Camille

French pop chanteuse Camille attracted international attention as a member of the acclaimed Nouvelle Vague before resuming her solo career. Born Camille Dalmais in Paris in 1978, she focused on ballet throughout adolescence while developing a passion for bossa nova and American stage musicals. At 16, she performed an original song, "Un Homme Déserté," at a wedding and from that point forward embraced songwriting, channeling influences including '60s folk and '70s soul. While taking vocal lessons Camille began playing Paris jazz clubs, and in 2001 she made her professional acting debut in the film Les Morsures de l'Aube, contributing the song "La Vie la Nuit" to its soundtrack. At the same time her demo tape entered circulation, and upon signing to the Virgin subsidiary Source, she began work on her 2002 debut LP, Le Sac de Filles, a critical and commercial success buoyed by the single "Demeure d'un Ciel." In April 2004 Camille joined producers Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux in Nouvelle Vague, a project dedicated to bossa nova-influenced cover renditions of new wave and post-punk classics. She contributed four lead vocals to the LP, including renditions of the Clash's "The Guns of Brixton" and the Dead Kennedys' "Too Drunk to Fuck," and was a featured performer on the subsequent European tour in support of the album. Camille returned to her solo career in early 2005 with her sophomore effort, Le Fil, which fell just shy of the French Top Ten thanks to the success of its lead single, "Ta Douleur." The disc ended up winning Best New Album of the Year honors at the annual Victoires de la Musique awards, where she also earned the title of Breakthrough Live Act. Days later, Camille issued her third LP, the 2005 concert set Live au Trianon. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide