The career of French singer/songwriter Jeanne Cherhal began to take off in 2000, when the singer won the Truffe d'Argent de Perigueux award for newcomer of the year, and she then gained a reputation as great live performer. Her debut was released in 2002, a live recording made the previous year. 12 Fois par An (2004) presented Cherhal in ensemble for the first time, playing with a rhythm section in a move toward mainstream pop. The record landed her opportunities to collaborate with Euro-pop star M and Jacques Higelin, with whom she would travel extensively. Her third studio album, L'Eau, came in 2006. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez