart:

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