Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Indila
View on Wikipedia
Key Information
Adila Sedraïa (French pronunciation: [adila sedʁaja]; born 26 June 1984), known professionally as Indila (pronounced [indila]), is a French singer-songwriter and record producer.[2] She collaborated with many musicians on vocals and lyrics prior to releasing her first single, "Dernière danse" (English: "Last dance"), in December 2013, which reached SNEP second in France and became in December 2023, 10 years after its release, the first French-language song to exceed one billion views on YouTube. She released her debut album, Mini World, in February 2014, which met commercial success.
Early life
[edit]Adila Sedraïa was born on 26 June 1984, in Paris, France.[3][4][5] Her mother was a caregiver, while her grandmother sang at weddings. She has two sisters.[5] Indila describes herself as a "child of the world" of Algerian, Cambodian, Indian and Egyptian descent.[6][7] Prior to her singing career, she worked as a tour guide at the Marché international de Rungis.[6] She explained that her stage name comes from her immeasurable love for India.[6][8]
In addition to her native French, Indila has provided vocals in English, including "Dreamin'" with Youssoupha[9] and "Bye Bye Sonyé" with DJ Abdel,[10] and sung Hindi refrains in "Criminel" by TLF and "Thug mariage" by Rohff.[11]
Career
[edit]2009-2012: Featuring vocals
[edit]Indila's meeting with record producer Skalpovich allowed her to enter into the world of rap and eventually collaborations with several French rappers.[5][12] Indila began her music career in around 2009, providing vocals for "Invitaation" by Vitaa, "Trinité" by L'Algérino, "Thug mariage" by Rohff, "Hiro" by Soprano, and composing "J'ai besoin d'y croire," sung by Admiral T and among others.[13] "Hiro" was Indila's first successful collaboration, reaching number 26 in the charts in France and 27 in Belgium.[14] She continued to collaborate with several other French rappers and DJs over the next three years, including "Poussière d'empire" with Nessbeal,[15] "Criminel" with TLF,[16] "Press pause" with OGB, "Bye Bye Sonyé" with DJ Abdel,[10] "Dreamin" with Youssoupha, which peaked in July 2012 at number 14 in France's SNEP charts,[17] and "Ma Reine" with Axel Tony.[13] Indila also composed the songs "Plus Haut" by Matt Pokora along with "Avec Toi" by Axel Tony featuring Tunisiano, in which she is credited by her real name, Adila Sedraïa.[13][18] "Avec Toi", which was produced by Skalpovich, reached number 7 in the charts in France in November 2012.[13][18]
2013-2014: Mini World and its commercial success
[edit]In November 2013, Indila released her first single, "Dernière danse" (English: "Last Dance"), from her then-upcoming debut studio album. It reached the top 10 of the French charts on 4 January 2014 and reached number 2 on 18 January, where it remained through the week of 22 March 2014.[19] The song remained in the top 200 in France through April 2015, for a total of 77 weeks in the top 200.[19] It was also a success outside France, by the end of February 2014, "Dernière danse" was the numbers one and two song on iTunes in Greece and Romania as well as Turkey, respectively.[20] The music video for "Dernière danse", released 4 December 2013,[21] reached 100 million views on YouTube 30 July 2014,[13] and has over 1.1 billion views as of 9 February 2026, which marked the first French-language song to exceed one billion views.[22][21]
In February 2014, Indila released her debut studio album, Mini World, which was produced by Skalpovich.[5] In addition to Mini World and "Dernière danse", two other singles from the album reached the top 20 in the charts in France: "Tourner dans le vide" (English: "Spinning in the Emptiness"), which reached number 13,[23] and "S.O.S", which reached number 8.[24] Mini World was the best-selling album in France at the week of its debut and remained among the ten best-selling albums through the week of 11 October 2014.[25] A limited-edition CD/DVD version of Mini World was released in November 2014, with two new songs, orchestral versions of "Tourner dans le vide" and "Love Story", an acoustic version of "S.O.S", and video of live performances of several tracks from the album.[25] A second limited-edition release of Mini World in February 2015 contained ten tracks from the original release, the two new songs from the first limited edition, and another new song.[25] Mini World found success both in France, where it was the third-best-selling album of 2014, and outside the country, where it was the best-seller of 2014 in Poland and second-best-seller of 2014 in Belgium.[26][27][28]
In October 2014, Indila won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best French Artist.[29] In February 2015, she won Best New Album of the Year award for Mini World, at the 30th Victoires de la Musique.[28] In 2015, Indila was among the ten artists to receive the European Border Breakers Award.[30][31]
2019-present: Hiatus and "Parle à ta tête"
[edit]On 23 August 2019, after four years without releasing music, Indila returned with her new song "Parle à ta tête" (English: "Speak to Your Head").[32] On 14 November, the music video for the song was released.[33] In October 2020, Amir's single "Carrousel", a duet with Indila, was released.[34] A music video for the song followed in April 2021. In January 2023, Zaho unveiled the track "Roi 2 cœurs" in duet with Indila, on her album Résilience.[35]
In May 2025, Entrevue reported that Indila is working on her new upcoming studio album. According to Le Parisien, she finished her recording of the album in December 2024, and she is set to embark a tour on a large scale with a new artistic team and label.[36][37]
Artistry
[edit]
Indila's vocal range spans from F3 – D♯5 and has alto type.[38] She has cited Enrico Macias as her first musical influence, with others influences being Michael Jackson, Ismaël Lo, Buika, Warda, Jacques Brel, Lata Mangeshkar and Édith Piaf.[5][39]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [25] |
BEL (FL) [40] |
BEL (WA) [41] |
GER [42] |
POL [43] |
SWI [44] | |||
| Mini World |
|
1 | 16 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 11 | |
Singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [25] |
AUT | BEL (FL) [40] |
BEL (WA) [41] |
GER [42] |
POL [48] |
SWI [44] |
GRE [49] |
ISR [50] |
TUR [51] | ||||
| "Dernière danse" | 2013 | 2 | 46 | 5 | 2 | 46 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Mini World | |
| "Tourner dans le vide" | 2014 | 13 | 2 | 18 | 11 | 28 | 78 | 89 | 10 | 96 | 23 | ||
| "S.O.S" | 8 | — | 3 | — | — | 6 | 10 | — | — | — | |||
| "Run Run" | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Love Story" | 57 | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Parle à ta tête" | 2019 | —[a] | — | — | —[b] | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBA | |
| "Dernière danse (Techno Mix)"[56] | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
Other charted songs
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [25] | |||
| "Tu ne m'entends pas" | 2014 | 116 | Mini World |
| "Boîte en argent" | 121 | ||
| "Mini World" | 136 | ||
| "Ego" | 149 | ||
| "Comme un bateau" | 153 | ||
| "Feuille d'automne" | 80 | Mini World Limited Edition (Bonus Tracks) | |
| "Ainsi bas la vida" | 103 |
As featured artist
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [25] |
BEL (WA) [41] |
SWI [41] | |||
| "Criminel" (TLF featuring Indila)[16] |
2010 | — | — | — | Renaissance |
| "Poussière d'empire" (Nessbeal featuring Indila)[15] |
— | — | — | NE2S | |
| "Hiro" (Soprano featuring Indila)[11] |
26 | 27 | — | La colombe | |
| "Thug Mariage" (Rohff featuring Indila)[11] |
2011 | — | — | — | La cuenta |
| "Bye Bye Sonyé" (DJ Abdel featuring Indila)[10] |
— | — | — | Evolution 2011 | |
| "Dreamin'" (Youssoupha featuring Indila & Skalpovitch)[11] |
2012 | 14 | 8* (Ultratop) |
65 | Noir désir |
| "Garde L'équilibre" (H Magnum featuring Indila)[57] |
2015 | 96 | — | — | Gotham City |
| "Carrousel" (Amir Haddad featuring Indila)[34] |
2020 | 191 | — | — | Ressources |
| "Roi 2 cœurs" (Zaho featuring Indila)[35] |
2023 | 104 | — | — | Résilience |
| *Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts. | |||||
Other vocals
[edit]| Title | Artist | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Invitaation"[58] | Vitaa | 2009 | Celle que je vois |
| "Trinité"[13][59] | L'Algérino | 2010 | Effet miroir |
| "À L'ancienne"[60] | 113 | Universel | |
| "Press pause"[13] | OGB | 2011 | La mémoire |
| "Yema"[61] | Kayna Samet | 2012 | A coeur ouvert |
| "Plus jamais"[62] | Sultan | Des Jours Meilleurs |
Songwriting credits
[edit]Besides songs appearing in Mini World and "Parle à ta tête", Indila is credited as a songwriter in the following songs:
- 2010: "Poussière d'empire" by Nessbeal feat. Indila.[63]
- 2010: "J'ai besoin d'y croire" by Admiral T feat. Awa Imani and Indila.[13]
- 2010: "Thug mariage" by Rohff feat. Indila.[13]
- 2011: "Bye Bye Sonyé" by DJ Abdel feat. Indila.[64]
- 2012: "Avec toi" by Axel Tony featuring Tunisiano and Indila.[13]
- 2012: "Plus haut" by M. Pokora feat. Indila.[13]
- 2012: "Plus jamais" by Sultan feat. Indila.[65]
- 2012: "Dreamin'" by Youssoupha feat. Indila and Skalpovitch.[13]
- 2013: "Ma reine" by Axel Tony feat. Admiral T and Indila.[13]
- 2016: "Baila" by Ishtar feat. Indila.[63]
- 2016: "Pour toi et moi" by Ishtar feat. Indila.[63]
- 2021: "Carrousel" by Amir feat. Indila.[34]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Universal Music – Indila – Bio". Switzerland: Universal Music. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ Bureau, Éric (27 January 2014). "Indila : le tube surprise de l'hiver" [Indila: the surprise tube of winter] (in French). Le Parisien. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- ^ "Indila – Universal Music France" (in French). France: Universal Music. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Musée SACEM: Indila". Musée SACEM. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Indila". Gala France (in French). Prisma Média. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ a b c Bureau, Eric (27 January 2014). "Video. Indila : le tube surprise de l'hiver" [Indila: the surprise single of winter]. Le Parisien (in French). Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "Photos : Indila : 5 choses à savoir sur LA nouvelle chanteuse qui nous fait danser !" [Photos: Indila : 5 things to know about the new singer who makes us dance!] (in French). Public.fr. 30 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "The Winners: Indila". European Border Breakers Awards. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ Youssoupha feat Indila & Skalpovich – Dreamin' – Clip (Officiel) (video) (in French and English). Bomayé Musik. Event occurs at 0:01–0:20, 1:03–1:46, 2:27–2:50. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c Dj Abdel – Bye Bye Sonyé Feat. Indila (video). Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d "Indila : La révélation musicale de ce début d'année" [Indila : The musical revelation of this beginning of the year]. Booska-P (in French). 20 January 2014. Archived from the original on 29 January 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "Indila performs twice in the same day in Bucharest". City Compass. 28 November 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Riaud, Edouard (6 October 2014). "Focus : Indila, qui est la révélation musicale de l'année ?". Ados.fr (in French). Lagardère Digital France. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "Soprano – Hiro (Chanson)". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Ne2s – Nessbeal" (in French). Apple Music. 14 June 2010. Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Criminel - Song". Apple Music. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ "Youssoupha Feat. Indila & Skalpovitch – Dreamin' (Chanson)". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Axel Tony Feat. Tunisiano - Avex Toi (Chanson)". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Indila – Dernière danse (Chanson)". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ "Le succès international d'Indila !" [Indila's international success!]. Contact FM. 24 February 2014. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ a b Indila – Dernière Danse (Clip Officiel) (video) (in French). 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 5 December 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ ""Dernière danse" d'Indila devient la première chanson francophone à atteindre un milliard de vues sur YouTube" [Indila's "Dernière danse" becomes the first French-language song to reach a billion views on YouTube]. BFMTV. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ "Indila – Tourner dans le vide (Chanson)". Lescharts. France: SNEP. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ "Indila – S.O.S (Chanson)". Lescharts. France: SNEP. 9 June 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Indila – Mini World (Album)". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ Hamard, Jonathan (20 January 2015). "Indila en tête du palmarès des meilleures ventes de l'année 2014... en Pologne !" (in French). Purebreak Charts. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ Hamard, Jonathan (4 April 2014). "Indila part (déjà) à la conquête des charts internationaux..." (in French). Purebreak Charts. Archived from the original on 6 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Victoires: Indila album révélation de l'année" (in French). RTBF. Agence France Presse. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ "Julien Doré, Casseurs Flowters, Indila... les nommés français aux MTV EMA 2014" (in French). PureMédias. 10 September 2011. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Hozier wins European Border Breakers Award". Hot Press. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ "EBBA Music Award Show 2015". Creative Europe. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ Indila [@Indila] (23 August 2019). "At least 4 years of silence I would say? I apologize for those who waited for what has been an eternity... Long story short, I am back on the Dreamers Train. Welcome on board. Indila" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2025 – via Twitter.
- ^ Indila – Parle à ta tête (Clip Officiel) (video) (in French). 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 September 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c "Amir raconte "Carrousel", son duo avec Indila : "La chanson a créé cette rencontre"" [Amir tells "Carrousel," his duet with Indila, "The song created this encounter"] (in French). Chart in France. 15 October 2020. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ a b "Roi 2 cœurs - Song by Zaho". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 30 November 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ "Indila is preparing her big comeback with a new album and a new tour". Entrevue (in French). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "L'album est fini, une tournée se prépare : Indila enfin de retour onze ans après « Dernière danse »". Le Parisien (in French). 7 May 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Indila – Artist vocal range". Singing Carrots. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Indila" (in French). NRJ. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Indila". ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Indila". ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ a b "Suchen nach Indila". offiziellecharts.de. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ Peak chart positions in Poland:
- Mini World: "Official Retail Sales Chart :: sales for the period 2 March 2015 – 8 March 2015". OLiS. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Indila – hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ leblogtvnews.com. "Indila reçoit des mains de Michel Drucker un disque de diamant. - Leblogtvnews.com". Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ a b "ultratop.be – ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ www.onyx.pl, Onyx Sp. z o.o., tel. +48 22 3377222. "ZPAV :: Bestsellery i wyróżnienia – Wyróżnienia – Diamentowe płyty CD – Archiwum". bestsellery.zpav.pl. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Indila – Dernière danse (Top Airplay)". ZPAV. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
"Indila – S.O.S (Top Airplay)". ZPAV. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2015. - ^ "Greece Digital Songs – March 8, 2014". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 8 March 2014. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2014. (subscription required)
- ^ "Weekly Charts". Media Forest. 29 March 2014. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ "Number 1 – April 15, 2014". Number One. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ^ "Ils ont marqué l'année 2014 à l'export" [They marked 2014 as an export year]. SNEP. 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Indila)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ^ "American certifications – Indila". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – semaine du 30 août 2019". SNEP (Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique). Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- ^ Kitwa, Prisca (1 February 2024). "« Dernière danse » : Indila sort un remix pour les dix ans du titre" ["Dernière danse": Indila releases a remix for the ten years of the title] (in French). NRJ. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ "Garde l'équilibre (feat. Indila) – Single by H Magnum". Spotify. 2015. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ "Celle que je vois". Tidal. 8 December 2009. Credits. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ L'Algérino – Trinité (Clip Officiel HD) (video) (in French). 29 March 2010. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Universel". Tidal. 26 November 2010. Credits. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ "Yema - Single". Apple Music. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ "Plus jamais - Song". Apple Music. 5 November 2012. Credits. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ a b c "Adila Sedraia". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ "DJ Abdel Feat. Indila – Bye Bye Sonyé (Chanson)". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 18 December 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ "Sultan [FR] – Plus Jamais (Chanson)". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
Indila
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Childhood and family background
Adila Sedraïa, professionally known as Indila, was born on June 26, 1984, in Paris, France. She grew up in the city's 19th arrondissement, a diverse neighborhood reflecting the multicultural fabric of urban Paris. Her family background is marked by immigration from multiple regions, shaping her identity as a "child of the world," as she has described herself.[11] Indila's heritage is a blend of Algerian, Cambodian, Indian, and Egyptian descent, stemming from her parents' and grandparents' origins across these countries.[11] She was raised by her mother, who worked as an aide-soignante, or caregiver, providing care in a modest household,[12] while her grandmother balanced a daytime role as a midwife with evening performances as a singer at weddings.[13] This immigrant lineage introduced Indila to a rich tapestry of languages and musical traditions from an early age, including Arabic influences from Algerian roots and Eastern rhythms from Indian and Cambodian elements.[14] The family's modest circumstances and cross-cultural dynamics contributed to a somewhat turbulent childhood, characterized by themes of displacement and resilience that later echoed in her personal reflections.[11] Raised alongside her two older sisters in this vibrant, multicultural Parisian environment,[12] Indila's early years fostered an appreciation for global sounds, laying the groundwork for her eclectic artistic sensibilities without formal musical training at the time.[13]Early career aspirations
In her early twenties, Adila Sedraïa, known professionally as Indila, worked as a tour guide at the Marché international de Rungis, the world's largest wholesale food market located on the outskirts of Paris.[15] This role provided her with a practical means of livelihood while she nurtured her growing passion for music, reflecting a period of professional exploration before fully committing to the arts.[11] The job, which involved leading tours through the bustling market's vast halls, highlighted her outgoing personality and ability to connect with diverse groups, skills that would later translate to her stage presence.[16] Indila's musical skills were largely self-taught, developed through personal dedication rather than formal training.[13] She has described herself as completely autodidacte, spending significant time experimenting with melodies and rhythms on her own.[17] This approach was influenced by her family's multicultural heritage, which exposed her to a rich tapestry of sounds from Algerian, Indian, Egyptian, and Cambodian traditions, fostering an early appreciation for global rhythms and fostering amateur singing at home.[18] Her first exposure to professional recording came through involvement in local music scenes in the late 2000s, where she began experimenting with vocal contributions in informal settings. By around 2009, Indila made the deliberate decision to pursue music as a full-time profession, marking a pivotal shift from her previous occupations and amateur pursuits toward a structured entry into the industry.[19] This period represented a culmination of her self-driven learning and cultural inspirations, setting the foundation for her subsequent development as a singer-songwriter.Career
Collaborations and pre-fame work (2000s–2012)
Indila entered the music industry in the late 2000s as a session vocalist, providing uncredited background vocals for tracks in the French rap and R&B scenes. Her professional debut came in 2009 with backing vocals on "Invitaation" from Vitaa’s album Celle que je vois, produced by Skalpovich, marking the start of her collaborations with prominent figures in urban music.[20][19] Throughout 2010 and 2011, she contributed featured vocals to several high-profile releases by French rappers, often blending her soulful style with rap verses. Notable examples include "Criminel" by TLF, where she delivered the chorus in a mix of French and Romani-inspired phrasing; "Poussière d'empire" by Nessbeal, a politically charged track reflecting on colonialism; "Thug Mariage" by Rohff, incorporating romantic and cultural elements; and "Hiro" by Soprano, which addressed themes of perseverance and reached number 26 on the French charts. These appearances showcased her versatility as a vocalist in the underground urban circuit, though she remained largely anonymous without solo credits. By 2012, Indila's growing reputation through these collaborations culminated in her most successful pre-solo feature on "Dreamin'" by Youssoupha, which peaked at number 14 on the French Singles Chart in July of that year. Having built a solid underground following via dozens of session contributions across the French rap landscape, she signed with Capitol Music France around this time, transitioning toward her own artistic identity.[19]Breakthrough with Mini World (2013–2014)
Indila's breakthrough came with the release of her debut single "Dernière danse" on December 4, 2013, which quickly rose to No. 2 on the French singles chart.[21] The track also topped the charts in Greece and Israel, marking her first major international success. By May 2023, the official music video had amassed over one billion views on YouTube, making it the first French-language song to reach that milestone. Her debut album, Mini World, followed on February 24, 2014, debuting at No. 1 on the French Albums Chart and displacing Stromae's long-running hit. The album was certified diamond in France for sales exceeding 500,000 units by the end of 2014, and it ranked as the third best-selling album of the year in the country.[22][23] Subsequent singles from Mini World further solidified her chart presence, including "Tourner dans le vide," which peaked at No. 13 in France, "S.O.S" at No. 8, and "Love Story" at No. 57.[24][25][26] These releases highlighted her growing popularity, driven by her distinctive blend of pop and world music influences. In recognition of her rapid rise, Indila won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best French Act in 2014.[27] The following year, at the 30th Victoires de la Musique, she received the award for Revelation Album of the Year for Mini World.[28]Later releases and comeback (2015–present)
Following the breakthrough success of her debut album Mini World, Indila adopted a more selective approach to her career, entering a hiatus from solo releases after 2014 that lasted until 2019.[29] During this period, she maintained a low public profile while occasionally contributing to collaborations, allowing her to focus on personal and creative development away from the spotlight. This deliberate pause contrasted with the intense promotional cycle of her early breakthrough, emphasizing her preference for quality over frequent output.[10] Indila marked her return with the single "Parle à ta tête" on August 23, 2019, produced by Skalpovich and released via Capitol Music France. The track quickly gained traction, peaking at No. 2 on the French downloads chart.[30] Building on this momentum, she featured on Amir's "Carrousel" in 2020, a nostalgic duet that evoked themes of childhood and love, released as part of his album Ressources.[31] In 2023, she collaborated with Zaho on "Roi 2 cœurs," a poignant track about heartbreak and choice from Zaho's album Résilience, further showcasing her emotive vocal style in a featured capacity. In 2024, Indila released the non-album single "Dernière danse (Techno Mix)" in collaboration with German DJ BENNETT, reimagining her 2013 hit with pulsating electronic beats under Island Def Jam.[32] The track revitalized her signature sound for contemporary audiences, amassing millions of streams globally. As of November 2025, no further solo releases or tour announcements have been confirmed, though rumors of a second album persist amid ongoing interest in her catalog. Indila's work has garnered increasing international recognition beyond French-speaking markets, with tracks like "Dernière danse" ranking as the second-most streamed French-language song among non-French listeners on Spotify.[33] This global appeal, driven by streaming platforms, has expanded her fanbase in regions such as Latin America, Asia, and English-speaking countries, where her multilingual influences and cinematic production resonate widely.[34]Artistry
Musical style and themes
Indila's music is characterized by a distinctive fusion of R&B, pop, world music, and cinematic elements, often featuring lush orchestral arrangements layered over electronic beats to create an emotive, atmospheric sound.[19] This blend draws from her multicultural heritage, incorporating influences from North African raï, Indian motifs, and Cambodian rhythms into French pop structures, resulting in tracks that evoke both intimacy and grandeur.[18] Her debut album Mini World exemplifies this style, with sweeping strings and subtle synth pulses underpinning her vocals, as seen in the production of singles like "Dernière danse."[19] Lyrically, Indila explores recurring themes of love, loss, resilience, and cultural identity, often through poetic narratives that reflect personal and emotional struggles. In "Dernière danse," for instance, she delves into the torment of unrequited love and emotional isolation, portraying a protagonist trapped in cycles of suffering yet finding strength to persist.[35] Similarly, "Love Story" weaves tales of enduring devotion amid separation and hardship, emphasizing determination in the face of adversity.[36] These motifs highlight her focus on human vulnerability and recovery, infused with subtle nods to immigrant experiences and cross-cultural longing.[35] Her lyrics are predominantly in French, delivered with a poetic flair that incorporates multilingual elements, including Arabic phrases and English interjections, to enhance thematic depth and accessibility.[18] This linguistic versatility mirrors her Algerian, Indian, Egyptian, and Cambodian roots, allowing her to bridge personal identity with universal emotions.[19] Indila's sound has evolved from her early 2000s collaborations on urban rap tracks, where she provided soulful hooks for French hip-hop artists, to more sophisticated, emotive solo productions in the 2010s that prioritize orchestral drama and introspective storytelling.[19] This shift, evident from her breakout in 2013, marks a departure from gritty rap features toward a polished, cinematic aesthetic that amplifies her thematic explorations.[19]Vocal range and technique
Indila possesses a vocal range of F3 to D♯5, spanning approximately 1.8 octaves, which allows her to navigate both lower and higher registers with relative ease.[37] She is classified as an alto, a voice type characterized by its rich, lower female timbre that suits her blend of pop and world music influences.[38] Her singing technique features controlled vibrato, which adds emotional depth to sustained notes, and a breathy timbre that imparts a soft, intimate quality to her delivery, as heard in tracks like "Love Story."[39] Indila also incorporates melismatic runs in her higher registers, enabling fluid, ornamented phrasing that enhances the melodic expressiveness of her performances. These elements contribute to her distinctive sound, marked by precise pitch control and dynamic variation. Indila demonstrates remarkable vocal adaptability, transitioning seamlessly from rhythmic rap hooks in her early collaborations—such as those with artists like Soprano and Rohff—to long, sustained ballad phrases in songs like "Tourner dans le vide," where she holds notes with clarity and resonance.[39] Her technique was honed through years of session work and background vocals in the French music scene during the 2000s and early 2010s, prior to her solo breakthrough.[40] This practical refinement allowed her to develop a versatile style without formal conservatory training.Influences
Indila's musical influences are deeply rooted in her multicultural heritage, which includes Algerian, Egyptian, Indian, and Cambodian ancestry. This background exposed her to a wide array of global sounds from an early age, shaping her appreciation for diverse genres and traditions.[18] Among her primary influences, Michael Jackson stands out for infusing her work with pop dynamism and rhythmic energy, while Édith Piaf contributes to the emotional depth and dramatic delivery in her vocal performances. Lata Mangeshkar, the iconic Indian playback singer, inspires the incorporation of classical Indian melodic elements, evident in the subtle ornamentations and scales that appear in tracks like "S.O.S" from her debut album Mini World. Additionally, Enrico Macias, whom Indila has named as her first musical inspiration, influences her fusion of North African and French styles, reflecting her Algerian roots through nostalgic and heartfelt melodies.[38][41] Other notable influences include Ismaël Lo for Senegalese mbalax rhythms, Buika for flamenco-soul expressiveness, Warda Al-Jazairia for Algerian folk traditions, and Jacques Brel for the poetic intensity of French chanson. These draw from world and folk fusion, allowing Indila to blend Algerian raï's percussive drive, Cambodian rhythmic motifs from her heritage, and the narrative elegance of French chanson into her core R&B framework, as seen in the multicultural layering of her album Mini World.[41][18]Personal life
Marriage and privacy
Indila has been notably private about her personal affairs, rarely disclosing details about her relationships or family. She married the music producer Pascal Koeu, professionally known as Skalpovich or DJ Skalp, in 2007, with whom she shares a long-standing artistic and personal partnership. No information about children has been publicly shared by Indila or confirmed in reliable sources.[42] Her approach to privacy is deliberate and consistent; she avoids media appearances, shuns social media platforms, and takes measures to protect her family from public exposure, allowing her to focus on her craft without the pressures of celebrity scrutiny. This discretion extends to her living arrangements, where she has maintained a low-profile existence following her rise to fame, prioritizing personal projects over constant visibility.[43][44] In discussions around her 2014 album Mini World, which Skalpovich co-produced, Indila has hinted that their deep bond informs the recurring themes of love and emotional intimacy in her songwriting, describing their collaboration as an intuitive "evidence" that shapes her lyrical expression. This personal connection underscores her selective engagement with the public sphere, influencing her career choices toward authenticity over widespread exposure.[45][44]Public image
Indila has cultivated a distinctly enigmatic public image throughout her career, characterized by her reclusiveness and minimal media engagement. Known for her discretion, she has rarely granted interviews or made public appearances, preferring to let her music speak for itself rather than seeking the spotlight typical of many pop artists. This aura of mystery has been amplified by her long periods of absence from the public eye, including an 11-year hiatus following her debut album Mini World in 2014, during which she avoided live performances and promotional tours.[10] Her fanbase remains robust, particularly in France where she achieved diamond certification for her debut album, and has expanded internationally largely through digital platforms like YouTube. The official music video for her breakthrough single "Dernière Danse" has amassed over 1.3 billion views on the platform as of November 2025, making it one of the most-watched French-language videos globally and underscoring her appeal beyond francophone audiences. With her official YouTube channel boasting nearly 8 million subscribers and total views exceeding 3.5 billion as of November 2025, Indila's emotive, genre-blending style has fostered a dedicated online following that sustains her relevance without traditional promotional efforts.[46] Rumors of a potential comeback with a second album persist as of November 2025, though no official details have been announced. This elusive persona continues to captivate, blending cultural heritage influences with universal emotional resonance in her work.Discography
Studio albums
Indila's debut studio album, Mini World, was released on February 24, 2014, by Capitol Music France and Island Def Jam Music Group.[47] The album was primarily produced by Skalpovich, a French producer who had previously worked with Indila on her earlier featured tracks.[48] Comprising 13 tracks, it features a fusion of pop, R&B, world music, and oriental influences, showcasing Indila's songwriting alongside Skalpovich's layered production.[49] The standard tracklist is as follows:- Dernière danse
- Tourner dans le vide
- Love Story
- S.O.S
- Comme un bateau
- Run Run
- Ego
- Boite en argent
- Jour 1
- Je n'fais que
- Mini World
- Ma vie
- Tourner dans le vide (version acoustique)
Singles as lead artist
Indila's debut single "Dernière danse", released on November 13, 2013, marked her breakthrough, peaking at number 2 on the French Singles Chart and achieving significant international success, including number 1 positions in Greece and Israel. The track was certified diamond by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP) in France for sales exceeding 500,000 units, reflecting its enduring popularity. Its official music video, directed by the artist herself, has amassed over 1.3 billion views on YouTube as of November 2025.[54][55][56] The follow-up single "Tourner dans le vide", released in April 2014 from her album Mini World, reached number 13 on the French Singles Chart and charted at number 11 in Wallonia, Belgium. It earned a diamond certification in France from SNEP, underscoring its commercial impact alongside strong streaming performance. The music video, featuring Indila in evocative desert imagery, has garnered hundreds of millions of views globally.[24][57] "S.O.S", released in June 2014, peaked at number 8 on the French Singles Chart and topped airplay charts in Poland and Romania. Certified platinum in France by SNEP, the song's urgent, multilingual lyrics contributed to its radio dominance. Its official video, blending dramatic visuals with Indila's performance, has exceeded 300 million YouTube views.[58][57] "Love Story", the fourth single from Mini World released in October 2014, entered the French Singles Chart at number 57 and achieved moderate success in Belgium, peaking at number 48 in Wallonia. While it did not receive a SNEP certification, the orchestral-influenced track resonated with fans, and its music video has surpassed 444 million views on YouTube.[26][59] After a five-year hiatus, Indila returned with "Parle à ta tête" on August 23, 2019, which peaked at number 35 on the French Singles Chart upon its digital release. The single was certified gold in France by SNEP on August 7, 2025, based on over 15 million streams (exceeding 75,000 equivalent units), and gold for exports as of December 31, 2023. The music video, showcasing Indila in a surreal, introspective setting, has accumulated tens of millions of views.[30][60][61] In January 2024, a techno remix of "Dernière danse" featuring DJ BENNETT was released, revitalizing the original hit and propelling it back onto European charts, including peaks at number 46 in both Austria and Germany, and number 35 in the Netherlands. The remix earned no separate SNEP certification but boosted overall streams, with the lyric video exceeding 15 million YouTube views. No new lead singles were released by Indila in 2025 as of November.[21][32]| Year | Single | Peak (FRA) | Certifications (FRA) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "Dernière danse" | 2 | Diamond (SNEP) | Mini World |
| 2014 | "Tourner dans le vide" | 13 | Diamond (SNEP) | Mini World |
| 2014 | "S.O.S" | 8 | Platinum (SNEP) | Mini World |
| 2014 | "Love Story" | 57 | — | Mini World |
| 2019 | "Parle à ta tête" | 35 | Gold (SNEP) | — |
| 2024 | "Dernière danse (Techno Mix)" (with BENNETT) | — | — | — |