Keren Ann

Literate, sophisticated, yet rich with emotion, Keren Ann’s songs are equally beguiling whether she’s performing in French or English. Born Keren Ann Zeidel in Israel in 1974 before she settled in Paris with her family at age 11, she released her first music as a member of the French bands KAB and Shelby before beginning a solo career in close collaboration with Benjamin Biolay, the Parisian songwriter and producer who shares her forte for delicate folk-pop. Rising interest in her music in the U.S. led to Blue Note’s release of 2003’s English-album debut Not Going Anywhere, whose dreamy sound evokes Belle and Sebastian and Beth Orton as well as French forebears such as Françoise Hardy. Named for the area of New York that had become one of her homes, 2004’s Nolita showcased a further set of affecting songs sung in both languages. On subsequent albums, such as 2016’s You’re Gonna Get Love and 2019’s Bleue, Keren Ann introduced further refinements to her sound, including more of the choral and orchestral elements she explores in her sideline career as a film composer.