The world was first introduced to the infectious rasp of Mathilde Gerner—aka Hoshi—with her 2018 debut album Il suffit d’y croire, a title that revealed the mindset of an artist full of promise. Though something of a Japanophile (her moniker aptly translates as ‘star’ in Japanese), her songs have a distinct French identity. Inspired by the likes of Jacques Brel, they make for a sleek, modern continuation of the chanson tradition. Tracks such as “Et même après je t’aimerai" capture Hoshi’s unapologetic honesty, emboldened by suspenseful pianos and glossy synths.