Since the release of her debut album ‘La Symphonie des éclairs’ (“The Symphony of Lightning”) in March 2023, Zaho de Sagazan has transitioned from being relatively unknown to one of France's most acclaimed new musical innovators. In just a year, the album reached triple Platinum status in France, and she clinched four out of five awards at the annual Les Victoires de la Musique, presented by the French Ministry of Culture, including Best Original Song, Best Album, Best Stage Revelation, and Best Female Revelation. Additionally, the 25-year-old was chosen to open the 2024 Olympics closing ceremony in Paris, where she performed a rendition of Édith Piaf’s ‘Sous le ciel de Paris.’
Following an intense summer of touring—headlining festivals throughout Europe and selling out ten consecutive nights at the famed L’Olympia in Paris—the singer-songwriter has undertaken her most ambitious project yet: creating a work that steps away from her familiar electronic, synthpop sound. Her latest release, ‘La Symphonie des éclairs (Orchestral Odyssey),’ features a collaboration with the National Orchestra of Lyon to reinterpret her breakthrough album in a classical format, presenting sixteen songs arranged into four movements. Building on this, Zaho has concluded The Symphonic Tour, showcasing the project in major theaters and concert venues across Europe—including The London Palladium, where she performed alongside The Heritage Orchestra, and La Philharmonie in Paris, collaborating with the French National Orchestra. CLASH connected with the cheerful singer via video call just before her opening performance in Paris, shortly after she and the orchestra finished their final rehearsal.
“I love to dream. I dream a lot, and being on stage with this orchestra feels like a dream, but it's real,” she shares about her bold new undertaking. “It’s such a departure from my electronic show… In fact, it’s the complete opposite. I draw a lot of inspiration from cinematic music. I adore Hayao Miyazaki's films (My Neighbour Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away). They perfectly express emotions, freedom, love, and all those feelings. I've cried plenty at his films, largely due to the music. I believe orchestras contain that emotional weight. When you place an orchestra behind moments like a hug, a kiss, or a cry, it amplifies the experience. I’m very sensitive, and I tend to cry often, and I feel orchestral music is the best medium to express those feelings.” She adds, “Of course, I enjoy electronic music and the way it makes you dance and feel free. There's a trance-like quality to it. I understand the power of electronic music, and I’m currently exploring and learning about the strength of symphonic music.”
From the start of her journey, Zaho has been open about her emotional complexities, placing vulnerability at the center of her songwriting. “Music helped me understand that vulnerability can be a strength instead of a weakness. Initially, I would cry in uncomfortable situations, like at dinner, and people would say, 'Okay… she’s crying again,' but around the age of 13, I started to express my emotions not just on my mother’s shoulder, but at the piano, and that changed everything,” she recounts. “It felt good, didn’t hurt anyone, and inspired some beautiful melodies. It made me realize that crying isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if I can channel that sensitivity into something meaningful that resonates with others. This album is about sensitivity and how emotions can unexpectedly enter your life and overwhelm you in ways that leave you thinking—oh my god, I’m unsure how to handle this.”
When asked how she incorporates this ethos into her symphonic performances, Zaho tells CLASH: “It allows me to embrace the drama queen I've always yearned to be. I don my wig and cape, feeling free to be so many things that I can’t be in everyday life. That’s the power of performing on stage. I view life as a vast opportunity for experimentation, and I want to explore as much as I can. I want to try everything.”
In the year before launching her singing career, Zaho worked as a caregiver in a nursing home. Reflecting on that time, she states, “I believe it’s one of the most human jobs one can have. Education and healthcare demand that you act in profoundly human ways. That experience showed me how good people can be, especially when you see the dedication involved. They’re not looking for a reward; the pay is minimal and the work is incredibly challenging.” She adds, “I think everyone should experience a job like that for at least a year, as you learn so much about generosity, empathy, and compassion. At that time, I had no idea my album would explode in popularity or that I would gain fame, but such experiences are even more essential when you find yourself in the spotlight.”
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Since the launch of her debut album ‘La Symphonie des éclairs’ (“The Symphony of Lightning”) in March 2023, Zaho de Sagazan has emerged from