Raphael Haroche was born in Boulogne, in the Paris suburbs, on 7 November 1975. With a Russian lawyer for a father and an Argentinean lawyer for a mother, Raphael grew up surrounded by the best of both cultures, absorbing the influence of haunting Slav ballads as well as the fast and furious energy of South American rhythms.

Raphael developed a passionate love of music at an early age and he was soon pounding away on the family piano, practising his scales. By the age of seven, the budding musician had discovered the weird and wonderful world of "Ziggy Stardust" thanks to David Bowie. And later musical influences ranged from Iggy Pop and Bob Dylan to French rock group Noir Désir and 'chanson' idols Jacques Brel and Léo Ferré.

Raphael rapidly proved to be a talented musical all-rounder. In his early teens he started out experimenting with the saxophone, but soon came to realise that his need for true creative freedom would only be satisfied by the guitar. Making the most of all that modern technology had to offer, Raphael also made inventive use of samplers and computers in writing his first songs. But for the time being the budding young musician was obliged to keep up his "day job," continuing his studies that would eventually take him to the "Hypokhâgne" (a famous French literary and classical languages institute). However, Raphael's career at the Hypokhâgne proved to be short-lived. He stayed there only three days before migrating to the law faculty instead.

A guest at the "Hotel Universe"

Raphael's desire to live his musical passion to the full soon got the better of his law studies, however, and he dropped out of university to take up a full-time songwriting career. Raphael spent three years writing and composing, only interrupting his creative process for the occasional odd job working as a film extra.

The turning-point of Raphael's early career came when he met Caroline Manset (daughter of French singing star Gérard Manset). Caroline offered to become his manager and soon persuaded the young up-and-coming star to take his demo tape round the offices of the major record labels. Raphael's talent was picked up on immediately. The 24-year-old was snapped up at his very first meeting at EMI, the label signing him up for a debut album on which he was offered creative 'carte blanche'.

Raphael described his first album, "Hôtel de l'Univers," as "a metaphor for life. We're all just guests in this world. We live out the span of our allotted lives and then disappear off the books." Caroline Manset contributed four songs to her protégé's debut, including the album's title track, "Hôtel de l'Univers." The catchy French rock songs on this imaginative debut took a critical look at consumer society ("Cela nous aurait suffi", "Qu’on est bien dans ce monde") and depicted modern relationships with a mixture of tenderness and acerbic humour ("Laisse faire, Libre-service"). Combining the influences of the major pop and 'chanson' figures he had grown up listening to, Raphaël invented his own distinctive style of French rock for the third millennium.

A Kerouac for modern times

Using songwriting as a productive means of exorcising and analysing his own emotions, Raphael has proved to have a prolific talent when visited by the Muse, writing his lyrics in the space of just a few minutes. The marginal American authors who influenced his formative years, such as Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs, add an inspired literary touch to his songwriting.

Raphael has a penchant for finely-crafted sounds and arrangements which he hones for hours in the studio, but he was soon required to prove himself live on stage. Luckily, he proved to be a quick learner. Following the release of his first album, the young talent acquired precious experience supporting French pop diva Vanessa Paradis at a series of Paris concerts and then later on tour. Raphael was also drafted in as a support acct for Jean-Louis Aubert and Frank Black (frontman of The Pixies).

Raphael's promising career was confirmed at the "Victoires de la Musique" Awards in 2002, where he was nominated in the "Best Newcomer of the Year" category. But the main highlight of Raphael's career in 2002 came when he got the chance to support his childhood idol, David Bowie, at an unforgettable concert at the Olympia in Paris.

2003: "Reality"

In the spring of 2003 Raphael went on to bring out his second album, "La Réalité", at the age of 27. This album struck a softer, calmer note, soothing piano notes replacing screeching guitar riffs. As on his previous album, Raphael wrote and composed almost all the songs on "La Réalité" with the exception of two contributions from Gérard Manset(namely "La mémoire des jours"and "Etre Rimbaud"). The twelve tracks on the album produced by Jean Lamoot (renowned for his work with Alain Bashung, Noir Désir and Indochine) struck a realist-poetic theme, songs of solidarity, revolt and rebellion alternating withchildhood reminiscences.

Jean-Louis Aubert joined Raphael for a duet on "Sur la route" (a song inspired by an encounter with a pair of rose-sellers from eastern Europe, whom Raphael met on a night train in Brussels one New Year's Eve). Chosen as the first single release from the album, "Sur la route" won Raphael a whole new following of fans, striking a chord with a broad section of the French public.

After a show-stopping performance at the Olympia on 14 October 2003, Raphael and his musicians hit the road, touring songs from the new album up and down the country. It looks like the young singer, who was compared to Damien Saez at the start of his career, is now carving out his very own niche on the French music scene.

2005: "Caravane"

He sold an impressive 160,000 copies of "La réalité", and quickly got back to work on the next album "Caravane" which came out in 2005.

This time he called on the services of Carlos Alomar, David Bowie's guitarist, and someone he had admired for along time. He also worked with Jean Lamoot and the producer Dominique Blanc-Francard. The lyrics on the album are sensitive – sometimes solemn ("Et dans 150 ans"), sometimes euphoric ("C'est bon aujourd'hui"), sometimes dreamy ("Caravane"), and always characterised by Raphael's inimitable voice.

The album was a success, with the title track getting significant airplay as the album's lead single.

In February 2006, following his phenomenal commercial success (sales of his album having topped 1 million), Raphael scooped a number of awards at the annual "Victoires de la Musique" ceremony. The young newcomer walked off with Best Male Artist of the Year, Best Chansons/Variétés Album and his single "Caravane" won Best Original Song of the Year (a category voted on by the general public).

In the midst of an extensive national tour, Raphael appeared at the legendary Olympia music-hall in Paris (21 - 23 March).

Meanwhile, "Caravane" continued to fly out of record stores, sales eventually topping 1.5 million. Following the success of his tour, Raphael released another live album, entitled "Résistance à la nuit." The following year, fans were treated to another live release, "Une nuit au Châtelet", featuring an acoustic concert the singer had performed at the Théâtre du Châtelet, in Paris, in October 2006.

2008: "Je sais que la terre est plate"
 

Raphael soon got down to working on new material, locking himself away on his own for several weeks to work on new songs at home in the south. After this, he went into the studio with two top producers, Renaud Letang and Tony Visconti (famed for his work with David Bowie). The album "Je sais que la terre est plate" was released in March 2008. This time round, Raphael opened his distinctive pop-folk style to other musical influences.

The first single release, "Le Vent de l'hiver", was infused with a Gypsy sound, for instance, and "La Jonque" (with lyrics by Boris Bergman) had a touch of Asia about it. Another highlight of Raphael’s new album was "Concordia", a song penned by two major music stars, Gérard Manset and Stephan Eicher. Meanwhile, "Adieu Haïti", a reggae duet with Frederick "Toots" Hibbert (of Toots & the Maytals fame), explored the plight of illegal immigrants. Overall, on this new album Raphael proved he was more than a chart-topping phenomenon. He touched on both social and political themes while remaining in his own highly personal music universe.

In May, his partner Melanie Laurent gave birth to a boy called Roman.

He nevertheless embarked on a major tour starting in November and taking in the big French venues. He also gave a concert at the Paris-Bercy Palais Omnisport on 12 December. 

After the fervour of the big venues, in early 2010 the singer set off on an acoustic tour, “Funambule” with the aim of getting back to a more intimate atmosphere with his fans. Performing alone, he sang his repertoire and played piano and guitar. It gave him a chance to try out some of the songs on his forthcoming album. On 16 February, he performed in the Casino de Paris and on 6 April he was at the Marigny Theatre in Paris.

He also wrote four tracks for the young singer Zaz’s album that came out that spring.

Raphael’s acting debut saw him in a Claude Lelouch film entitled “Ces amours-là”, which hit the screens in September 2010.

2010: "Pacific 231"

In September 2010, the young singer released “Pacific 231” (the title of a famous symphony by the composer Arthur Honneger), but it was Alain Bashung’s shadow that permeated the recording, and Raphael openly expressed his admiration for his elder. Some observed that the artist had matured, and the feel of the album was more austere and spare than the previous one. Raphael, close to Gérard Manset, borrowed one of his original songs, “Manteau jaune”. He also set to music a text by Dick Annegarn, “Locomotive”. The humour is black and the themes reflect Raphael’s caustic view of his surroundings and society. Critics praised his risk-taking and artistic blooming.

As usual after releasing an album, Raphael took to the road again. He gave two concerts at the Olympia in Paris on 26 and 27 November.

December 2010

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