Stromae, real name Paul Van Haver, was born on March 12, 1985 in Brussels, Belgium. Of Rwandan origin on his father's side and Belgian on his mother's side, he grew up in the Belgian capital in a modest family. From a young age, he showed an interest in music and began composing his own songs. In 2009, Stromae enjoyed success with his first album "Cheese", driven by the hit single "Danse on danse". His musical style mixing electro, hip-hop and French song appeals to a wide audience and propels him to the forefront of the international scene. This first opus, carried by his singular voice and his committed lyrics, met with great commercial success in Europe and beyond. In 2013, he released his second album "Racine Carrée", which met with phenomenal success. The album was critically acclaimed and won numerous awards, including several Victoires de la Musique. The singles "Papaoutai", "Formidable" and "All the same" became global hits and propelled Stromae to the top of the international charts. Over the years, Stromae consolidated his reputation as a visionary and committed artist. His texts address deep social and political themes, while being carried by catchy melodies. He is praised for his innovative musical style and his ability to reach a wide audience with profound and accessible messages. In parallel with his musical career, Stromae is involved in other artistic projects. In 2014, he launched his own clothing brand, Mosaert, offering original and colorful collections. He also participates in the soundtrack of several films, demonstrating his versatility and creativity in different artistic fields. In 2015, after the success of his world tour, Stromae announced a break in his career for health reasons, notably citing burnout. This period of rest allows him to recharge his batteries and devote himself to other personal and artistic projects. Since then, Stromae has been more discreet on the media scene, but continues to work on new artistic projects. In 2021, he made his return with the single “Santé”, marking his return to the forefront of the musical scene. Despite the ups and downs, Stromae remains one of the most emblematic figures of French-speaking music, with a cultural and artistic impact that goes beyond the borders of his country of origin. His influence continues to inspire many artists and his musical legacy lives on in the contemporary music industry.
