Anis

Born in 1977 in Pontoise, Anis Kachohi developed into a French folk-jazz balladeer whose early inspirations extended from Billie Holiday and Tom Waits into hip-hop. During his teenage years he spent a short time on piano before turning to guitar and founding the ska outfit K2R Riddim. Once he parted ways with the band he dropped his surname, began performing as a busker in the Paris metro, took on manager Myriam Chiaramonti, moved to the French Antilles, and sharpened his live skills at the club The Marin. Back in Paris by autumn 2003 he cut a nine-song demo that appeared under his own imprint as Gadjo Décalé; the release earned French radio play and brought him a Virgin/EMI contract, which delivered La Chance... in late 2005. Rodéo Boulevard came next in 2008.