Soan

With his array of piercings, tattoos, and gothic makeup, Soan emerged as an unexpected victor for audiences throughout France when he claimed the top spot in the seventh season of Nouvelle Star during 2009. Born Julien Decroix in Annemasse in 1981, he departed his family home at seventeen and devoted the following decade to sustaining himself through music, frequently performing for passersby in Paris Metro stations. At twenty-seven he auditioned for the nation’s premier televised talent competition, initially attracting little notice before cultivating a devoted audience with his interpretations of material by the Cure, Depeche Mode, and Noir Désir. Following his defeat of Leila Aissaoui in the finale, he inked a deal with Jive, opened for Jacques Brel accordionist Jean Corti, and issued his first album, Tant Pis. Following a three-year hiatus, he resurfaced in 2012 via his second full-length effort, Sous les Yeux de Sophie.