Alma France Eurovision. New name: Hot Finnish pop star ALMA

Alma is an American singer who has become popular relatively recently. The girl was born on January 17 (Capricorn according to the horoscope) 1996 in Kuopio (Finland). Full name: Alma-Sofia Miettinen. The performer has a twin sister, who is also dyed neon.

The young singer received her first drop of fame in 2013, when she performed in the Finnish version of the show “Idol,” where professional musicians were looking for talented performers. Thanks to her perseverance and beautiful timbre of her voice, she was able to win fifth place. Although she did not become the leader of the show, she was still able to be remembered by many viewers for her incredible and striking appearance.

Despite losing in the Finnish Idol, Alma was able to start collaborating with rapper Sini Sabotage. But three years later she signed a contract with Universal Music, and in the summer the singer released her first single called “Karma”. In the same year, Alma released a new track “Dye My Hair”, as well as a mini-album. But after a while, the performer collaborates with a German producer and releases a hit single called “Bonfire.” In 2017, she released another single, “Chasing Highs.”

The main direction in music

According to the singer herself, she is not going to put deep meaning into her work, she just wants people to listen to her songs and relax. Alma also expects that all her fans will be able to feel her inner self well enough and understand her soul. Basically, the main direction in the performer’s work is punk. As for her unusual appearance, she simply observes what exactly those around her are wearing, and for this reason, she created her own style, which will be remembered by everyone for a long time.

According to the performer herself, all her songs are a kind of small texts in which she tries to convey all her thoughts and emotions. She also talks about her travels, about the life she has and about those people who are lost and cannot find the right path.

A little about personality

In one of the interviews, Alma admits that no matter how good she feels on stage, she still looks forward to the moment when she returns home. After all, it is the family members who constantly support her and never leave her in difficult times. She also said that of all the countries she visited, she liked London the most, as the people there are very nice and send a lot of positive energy.

As for her plans for the future, for now she would like to focus on her first tour and soak up as much of the emotions that await her on this incredible musical journey. She also admitted that she would like to start collaborating with such famous and talented singers as Sia and Charli XCX.

Her favorite item of clothing is her black leather jacket with various punk and rock stickers on it. Although you can’t tell by looking at it, it has about ten of them. They are all similar, but she can easily find the difference between them all, since they were brought from different countries - Los Angeles, Helsinki and London. It is unknown what else the singer will bring from her tour.

Relationship

According to available data, Alma does not have a life partner. This is most likely due to the fact that her music career takes up a lot of time in her busy schedule. As for her past relationships, this information is not available on the Internet. But let's hope that very soon she will be able to please her fans with the news of her love.

Participant name: Alexandra Make

Age (birthday): 27.09.1988

City: Lyon

Song: Requiem

Country representative in 2016:

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Alexandra Macke, aka Alma, is one of the most promising performers in French show business, according to many experts.

From childhood, Alma was interested in music, she sang with her sisters and practiced playing the piano.

While studying at the institute, she went on a journey that inspired her so much that the girl began to write original songs.

As soon as Alexandra finished her studies at the institute, she immediately started making music professionally. This decision entailed a move from Lyon to Paris. In the capital, she made acquaintance with the famous composer Nazim Khaled. He greatly helped Alma find herself and open up as a singer.

Now Alexandra is actively working on creating her first album. It is planned to be published in May 2017. Many of the songs will be presented by Nazim Khaled, but this is not the only composer Alma collaborates with - Renaud Rebillaud, David Gategno, etc.

If you study the singer’s repertoire, we can conclude that many of her compositions are dedicated to love and death. The singer says that she loves to sing about painful topics, putting a piece of herself into each composition. In her songs, she tries to show the line that exists between harsh reality and pure dream, and also explain how important it is to be able to balance on it.

When French broadcaster named Alma the official representative of France at Eurovision in Kyiv in 2017 year, the singer did not hide her joy. The girl noted that she is proud of the responsibility entrusted to her, and therefore will do everything in her power to represent France with dignity at the European show.

In Kyiv she will present the song “Requiem”, which raises the theme of the search for eternal love. This is a lyrical and very beautiful composition that will present the owner of a unique voice in all her glory to all of Europe.

Alma - still from the video "Rekivem" (2016) screenshot

On May 13, the singer Alma will represent France in the final of Eurovision 2017 with the song “Requiem”. At 28 years old, Alma (or Alexandra Macquet) is just beginning her career in French music. A new star is being prepared for a performance in Kyiv by the French-Israeli singer, who took the highest place for France in ten years at Eurovision a year ago. France won its last victory at the competition exactly 40 years ago.

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Bet on the unknown

At the beginning of February, the general public heard a new name in a French song - Alma. The state company France Télévisions then announced that this young singer will represent France in Kyiv on May 13 at Eurovision 2017.

Singer Alma - video for the French song "Requiem" for Eurovision 2017

In making their choice, French television people - for the umpteenth time - took a risk: an audience of 200 million viewers (that's how many Europeans watched the popular competition a year ago) decided to present an almost unknown singer.

28-year-old Alexandra Maquet - or Alma - began her music career in France just last summer. Her first attempt at writing in June 2016 was her song “La chute est lente”, posted on YouTube.

Life on the road

Alexandra-Alma became interested in music in her youth, moving from playing the piano to composing her own songs. Only recently did she decide to leave business school for a music career. Her debut at the age of 28 can be explained simply: born in Lyon, Alma spent many years abroad - in Los Angeles, Milan, Brussels, Sao Paulo and Miami. My father’s job, an employee of an international computer company, made me travel.

Singer Alma - video for the song "La chute est lente" (2016)

The new French star (Jain, real name Jeanne Galis) has a similar fate - a French woman who grew up abroad and returned to her homeland to conquer the musical Olympus. A native of Toulouse, she spent her childhood and adolescence in Dubai, Congo and Abu Dhabi, becoming a discovery of the last year and a half in French music. In February, at the Musical Victories competition, the French equivalent of the Grammys, 25-year-old Jane was named “singer of the year” in the wake of the success of her album “Zanaka” and the super hit “Come”.

Jane - video for the song “Come” (2015)

French "Requiem" for Eurovision

Jane's fame (as well as the circulation of her debut album - 250 thousand copies) can only be dreamed of by the French participant of Eurovision 2017. Alma so far boasts two million views on YouTube for her “Requiem” video. With this song, the young singer and author will represent France in Kyiv at the European music competition.

The life-affirming “requiem” is a song about the birth and death of love, about the passing of time and the eternal return of life. “Love dies and is born again, centuries pass and disappear without a trace. But what you think of as death is just a season, nothing more (…) Kiss me, tell me you love me and make me dance until time takes away from us what it gave us,” Alma sings. The video for the song “Requiem” was filmed in Paris. Its heroes are the singer herself, as well as a dancing couple. Thanks to special effects, dancers perform dynamic tango right on the Parisian rooftops and facades of famous buildings...

Who is preparing the French Eurovision participant?

The co-authors of the song “Requiem” for Eurovision were singer Alma herself and music producer Nazim Khaled. This composer did a lot for the success of Girac and Claudio, two participants in the French TV show "", who became stars in France.

Nazim Khaled was also the author of the song with which France took its highest place in a decade at Eurovision 2016. At last year’s competition with the composition “J’ai cherché” (I was looking for), he won sixth place. Born in Paris and raised in Israel, Amir was a finalist on The Voice 2014. Two years later, after his success at Eurovision, the singer became a pop star in France with the album “Au coeur de moi” (in me/in my heart). Last November, at the main French pop music competition NRJ Music Awards in the categories “discovery of the year” and “song of the year”. And in February he was among the “Musical Victories” nominees in the categories “discovery album of the year” and “song of the year” with the hit “J’ai cherché”.

Amir - video for the song "J"ai cherché" (2016)

Now singer Amir is preparing his “replacement” for Eurovision, not skimping on praise. According to him, Alma is a “charming, talented, brilliant girl” who will be able to “represent France perfectly” at the competition in Kyiv. The singers have been friends for a couple of years, admitted Amir, who has already invited Alma to perform in the first part of his concerts more than once. The singer recently announced that he would comment on the Eurovision final on May 13 on France-2.

Alma and Amir - song "Requiem" for Eurovision 2017 (acoustic session)

Alma spends her time in intensive training. Vocal lessons, stage skills, preparation for communicating with the media and trainings with psychologists. Alma outlined this intense program to journalists, adding that she spends a lot of time in the gym, preferring boxing to all sports.

On May 5, just before Eurovision, Alma planned the release of her debut disc. One of his songs - “Ivre” - is already being heard on the French airwaves.

Who is Alma like?

Wondering about France's chances of winning Eurovision, critics notice the similarity of the new public favorite with another young and popular singer - Indila. Three years ago she made a splash in France with the songs of her debut album “Mini World”. The mysterious young singer (real name Adila Sedraya), who hid her biography from journalists, became the “discovery of the year” at the “Musical Victories 2015” competition.

Indila - video for the song "The Last Dance" (2013)

After resounding success, Indila has not appeared on stage or in the media for the last two years, occasionally recording duets with other singers or acting as a songwriter. Her album “Mini World,” meanwhile, sold 630 thousand copies in France. The foreign circulation of the disc exceeded 800 thousand, making Indila the most popular French singer in the world in recent years. Her lead single "Dernière danse" has received more than 330 million views on YouTube.

40 years without victories

On May 13, French Eurovision fans will freeze in anticipation of the voting results. Will Alma, with her Parisian Requiem, be able to improve on France's last year's result at the European competition? Is it possible - who the hell is it - to win? For a performance in the capital of Ukraine, the French singer prepared a version of her song with a chorus in English.

The current final of the competition will be held in Kyiv exactly 40 years after the triumphant Eurovision 1977 for France. Then in London, French singer Marie Miriam took first place in a European competition. Her victory was the last for France in the history of Eurovision. Since then, every year - in May - the French have been left with nostalgia to listen to the song “L"Oiseau et l’Enfant” (the bird and the child) and dream of a new victory at Eurovision.

Singer Alma - song "Ivre" (2017)

With the song “The Bird and the Child,” which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, we end the “French Music Podcast.” Its hosts Ksenia Gulia and Dmitry Gusev, as well as director Bina Essayan, say goodbye to you. See you at RFI.

France will be represented at Eurovision by the young singer Alma (Alexandra Maquet), who will perform the track Requiem, written by Nazim Khaled, at the competition.

Alma means both “soul” and “little girl”; probably never before has the name of an artist been chosen so correctly. Alma, 28, is the eldest of three sisters in her family, with whom she regularly sings and plays the piano. But it wasn't until she decided to explore other cultures and travel that Alma wrote her first songs in English, somewhere between Brazil, the US and Italy, while continuing her studies.

After graduating with a business degree, she decided to devote herself to her main interest, music, and moved from Lyon to Paris to continue following her dream. She begins "the most beautiful of her journeys" that will lead her to singing and songwriting. It was there, in the French capital, that she met composer Nazim Khaled, who also worked with France's Eurovision 2016 representative Amir. Khaled becomes her artistic counterpart, and writes most of the songs for Alma's debut album, which will be released on May 5, 2017.

Around her project she assembled a team of directors, songwriters and composers who adapted to her voice and subtle words to turn them into her own universe: Nazim (Amir, Kendji, Yannick Noah, Claudio Capéo), David Gategno (Céline Dion, Louane ), Pierre Jaconelli (Benjamin Biolay, Johnny Hallyday), Renaud Rebillaud (Maitre Gims, Black M), Les Skydancers/We are I.V (Frero Delavega, Vianney), Franck Authié (Irma, Greg June) and Jeremy Poligné (Julie Zenatti) .

Alma is a rising star on digital platforms and was recognized as one of the most promising artists of 2017. While her songs usually deal with universal themes, including love and even death, Alma brings a personal touch to them as well. Like a tightrope walker, she balances between two worlds - a dream and a cruel reality.

Poetic and dreamy, the Requiem tells the story of the search for eternal love as the main cure for death, and showcases the performer's unique voice. The song can already be purchased on all digital platforms, and the final version, which Alma will perform in Kyiv, will be released in the coming weeks.

"I am incredibly proud to have been chosen to represent my country, France, at the Eurovision Song Contest this year. I hope for the love and support of the public to give my best performance yet," she says!

France 4 will broadcast the semi-finals of Eurovision 2017, and the final will be broadcast on France 2 as usual.

IN THE RUBRIC “NEW NAME” we talk about promising newcomers: musicians, directors, artists and other creative people - that is, everyone whose name is increasingly appearing on the pages of magazines, in social media feeds and in our conversations and who are clearly on the verge of great success.

ALMA

“All we need is one single miracle, after which things will go much easier,” 21-year-old Alma-Sofia, discussing why Finland still lags behind its Scandinavian neighbors in terms of pop exports Miettinen - or simply ALMA - chooses the simplest explanation. She herself does not hide that she wants to become the first Finnish pop star on an international scale (Bomfunk MC’s, your objections will be taken into account by the court). For this, the former participant of the show “Idols” really has a good starting platform: the major Universal attached her as a guest vocalist to another promising newcomer, her peer Felix Yen, and their single “ Bonfire"became the locomotive that pulled the aspiring singer onto the charts.

ALMA is a worthy addition to the ranks of the wild flowers of Scandinavian urban pop: not so much Zara Larsson, but Tove Lu, with her provocative sexuality, and MØ, with her habits of a bandit queen. The Finnish woman, who dedicates her first album to etched hair, enjoys a teenage rebellion against provincial boredom. And this in itself is good fuel for punchy pop music that wants to attract attention. Alma is succeeding so far - how successful it will be can be assessed on July 22 at the festival “