Credits: ManoSolo13241324 / Wikimedia Commons — CC0.
Once upon a time Zaho de Sagazan, an artist who, instead of just racking up hits on stage, first put on an apron to bring smiles to nursing homes. Yes, before getting France dancing with La Symphonie des éclairs, she was washing the bottoms of grandpas and grandmas — and she tells the story with a tenderness that is almost disarming.
Behind the Scenes: An Unusual Caregiver
Zaho, with the disarming honesty we know her for, looks back on her days as a caregiver. “One of the greatest experiences of my life,” she says simply. Working in nursing homes? For her, it meant “giving every ounce of energy for a smile.” It’s with that same energy that she now takes the stage, but she is the first to say that performing is, in the end, “child’s play” compared with the selflessness of her former colleagues.
While some might easily get swept up by the lights, Zaho keeps one foot firmly planted in reality. “I make a lot of money, I’m applauded every day… but there’s something disproportionate about it,” she admits. And yes, she is fully aware that the real heroes are the ones who are not in the spotlight.
Between Hypersensitivity and Clarity
Originally from Saint-Nazaire, Zaho de Sagazan — or Zaho Mélusine Le Moniès de Sagazan (yes, all of that!) — was born into a family where art ruled. The youngest of five siblings, she turned to music as a teenager, a time when, let’s be honest, many would have settled for complaining about the world. But Zaho chose to turn her emotions into music, finding in the piano an outlet far more elegant than the cries of a rebellious teen.
At just 24, she already masters the art of self-deprecation while remaining deeply human. Between two sold-out shows, she even talks about her wish to go back to singing for nursing home residents. After all, that’s where she learned to give without expecting anything in return. For a young artist on the rise, that says a lot about her clear-eyed perspective.
A Meteoric Rise, But With Her Head Screwed on Straight
Since the release of her album in 2023, Zaho has been electrifying the French electro-chanson scene. Her songs, halfway between melancholy and rebellion, earned her four Victoires de la Musique in 2024 — no small feat! And yet, if you’re looking for a diva, you’ll be disappointed. Zaho is more the “chill in Nantes with my best friend” type. No bling, no grandiosity. Her biggest dream, to date? To experience love. Yes, we’re not making this up: “I’ve never experienced love, and I’m eagerly waiting for it,” she admits in an interview. If that’s not humility incarnate…
A Star Who Never Loses Sight Of What Matters
You might think that with so much success, she’d eventually get swept away. But no. Zaho de Sagazan stays true to herself, to her values, to her loved ones. And in an industry where everything seems to move too fast, she takes the time to applaud those who work far from the spotlight. So yes, she’s on stage, but it’s in life’s wings that she draws all her strength.
Zaho, with her flashes of brilliance and disarming smile, is becoming an essential star. But one who, all the same, keeps her feet firmly on the ground. And that’s rare. So what more can be said, except that we can’t wait to see where her path leads her… maybe to love, who knows?