Myriam Roulet, known professionally as RoBERT (born 14 October 1964), is a French singer, composer, and lyricist.
As an independent artist and songwriter, Robert's musical style is described as fairy-like, straddling the line between the tragic and the gothic, sometimes infused with a touch of absurdity. Themes of death, childhood, and love frequently feature in her songs, characterized by her crystalline, often delicate opera voice and the baroque (and occasionally electronic) musical arrangements. Often likened to Mylène Farmer, Barbara, or Marie Laforêt, she has achieved artistic success in France and Belgium, as well as in Japan, despite a certain level of media obscurity. Robert's live performances are often filled with hypnotic, euphoric, and at times dramatic moments.
Early career
In November 1990, Robert released her debut single, "Elle se promène," which was partially produced by Neal Aston in London. This initial song received significant airplay on French radio and even became a dance hit in Japan. The music, combined with the stark atmosphere of its music video directed by John Lvoff, drew the attention of Mylène Farmer, who invited the young artist to participate in two radio shows. Robert subsequently appeared alongside Mylène Farmer and even performed on one of the shows hosted by Nagui.
Sine
Three years later, in 1993, she unveiled her debut album 'Sine,' a project that had taken at least five years to materialize. Sonically and aesthetically, 'Sine' ventured into an underground, cold-techno territory, drawing inspiration from the whimsy of children's fairytales juxtaposed with the stark, urban, and otherworldly imagery.
During this period, her career witnessed memorable collaborations, including a partnership with the visionary French director Michel Gondry for the futuristic 'Les Jupes' music video. She also lent her delicate voice to several tracks on Jean-François Coen's inaugural album, notably 'La Tour de Pise,' for which Michel Gondry once again directed the music video. Furthermore, she shared the stage with Cohen for a captivating live performance of 'La Tour de Pise' on the popular French TV show 'Taratata.'
Princesse de rien
In 1997, Robert released her second album, 'Princesse de rien,' featuring twelve songs. This album marked a significant shift in her musical style, incorporating ancient baroque instruments harmoniously blended with electronic loops and contemporary choreographic structures.
During the same year, she encountered an enthusiastic admirer: the prolific Belgian writer Amélie Nothomb. Nothomb went on to pen 'L'appel de la succube,' a song interpreted by the singer on the second edition of 'Princesse de rien,' released in 2000. Around this time, Robert also held her debut Parisian concert at the Café de la Danse.
Celle qui tue & Unutma
In September 2002, Robert unveiled her third album, 'Celle qui tue,' featuring a collection of 14 songs. This album showcased a distinct shift in style, embracing a more electronic sound and symbolizing Robert's transformation from a princess-like persona into an artistic representation resembling a witch or siren. Notably, Amélie Nothomb contributed lyrics to six of the songs in 'Celle qui tue' and also authored The Book of Proper Names''' a romantically embellished biography of Robert.
In 2004, 'Unutma (N'oublie pas)' emerged as a compilation comprising both old and three new songs, including the Turkish-language track 'Unutma.' A specific song from Robert's prior studio album, 'Le Prince bleu,' captured the attention of American actress Majandra Delfino, who expressed a desire to collaborate with the artist. Subsequently, Robert visited California in 2003 to record a new version of the song, which ultimately found its place in 'Unutma.' This collaboration gave birth to a computer-animated video that garnered numerous awards on a global scale. Additionally, 'Nickel' underwent a remix by Romain Tranchartin 2003.
In 2005, Robert released her inaugural live DVD, capturing the artistically acclaimed performance from her 2004 show at La Cigale.