Pomme (singer) explained

Pomme
Birth Date:1996 8, df=yes
Birth Place:Décines-Charpieu, France
Spouse:2022-present Safia Nolin
Years Active:2014–present
Label:Polydor

Claire Pommet (in French pronounced as /klɛʁ pɔme/; born 2 August 1996), known professionally as Pomme (in French pɔm/, "apple" in French), is a French singer, songwriter, and musician. Born and raised near Lyon, she learned to play several instruments at a young age. Her debut studio album, À peu près (2017), received critical acclaim for its mixture of pop and folk music and entered the French album charts at number 91. Pomme followed with her second studio album, Les failles (2019), which became her first project to reach the top 10 in her home country. The record was later reissued as Les failles cachées (2020) and re-entered record charts in two countries. Her third studio album, Consolation, was released on 26 August 2022.

Life and career

1996–2012: Early life

Claire Pommet was born on 2 August 1996 in Décines-Charpieu but grew up in Caluire-et-Cuire, a French town in the metropolis of Lyon.[1] [2] She learned music theory with her three siblings from the age of 6, joined a children's choir, La Cigale de Lyon, at age 7, and learned to play the cello at age 8.[3] [4] Her mother plays the flute while her father, a real estate agent, listened to Michel Polnareff, Serge Reggiani, and Charles Aznavour. One of her father's friends introduced her to American folk and country music.[5] She is self-taught and publishes videos on the YouTube web platform.

2013–2015: Career beginnings and En cavale

Pommet's stage name "Pomme", which derives from her last name, was a nickname used by her friends at university.[6] In early 2015, Pomme was signed to Polydor Records and began working on her debut extended play (EP) En cavale.[7] 2016 She released her debut single "J'suis pas dupe" in June 2015.[8] Following the EP's release in January 2016, it received a positive reception and was promoted with music videos and concerts.[9]

2016–2017: À peu près

In September 2017, aged 21, she performed for the first time at La Boule Noire in Paris. In October she released her first chanson française album, titled À peu près; it was described as a mixture of pop and folk by Salome Rouzerol-Douglas in Le Figaro. It was "very encouraging" according to Gilles Renault in Libération. At the same time, Marie-Catherine Mardi of RFI said that "the lyrics do not convince [in their entirety]" but praised Pommet's voice.[10] [11] [12] Despite the acclaim received, Pomme expressed frustration towards the album since she felt trapped by "the desire to please [others] more" instead of herself.[13] She performed in the first part of the Asaf Avidan tour in autumn 2017.

2018–2020: Les failles

In February 2018, she performed at the Café de la Danse in Paris, after having performed as an opening act for Louane and Vianney, then took the stage in La Cigale in mid-2018 and in La Trianon in early 2019.[14] In 2019, she released her second studio album Les failles (2019), which was later reissued a year later. Described by Pomme as an album with "absolute truth and humility", she conceived it while reflecting on a breakup.[15] [16] In February 2020, she won the Victoires de la Musique award for album révélation ("newcomer album") of the year with Les failles.[17] The singer later released the EP Quarantine Phone Sessions in May 2020, which she stated to be available only during the COVID-19 lockdowns.[18]

2021–present: Consolation

In 2021, she was crowned artiste féminine ("female artist") of the year.[19] On New Year's Day, Pomme revealed plans of releasing a third studio album in 2022 through her Twitter account.[20] Later in that month, her collaboration "Everything Matters" with Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora was released as a single from the latter's third studio album, The Gods We Can Touch (2022).[21] In May 2022, she published the children's book Sous les paupières with French singer Pauline de Tarragon, who also did the illustrations.[22]

Artistry

Pomme's music incorporates chanson française,[23] folk-pop, French pop and indie folk.[24] The journalists of Libération and Le Figaro emphasized the quality of Pomme's live performances, during which she primarily plays the autoharp and the guitar. The lyrics she writes often evoke themes of love, death, and "everyday situations that resort to romanticism". She has dedicated songs to her wife, Quebec singer Safia Nolin. Other topics she explored are intimacy, feminism, and environmentalism, which she considered to be "natural and obvious to me for my generation and for myself."[25]

Pomme noted that despite being heavily influenced by folk music, she has also listened to pop musicians. She cited French singers Barbara, Édith Piaf and Lorie as her primary influences, with Barbara and Lorie being singers she listened to during her childhood and youth. Other influences include Lady Gaga, Lizzo, Celine Dion,[26] Lily Allen, Camélia Jordana, Cœur de Pirate, Keaton Henson, Aldous Harding, Feist, Sufjan Stevens, Mylène Farmer,[27] Dolly Parton and Kate Nash. Vogue France called her appearance "a fairy-like look straight out of a Tim Burton movie," with Pomme calling Burton's film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its protagonist Willy Wonka as style icons for her. She was also inspired by French poet Paul Éluard and feminist works and comics.

Personal life

Pomme explained in an interview with Télérama: "I am naturally comfortable with my homosexuality, for example, using female pronouns in my songs. And I think it's important, given the amount of thank-you messages I get. As a teenager, I would have also liked to recognize myself in lesbian singers". Pomme's songs also often refer to her love story with singer Safia Nolin, who became her wife in 2022.[28] The two now share their life between Paris and Montreal. For the 2020 municipal elections in Lyon, she made public her support for the Europe Écologie Les Verts party.[29] In February 2021, in support of the MeToo movement, Pomme stated that she had been "manipulated and morally and sexually harassed" from age 15 to 17.[30] [31]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
FR
[32]
BEL
(Wa)

[33]
SWI
[34]
À peu près 91200
Les failles
  • Released: 1 November 2019
  • Label: Polydor
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
102487
Consolation
  • Released: 26 August 2022
  • Label: Polydor
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
4532
Saisons
  • Released: 22 March 2024
  • Label: Polydor
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
17

Extended plays

TitleEP details
En cavale
  • Released: 1 January 2016
  • Label: Polydor
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
A Peu Près – Sessions Montréalaises
  • Released: 21 April 2018
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: LP
Quarantine Phone Sessions
  • Released: 20 April 2020
  • Label: Polydor
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
BEL
(Wa)

"J'suis pas dupe"201566En cavale
"Même robe qu'hier"201776À peu près
"Mon frère" 2018
"De là-haut" À peu près
"J'attends" Les femmes idéales
"2019"2019
"Je sais pas danser"Les failles
"Anxiété"
"Vide"2020Les failles cachées
"La lumière"
"Grandiose"
"À perte de vue"2021rowspan="2"
"Itsumo Nando Demo"
"Tombeau"2022Consolation
"Nelly"

As featured artist

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
BEL
(Wa)
"Okay"
201357Echo
"Debout les femmes
2018
"Le train du soir"
2020Haut fidélité
"Galore (French Version)"
2021"Galore Anniversary" single
"Everything Matters"
2022The Gods We Can Touch

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
TitleYearOther artist(s)Album
"Entre ses bras"2016Cécile CorbelVagabonde
"Soleil brûlant"VariousWe Love Disney 3
"Ghost"2019WaxxFantôme
"Je serai (ta meilleure amie)"Safia NolinReprises, Vol. 2
"Ceux qui s'aiment"2020VariousDe Béart a Béart(s) Vol. 2

Music videos

Title! scope="col"
YearDirector(s)
"J'suis pas dupe"2015Sébastien Brodart
"Je t'emmènerais bien"
"En cavale"
"Jane & John"
"Sans toi"2016
"De là-haut"2017Marta Bevacqua
"A Lonely One"
"On brûlera"
"Pauline"
"Je sais pas danser"2019Vladimir Féral
"Anxiété"Hugo Pillard
"Les oiseaux2020Claire Pommet
"Grandiose"Claire Pommet and Ambivalently Yours
"Chanson For My Depressed Love"Claire Pommet and Hugo Pillard
"Magie bleue"
"À perte de vue"2021Vincent René-Lortie and Claire Pommet
"Nelly"2022Jeanne Joly and Claire Pommet

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Biographie Pomme. Chérie FM. 6 August 2022. fr-FR.
  2. Web site: TARTINE DE VIE avec Pomme, Camille Combal et Camélia Jordana. ben Névert. YouTube. 8 November 2020. 2 August 2022. fr.
  3. Web site: Concert: on craque pour Pomme. Bonnaud. Maguelone. January 13, 2019. Le Parisien. fr-FR. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190329234059/http://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/musique/concert-on-craque-pour-pomme-13-01-2019-7987392.php. March 29, 2019. 2019-11-22.
  4. News: Pomme : une jeune artiste lyonnaise à la Pop Folk énergique. Putsch. 15 September 2017. 6 August 2022.
  5. Web site: Pomme, le fruit détendu. Renault. Gilles. October 9, 2017. Libération. fr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190730052159/https://next.liberation.fr/musique/2017/10/09/pomme-le-fruit-detendu_1601926. July 30, 2019. 2019-11-22.
  6. News: Faucheron. Guillaume. Pomme poursuit sa maturation musicale. Le Berry. 25 May 2017. 6 August 2022. fr.
  7. News: Sarradin. Audrey. Pomme : Son 1er EP « En cavale » Prévu Pour Début. Azikmut. 12 October 2015. 6 August 2022. fr-FR.
  8. Web site: En cavalePomme. 1 June 2016. Qobuz. en-GB. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171124184917/https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/en-cavale-pomme/0060254776734. 24 November 2017. 23 November 2019.
  9. Web site: En cavale. Pomme. 1 January 2016. 6 August 2022. YouTube.
  10. Web site: La voix est libre pour la chanteuse Pomme. Rouzerol-Douglas. Salomé. February 24, 2018. Le Figaro. fr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190502190909/https://www.lefigaro.fr/musique/2018/02/24/03006-20180224ARTFIG00032-la-voix-est-libre-pour-la-chanteuse-pomme.php. May 2, 2019. 2019-11-22.
  11. Web site: Onirisme et grands frissons avec Pomme à la Boule Noire. September 19, 2017. RockNfool. fr-FR. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330005818/http://rocknfool.net/2017/09/19/pomme-nord-boule-noire/. March 30, 2019. 2019-11-22.
  12. Web site: L'ascension soyeuse de Pomme. Mardi. Marie-Catherine. December 12, 2017. RFI Musique. fr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190329234239/https://musique.rfi.fr/chanson-francophone/20171212-pomme-peu-pres. March 29, 2019. 2019-11-22.
  13. News: Grelard. Philippe. Pomme, la victoire de l'intime. Le Télégramme. 11 February 2022. 2 August 2018. fr-FR.
  14. Web site: Pomme: "Ado, j'aurais aimé pouvoir me reconnaître dans des chanteuses lesbiennes". Lehoux. Valérie. January 28, 2019. Télérama. fr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190921060605/https://www.telerama.fr/musique/pomme-ado,-jaurais-aime-pouvoir-me-reconnaitre-dans-des-chanteuses-lesbiennes,n6098042.php. September 21, 2019. 2019-11-22.
  15. News: Williams-Chalmers. Jeremy. Interview With Pomme. The Yorkshire Times. 28 April 2022. 2 August 2022.
  16. News: Pomme Her exclusive playlist ahead of the What the France Night in Copenhagen!. 20 April 2022. What the France. 2 August 2022.
  17. Web site: 2020-02-14. Victoires de la musique : Les Failles de Pomme, album révélation. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200220014506/https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/victoires-de-la-musique-les-failles-de-pomme-album-revelation-20200215. 2020-02-20. 2020-06-22. Le Figaro. fr.
  18. News: La chanteuse Pomme publie un EP éphémère disponible pendant la durée du confinement. BFM TV. 23 April 2022. 25 April 2020.
  19. Web site: 2021-02-13. Victoires de la Musique : Pomme sacrée meilleure artiste féminine de l'année. 2021-07-12. Le Figaro. fr.
  20. News: Aubrun. Clément. Pomme annonce un nouvel album pour cette année (et on a hâte). Terrafemina. 4 January 2022. 8 January 2022. fr.
  21. Clarke. Patrick. AURORA shares two new singles, 'A Dangerous Thing' and 'Everything Matters'. Rolling Stone. 7 January 2022. 22 January 2022. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20220122045224/https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/news/aurora-shares-two-new-singles-a-dangerous-thing-and-everything-matters-9145/. 22 January 2022.
  22. Web site: Sous les paupières. La Ville Brule. 20 May 2022. 2 August 2022. fr.
  23. Web site: Pomme sort son premier album " À peu près ", pour un moment musical envoûtant et impertinent. Kosmala. Lucie. October 6, 2017. Madmoizelle. fr-FR. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190503143436/https://www.madmoizelle.com/pomme-a-peu-pres-album-critique-839407. 3 May 2019. 2019-11-22.
  24. News: Pomme – A Peu Près. Les Oreilles Curieuses. 22 October 2017. 2 August 2022. fr.
  25. News: Pomme : "Le bleu, c'est la couleur de ma voix". 4 January 2020. 2 August 2022. fr-FR.
  26. Garrigues. Manon. Video : Pomme reveals her icons, from Barbara to Lady Gaga. Vogue France. 20 May 2021. 2 August 2022.
  27. Pomme dévoile les chansons qui ont marqué sa vie Les chansons de ma vie. Vanity Fair. 10 May 2021. 6 August 2022. fr-FR.
  28. Web site: Mariage pour Safia Nolin et son amoureuse .
  29. Web site: Vidéo soutien de la chanteuse Pomme à la liste écologiste de Caluire et Cuire !. Europe Écologie Les Verts. 19 February 2020. 25 April 2020. fr-FR.
  30. News: Lecharpentier. Charline.
    1. Musictoo : quand la musique déconne
    . Libération. 22 September 2020. 2 August 2022. fr.
  31. News: De là où je suis, j'ai décidé de dire les choses. Mediapart. 11 February 2020. 14 February 2022. fr-FR.
  32. Web site: Pomme discography. lescharts.com. Hung Medien. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180330075331/https://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Pomme. March 30, 2018. 2019-11-22.
  33. Web site: Discographie Pomme. ultratop.be. Hung Medien. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191122023435/https://www.ultratop.be/fr/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Pomme. November 22, 2019. 2019-11-22.
  34. Web site: Pomme – Les failles. hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191122024357/https://hitparade.ch/album/Pomme/Les-failles-393984. November 22, 2019. 2019-11-22.
  35. Web site: Pomme – Les failles. hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191122024357/https://hitparade.ch/album/Pomme/Les-failles-393984. November 22, 2019. 2019-11-22.
  36. Web site: Les failles cachées by Pomme on Apple Music . . 2 August 2022 .
  37. Web site: PommeMusic. YouTube. en. 2 August 2022.