Singer-songwriter Nalie, originally from Vic-en-Bigorre in Hautes-Pyrénées, is competing in a public contest to open for pop star Lara Fabian in Paris this October.
The competition allows an independent artist to secure the opening slot for the international music icon. Contestants must collect as many votes from the public as possible, with the top 20 artists advancing to a final selection stage to determine who opens the concert.
Within three days of launching her bid, Nalie had already gathered 270 votes. She said she was pleasantly surprised and touched by the public engagement, adding that the early support gave her greater confidence in her project knowing that people believed in her work. If chosen, she said she would approach the performance with a mix of high stress and careful preparation.
Public voting and childhood dreams
For Nalie, opening the show would represent an extraordinary springboard for her career as well as a deeply personal milestone. She explained that she grew up listening to Fabian's music because her older sister was a passionate fan of the singer. She noted that her family even has videos of her at two years old singing Fabian's hit song Je t'aime at the top of her lungs.
Fabian is a Belgian-Canadian vocalist and songwriter celebrated across the Francophone world for her emotional ballads and vocal range. Performing as her opening act at a major venue in Paris, the French capital, offers independent musicians rare exposure to thousands of live concertgoers.
From psychology student to Tarbes Chante winner
Nalie grew up immersed in the performing arts world due to her parents, who worked as intermittent entertainment workers. She recalled being surrounded by stage performances, dance events, and live shows throughout her childhood.
Despite her early exposure to show business, she initially pursued university studies in psychology before turning to songwriting around the age of 18 or 19. She explained that learning another discipline made her realise that music was her true calling. She describes her current musical style as a folk universe rooted in French variety with pop influences.
In France, French variety refers to traditional melodic pop music focused on narrative songwriting, while the intermittent du spectacle status provides specialized social protections for freelance cultural workers. Vic-en-Bigorre is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department of southwestern France, located near the regional capital of Tarbes.
Overcoming shyness on stage
Nalie performs regularly in live venues, where she places high value on personal interaction with the audience. She said that connecting with people is what she enjoys most about being on stage.
She added that live performance brings out a side of her personality that remains hidden in daily life due to her natural shyness. Audience members frequently tell her that she appears much more open and radiant on stage than in real life, feedback she considers a compliment.
Her career previously took her to the United States, where she released an Extended Play record and placed one of her songs in a documentary that won awards at several film festivals. After returning to France, she entered the Tarbes Chante competition in 2024 without expecting to win, having joined simply to have fun.
Winning the 2024 contest in Tarbes boosted her self-assurance. Nalie noted that before the victory she viewed herself primarily as a musician who wrote songs, but now sees herself more as a singer.
