Benjamin Biolay is French singer, songwriter, producer and actor originally from Villefranche-sur-Saône. He is the brother of singer Coralie Clément, for whom he wrote and produced two albums. He is known for his low voice and for having written and produced albums for the likes of Henri Salvador, Juliette Gréco, Julien Clerc and Françoise Hardy. In 2004 he released an album with his then wife Chiara Mastroianni, under the name Home.

Biolay was born in 1973. He grew listening to classical music, American pop and French traditional music, and studied violin at the Lyon conservatory. In 1996 he signed a contract with EMI as a solo artist. His first releases were relatively un-successful, until, in 1999, he met Keren Ann. Together they wrote the hit "Jardin D'hiver" for Henri Salvador. In 2001, Biolay released his debut album, “Rose Kennedy”, a concept album featuring sumptuous string arrangements and lyrics muttered in a low voice. In 2003 he released the double album “Négatif”, considered his best work to date – it made him one of the key figures in the contemporary chanson genre. In 2005 and 2007 he released two albums with more concise and intimate compositions: “A L'Origine” (2005) and “Trash Yéyé” (2007). In 2009, Biolay made his first album for an independent label, the double CD “La Superbe”. It marked his return to cinematic songs with exuberant arrangements. Biolay has also written and performed the soundtracks for the films “Clara Et Moi” and “Pourquoi Tu Pleures?”, in which he also appears as an actor.

Selected discography

“Rose Kennedy” (EMI, 2002)

“Négatif” (Virgin, 2003)

“La Superbe” (Naïve, 2009)