Raphaël (France)

Born on November 7, 1975, in the Parisian suburb of Boulogne, Raphael Haroche emerged as France's emotive and artful contemporary pop singer, songwriter, and actor. His Russian father and Argentinean mother raised him in a multicultural household that introduced a broad spectrum of musical expression. Early affinity for pop of the 1980s drew him toward David Bowie, Bob Dylan, and the French rock group Noir Désir. Before committing to guitar, the young musician tried his hand at sax, piano, and early sampling technology.

University studies in law gave way to full-time writing once he left academia. EMI offered a record deal when Haroche reached age 24. His debut, Hotel de l'Univers, appeared in 2001 and received modest notice. The subsequent tour proved uneven because of limited stage experience, yet he secured the Victoires de la Musique Award for Best Newcomer. La Realite followed in 2003, earned favorable response, and moved 160,000 copies.

Mainstream breakthrough arrived with 2005's Caravane, which drew strong critical acclaim and became Raphael's first album to reach Billboard's European Top 100. The project collected multiple awards, and its tour generated the live album Résistance à la Nuit: Live 2006. A second live acoustic release, Une Nuit au Chatlet, came in 2007 and paid tribute to classic French singers such as Serge Gainsbourg.

Je Sais Que la Terre est Plate, released in 2008 as his fourth studio album, ascended to the top of the French charts and surpassed 300,000 copies sold. Pacific 231, also listed as his fourth album, arrived late in 2010 and likewise claimed the summit of the French charts. Super-Welter appeared two years later, adopted a boxing-inspired theme, and featured Haroche playing every instrument. Somnambules arrived in 2015, explored childhood themes, and incorporated a children's choir from Paris' Houdon school. His eighth studio album, Anticyclone, followed in 2017 with a guest vocal from Melanie Thierry and the singles "L'Annee la plus chaude de tous les temps" and "Retourner a la Mer."