THE BACK STORY: Born in Paris to French-Algerian parents, raised in San Francisco, and now residing in New York, the hotly-tipped Lolo Zouaï proudly wears her international heritage on her sleeve. “I see the world as my home. I don’t want to limit myself to one place,” she says of her roots.
That global mindset is clearly reflected in her music – a glorious hybrid of pop, R&B, hip-hop and electro, all delivered in a beautiful bilingual blend of French and English. While there’s nothing new about fusing different cultures in pop music, Zouaï’s greatest strength is the sheer detail of her quixotic approach. Look beyond her infectious pop hooks and glossy, zeitgeist-friendly production and you’ll find plentiful nods to her rich heritage: the lo-fi grittiness of New York, Arabic melodies and the Gallic elegance of Françoise Hardy and Édith Piaf.
Having cut her teeth working behind the scenes (she co-wrote the track ‘Still Down’ for H.E.R.’s Grammy-winning 2018 eponymous debut LP), the 24-year-old songstress is now seizing the spotlight on her own terms. Released last month, her debut album, High Highs to Low Lows, has been receiving rave reviews, and Zouaï’s unique sartorial style has seen her acquire a massive social media following. Indeed, when Zouaï embarked on her first world tour last year, she was greeted each night by young audience members replicating her signature look – big hoop earrings and berets.
An artist with both impeccable style AND substance – Lolo Zouaï is on an inexorable path to global superstardom.
KEY TRACK: Her debut LP’s title track, ‘High Highs to Low Lows’ – a bittersweet pop banger which encapsulates her potent blend of European cool and American grit.
FOR FANS OF: Ariana Grande, AlunaGeorge, H.E.R.
