Manu

Led by Emmanuelle Monet, a former vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist with Dolly, the French alternative rock band Manú issued its first full-length album in 2008. The Nantes native from Pays de la Loire helped launch the French rock group Dolly in 1989 alongside bassist Mickaël Chamberlin and drummer Thierry Lacroix. Initially performing under the name Dolly & Co., the outfit put out the EP No One No Feeling in 1992 and the album Amours Lynchées in 1994. In 1995 guitarist Nicolas Bonnière joined the lineup, prompting a shift to the simplified billing Dolly. Drawing from English-language alternative rock acts including Sonic Youth, Pixies, and PJ Harvey in particular, the band delivered its self-titled debut album on East West in 1997. The record, propelled by the breakout single “Je N’veux Pas Rester Sage,” achieved modest success by entering the Top 40 of the French albums chart. The next release, Un Jour de Rêves in 1999, matched that chart placement, while Plein Air (2002) and Tous des Stars (2004) both climbed into the Top 20, reflecting expanding popularity. Chamberlin’s death in a car accident on May 25, 2005, led the remaining members to disband Dolly. After a year-long hiatus, Monet assembled Manú with the surviving Dolly musicians and added bassist Bayrem Ben Amor to replace Chamberlin. The group secured a deal with Universal Music France and released its debut album Rendez-Vous in 2008; the set peaked at number 65 on the French charts. To promote the record, Manú toured extensively across the country with drummer Thierry Niro, who performs as Nirox, standing in for Lacroix.