1. Overview
Clémence Saint-Preux, known professionally as Clémence, is a French singer born in Neuilly-sur-Seine in 1988. The youngest daughter of the renowned composer Saint-Preux, she began her musical journey at an early age, influenced by her artistic family background. Clémence gained significant recognition in France through her high-profile duets, notably with veteran singer Johnny Hallyday in 2000 and later with Jean-Baptiste Maunier in 2005. Her career further progressed with her transition to solo work and her pioneering use of the crowdfunding platform Sellaband to finance her debut album, Mes Jours, released in 2008. Beyond her musical endeavors, Clémence has also ventured into acting, including a role in the 2011 film Perfect Baby.
2. Biography and Early Career
Clémence Saint-Preux's early life was deeply immersed in the arts, setting the stage for her later musical career. Her initial forays into the music industry quickly led to collaborations that brought her widespread recognition.
2.1. Early Life and Artistic Background
Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine on November 29, 1988, Clémence is the youngest daughter of the celebrated composer Saint-Preux and a mother who is both a painter and an author. Growing up in such an artistic environment, she was naturally drawn to music and singing from a young age. She received training in various art forms, including learning to play the piano and guitar, and taking lessons in dance and comedy.
2.2. Musical Beginnings and Early Collaborations
Clémence's musical career began to take shape significantly when she was 12 years old, leading to her first notable collaborations. She met the iconic French singer Johnny Hallyday, who was captivated by her voice. Together, they recorded the song `On a tous besoin d'amourWe all need loveFrench`. This duet achieved considerable success in France, reaching the 4th position on the Top 50 chart in November 2001.
Despite this early success, Clémence' waited until 2005 to gain broader recognition in the music scene. In that year, she formed a high-profile duet with Jean-Baptiste Maunier, who had recently achieved significant success as a lead actor in the film Les Choristes. Their collaboration resulted in the single `Concerto pour deux voixConcerto for two voicesFrench`. This song is an adaptation of her father Saint-Preux's 1969 composition `Concerto pour une VoixConcerto for one voiceFrench` and is notable for its absence of lyrics, focusing instead on vocal performance. While the success of this partnership was considerable, Clémence began to transition towards solo work shortly after.
3. Musical Career Development
Following her successful duets, Clémence began to forge an independent path in her musical career, culminating in the release of her debut album.
3.1. Solo Works and Independent Funding
After gaining recognition through her duets, Clémence ventured into solo releases. In late 2005, she released the single `Sans défenseWithout DefenseFrench`, followed by `La vie comme elle vientLife as it comesFrench` the following year. A significant turning point in her career came on March 18, 2007, when she became the fourth artist to successfully raise 50.00 K USD in "parts" sold on Sellaband, a crowdfunding platform. This achievement provided her with the necessary financial support to begin recording her debut album.
3.2. Debut Album "Mes Jours"
Her first album, titled `Mes JoursMy DaysFrench`, was recorded immediately after securing funding through Sellaband. The album was scheduled for release in France on December 12, 2007. Clémence was actively involved in the album's creation, personally writing three of the fourteen songs featured on the disc. An English version of the album was also released in 2008 under the title Bewitching.
4. Other Activities
Beyond her musical pursuits, Clémence Saint-Preux has expanded her professional endeavors into the realm of acting.
4.1. Acting Career
Clémence has also pursued an acting career, securing roles in film projects. In 2011, she obtained a small role in the movie Perfect Baby, where she portrayed the character of Amy. The film also featured her former duet partner Jean-Baptiste Maunier, alongside actors Deng Chao and Jane March.
5. Personal Life
Clémence Saint-Preux married Joachim Lellouche in March 2017.
6. Discography
Clémence Saint-Preux's discography includes several singles and studio albums released throughout her career.
6.1. Singles
- 2001: `On a tous besoin d'amourWe all need loveFrench` (with Johnny Hallyday)
- 2002: `Un seul mot d'amourOnly one word of loveFrench`
- 2005: `Concerto pour deux voixConcerto for two voicesFrench` (with Jean-Baptiste Maunier)
- 2005: `Sans défenseWithout DefenseFrench`
- 2006: `La vie comme elle vientLife as it comesFrench`
- 2007: `Où es-tuWhere are youFrench`
- 2013: `Sous les Sunlights des TropiquesUnder the Sunlights of the TropicsFrench`
- 2013: Cry Myself to sleep
6.2. Albums
- 2008: Mes Jours [French Version]
- 2008: Bewitching [English Version]