On the Verge: The Rise of Zaho de Sagazan

On the Verge: Discovering Emerging Talent

On the Verge: Discovering Emerging Talent

On the Verge highlights the rising stars across various creative fields, including fashion, food, music, art, and design. One such talent is the French singer-songwriter Zaho de Sagazan, who at just 24 years old, has made a significant impact on the music scene. As a teenager, she was known by the nickname Petite Tempête — which translates to “Little Storm.” She reflects, “I was crying all the time. I didn’t know what to do with all my angst.”

It was her twin sister who introduced her to the music of English singer-songwriter Tom Odell. Zaho quickly became captivated by his work, memorizing his lyrics and teaching herself to play his songs on the piano. This newfound passion opened her eyes to the potential of music as a powerful outlet for processing her emotions. By 2020, she began sharing her original compositions on Instagram, which effortlessly blend elements of synth-pop, electronica, and chanson Française.

Her distinctive, emotive voice soon attracted the attention of Warner Chappell/Virgin Music, leading to the release of her debut album, La Symphonie des Éclairs (“The Symphony of Lightning”) in the spring of 2023. The album achieved platinum status in 2024 and garnered four prestigious awards at the Victoires de la Musique, often referred to as the French equivalent of the Grammys. Tomorrow, a reissued edition will debut on streaming platforms, featuring new tracks, including Old Friends, a collaboration with Tom Odell. “I basically slid into his DMs,” Zaho shares, smiling. “We’ve been friends since. Singing with him is one of the few things I dreamed of for myself.”

Born and raised in the working-class shipyard town of Saint Nazaire on France’s Atlantic coast, Zaho grew up in a family of artists and free spirits, where creativity thrived amidst a backdrop of few rules and abundant encouragement. Her father, Olivier de Sagazan, is a multifaceted artist—painter, sculptor, and performer—who has collaborated with musicians such as FKA Twigs on immersive exhibitions and video projects.

Throughout her adolescence, Zaho often found solace in her room, spending hours at the piano, pouring her heart into songs that explored themes like self-doubt, addiction (she has recently quit smoking weed, a habit she maintained for a decade), climate change, and the complexities of romantic love—an experience she admits she hasn’t yet encountered herself.

At 17, she moved to Nantes to pursue her ambitions. Although she briefly attended university to satisfy her mother’s wishes—a schoolteacher—her true passion lay in music and the dream of starting her own label. To support herself, she worked as a home health aide, revealing her caring nature. “I thought I’d become a nurse or work in a hospital,” she explains. “I wanted to care for people. Music is another way of doing that.”

Credit: Amélie Ambroise and music courtesy of Disparate / Warner Chappell Music France

More From Author

Fall Gala Season: Celebrating Glamour and Philanthropy in NYC

Lynda Obst: A Pioneering Producer and Advocate for Women in Hollywood

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *