The young artist shares her universe in her first EP “Zélie, c’est quoi?”, released on February 24. She tells franceinfo about this brand new experience.
A singer-songwriter for two years, Zélie released her first nine-track EP on February 24. A mix of pop and French variety with an urban touch. She will be in concert at the Badaboum, in Paris, on March 18, to confront the public.
Bathed in French variety from an early age thanks to her father, Zélie has always had a special attraction for music, but her desire to make it her profession came much later. Her passion was dancing: “I did twenty hours a week when I was little, I went to school with flexible hours so I went to school in the morning and I danced in the afternoon”. Her dream, after her baccalaureate, is to become a dancer, but during her final year, the young artist asks herself a lot of questions about her future. “I liked dancing less and less, I knew that I had to go abroad to train as a contemporary dancer, but I didn’t want to leave. confides Zelie. She therefore stops her dance school. Having her afternoons free, she discovers a new passion: writing songs and posting them on social networks.
“You do a thousand jobs at once”
After her baccalaureate, she joined the Florent Musique classes. During her schooling, two years ago, she was spotted by the Low Wood label, with which she signed a contract. A new world awaits her. “I composed a lot for pleasure but I did not visualize what it was like to develop a project and an artistic identity, to make people want to listen to my music. When the label contacted me, it turned everything upside down. I had to take on some responsibilities but that only increased my passion because even the strategy side, marketing, the creation of clips and covers, I love. You do a thousand jobs at once.”
And even if the young singer still lacks a bit of confidence – the competition is tough, you have to stand out – she quickly understands that this world of music is made for her: “VS‘was obvious. Anyway, I don’t know how to do anything else.”
“I was happier when I was more carefree”
After two years of work, Zélie released a EP tinged with nostalgia, a bit surprising when you’re 20 years old. “Nostalgia is my main source of inspiration. I think there is no age to be nostalgic. I am nostalgic for this period when I did not think about my future, my responsibilities as a woman and as an adult. I find that there was a real transition between 19 and 20 years old, a little violent with the Covid. I’m part of a generation that hasn’t been very lucky.” she says. “My songs talk about transitions that I sometimes had a hard time because I was happiest when I was more carefree, when I was going to class or drinking coffee with my friends. Now I’m a bit obsessed with music, there’s a lot of questions that come up, so a lot of angst.”
A recklessness that she finds during evenings with friends. “We party and we drink alcohol to find this carelessness. Nights where I go out with my friends, there’s no anxiety, it’s really timeless moments, you’re not in real life.” And to add: “QWhen we become adults, we lose something but, at the same time, the more we know each other, the more we know what will make us happy. We’re just moving on to another era.” She talks about it in one of her songs, It’s my thing.
Through her EP, Zélie wants everyone, regardless of age and sensitivity, to be able to recognize themselves: “Even less sensitive people can find themselves in the transition, disappointment, joy, sadness, we all go through it. I want to convey something intimate and human that everyone can identify with.”
Inspired by Angèle or Lomepal
Zélie defines her music as being “urban pop” : “What I do is pop, but there is a little more urban than in some more classic pop.” A perfectly logical choice when you know his musical inspirations: “I listen to French-speaking pop like Emma Peters, Angèle, Ben Mazué, and French rap like Disiz, Lomepal or Orelsan.”
Artists who reveal themselves without filter in their songs, like Zélie in her title THANKSthe first of the EP: “I wrote it quickly and in one go, it came from the heart, I didn’t put a filter. JI never thought of writing about wanting to be a singer, getting support, being moved by it. I was quite proud. And that’s the one that made me cry the most, that’s the first time I really felt like myself.”
The young singer has “really looking forward” to perform in front of the Parisian public on March 18: “It’s going to give me a lot of confidence.” His next goal: to perform in Parisian venues such as the Café de la danse and one day experience the adrenaline of touring.
Zélie at the Badaboum, in Paris, on March 18 from 7 p.m.