Etienne Daho
Biography
Étienne Daho, born 14 January 1956 in Oran, is a French singer who settled in Rennes in the 1960s; as a teenager he socialized with members of Marquis de Sade and Étage 34.
In autumn 1979 he recorded his first songs with Jacques Tellitocci on guitar; his first album was released in 1981 with former Marquis de Sade musicians. Since then he has enjoyed significant success in the francophone world with many pop tracks blending synthesizers and rock influences.
His low, whispering voice is sometimes compared to that of Leonard Cohen or Benjamin Biolay; he cites Francoise Hardy as a major influence. His music videos have also been notable for their visual innovation.
The single Weekend à Rome (1984), and then in 1985, triggered a true ‘Dahomania’ in France. He is especially known in the United Kingdom for his participation on He's On The Phone, an English adaptation of ‘Weekend à Rome’; his collaboration with Saint Etienne continued on the EP Resurrection, the album Eden and the single Le Premier Jour, the latter based on the track Ready or Not.
His duets and collaborations on stage and in the studio include artists such as Chris Isaak, Marianne Faithfull, Elli Medeiros, Astrud Gilberto, Vanessa Daou and the Swingle Singers; more recently he recorded the duet If with Charlotte Gainsbourg in 2004.
The album Eden (1996) explores various electronic territories, from downtempo ballads to drum’n’bass and HiNRG influences. After the compilation Singles (1998), Corps & armes (2000) marked a return to a more orchestral sound driven by traditional instruments; Réévolution (2004) again shifted toward a guitar-centered rock sound.
In 2012 he produced and composed songs for the actress and singer Lou Doillon’s debut album, Places. In 2020 he became the French ambassador of the French Record Store Day.