In the ‘90s, singer Françoiz Breut established herself as an important player on the French music scene. Known for melancholy, introspective lyrics and a smoky, jazz-tinged approach to pop/rock, Breut has inspired a variety of comparisons. She has been compared to the influential ‘60s ye-ye icon Françoise Hardy and German singer Nico. Other comparisons have ranged from Marianne Faithfull and Suzanne Vega to Tom Waits and Nick Cave, but Breut sings in French more often than not. While the language barrier prevented her from becoming well known in the U.S., it wasn't as much of an issue in Europe. ~ Alex Henderson