Jain wins the women's World Cup

Great to hear that Jain's playing at the opening ceremony of the FIFA women's football World Cup.

France is hosting this year's biggest international sporting event, the opening game on June 7 featuring France and South Korea at Parc des Princes.

Hard to imagine a better international representative for France at the event, she'll be in front of one of the biggest audiences in the world. Women's football has been growing massively in popularity recently, and given the success that France enjoyed at the recent World Cup, and their victory when the Worl Cup was hosted by France, the tournament will give the sport another massive platform.

She commented on Facebook: "I’m so proud to be a part of the FIFA Women's World Cup...I’ll be singing for the opening ceremony!!!!!!!

"Supporting inspiring women in football and all around means the world to me, I hope you’ll be watching, supporting them with love."

She explained that her recently-released song Gloria

The singer, who recently played the Coachella festival in California, is in the middle of an international tour promoting her Souldier album that's taken her to Japan, and North and South America as well as all over France. She's got dates at Zénith arenas ahead as well as festivaa dates over the summer at events like Les Eurockéennes, Main Square and Lollapalooza in Paris.

I'm no expert on football by any means, but I'm predicting a home win for Jain.

Jain: Oh Man

A new single from Jain, with Oh Man released as the second single from her Souldier album.

Souldier was released in August, and it showed a confident evolution from her Zanaka debut. That album was a massive success in France and beyond, the first single from her second album - Alright - giving her a massive summer hit in France.

The new single is a bright piece of electro pop with an ethnic feel, instantly memorable and sure to make an impact. I reckon it will continue to raise her profile far beyond France, she certainly deserves to be an international star. She's certainly got the talent, the style and the songs.

Jain continues her bid to conquer the world with live dates across North America this month, and shows in London and Manchester in November. She's back in France for a large-scale tour of the country's arenas from March until June next year, with two shows at the Zénith in Paris on March 20 and 21.

Jain: Gangsta's Paradise

I don't know if Coolio ever anticipated a very polite French electro cover of his rap classic from 1995, but there's something very endearing about Jain's cover.

It was recorded for French radio show Boomerang, broadcast on France Inter.

The cover comes just weeks after Jain released a new single, Alright, her first new track since her debut album Zanaka was a massive seller in France, an album that led to a Victoires de la musique award and a massive tour.

She's got a new album due at the end of August, which she says incorporates hip hop and an oriental theme, and has been playing some of the new numbers live.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Jain's the next French act to make inroads in the UK and USA following the success of Christine and the Queens. She's got a strong style and an obvious international appeal, and any French act that can take on an urban piece like this and turn it into something very charming and French flavoured must have a fearless talent.


 

Victoires de la Musique 2017 winners

Friday night saw the big annual showcase for French music held at the Zénith in Paris and screened
around the country.

This year's big winner was Jain, who picked up two awards, best female artist and best video for Makeba.

Her live performance of the song Makeba was perhaps the highlight of the show.

Jain had been nominated in the breakthrough album category last year, but lost out to Louane's Chamber 12 collection. It might not be the same kind of award collection that Christine and the Queens picked up over the past couple of years, but it will certainly do her a lot of good as she aims to conquer the English speaking market in 2017.

Elsewhere, I was delighted to see the return of Renaud rewarded with a best male artist award, but particularly pleased to see Radio Elvis win the breakthrough album category for Les Conquêtes.

Elsewhere, best rock album award went to Louise Attaque, the best electronic or dance album went to Kungs.

Vianney's Je m'en vais was the best original song of the year, Benjamin Biolay picked up the best chanson album for Palermo Hollywood. Best breakthrough act was LEJ.



JAIN "Makeba"

Jain: Come

The aftermath of this year's Victoires de la Musique awards continue, with singer Jain - who performed at the ceremony - seeing her single Come reaching the top of the French SNEP chart.

The track comes from her Zanaka album, her debut which was released last year.

It's an infections and upbeat track, from a collection that was nominated as the breakthought album at the Victoires. That album is now in the SNEP top 10 and has sold over 50,000 copies in France.

Meanwhile, other acts have also benefitted as a result of the Victoires de la Musique.

Hyphen Hyphen - winners of the breakthrough act award - are now just outside the top ten and Jeanne Added have just come into the top 40.

The Avener, who picked up the best electronic/dance act award sees his song Fade Out Lines back in the top 30.

Maitre Gims sits at number 13 with the track Sapés Comme Jamais which picked up the award for best original song on February 12, one of two of his tracks in the top 20.

Festival: Solidays 2016

Another day, another French summer festival confirms details of what is on the bill, with Solidays in Paris coming under the spotlight.

Solidays has become a key festival for a Paris-based audience, an event focussing on solidarity in the fight against Aids at its core.

This summer the Longchamp racetrack takes on a Californian Summer of Love theme, and  plays host to M83, Cypress Hill and Louise Attaque, alongside Jain, Synapson and Flume.

More acts will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Solidays is held this year from June 24-26, and tickets go on sale on February 10.



Solidays 2016 by solidays