Zaz is back with a new album - personal, mature and musically rebalanced. In "Je Pardonne", the first single, the French singer is vulnerable and reflective: "I forgive to forget / to breathe / to stop stirring my wounds." The song - and the accompanying album - were written in the spirit of reconciliation, with others and with oneself. It is Zaz's sixth studio album, the first on her new label Tôt ou Tard, and it marks a turning point. After years of touring around the world, the artist wanted to create a work that was entirely about herself. The lyrics are biographically tinged, the themes personal - shaped, for example, by the death of her father or coming to terms with past crises. At the same time, she succeeds in creating a universal language from the private. Musically, Zaz is diverse: the album moves confidently and stylishly between acoustic chanson, folk, jazzy arrangements and pop-like sounds. The voice remains the central means of expression - fragile, strong, direct. Whether in the tender ballad "J'imagine Que Tu Sais", the light-footed waltz "Camarade" or the dynamic "Mon Cœur, Tu Es Fou": Zaz succeeds in conveying emotions without exaggeration. She has worked closely with various songwriters for the new tracks, including Laurent Lamarca, Noé Preszow and Raphaël, with whom she has previously collaborated musically. Lyrics, themes and compositions were developed together - always with the aim of remaining approachable and authentic. The production also plays a central role. The album was recorded at Kitchen Studios in Brussels, accompanied by two members of the band Puggy (Romain Descampe (bass, guitars, programming) and Ziggy Franzén (drums, keyboards, percussion). There, Zaz used the quiet night hours for her vocal recordings - spontaneously, with as little editing as possible, focusing on whole takes instead of editing techniques. The musicians and producers opted for an analog, organic approach - and deliberately avoided digital smoothing of all details. A stylistic device that audibly gives the music room to breathe. It is no coincidence that "voice" (voix) and "life" (vie) share the same initial letter in French. For Zaz, singing is more than just a talent - it is an expression, an outlet and a survival strategy. The singer from Indre-Et-Loire has had an eventful life that has shaped her artistic approach. Her international potential was recognized early on: in 2011 she was selected by Martin Scorsese for the soundtrack of the film Hugo Cabret, and in 2014 Quincy Jones was involved in the production of her album of Parisian classics. Zaz consistently refrains from international adaptation and remains true to her language - and with success: whether in Germany, Colombia, Poland or Spain - her voice crosses borders without bowing to the global mainstream. She has also been commercially successful for years: all of her previous studio albums have made it into the German Top 10, and her biggest hit "Je Veux" stayed in the singles charts for almost a year - and went gold. Zaz has changed. The singer, who once attracted attention with her unbridled energy on stage, is now calmer and more focused, without losing her emotional core. She now abstains from alcohol, meat, coffee and cigarettes - which is also reflected in the attitude of the album: concentrated, clear, sometimes quiet, but always to the point. Before she went into the studio, Zaz tested her new songs on a club tour through Europe - on a smaller scale, close to the audience. This direct exchange helped to shape the new tracks. A total of 25 songs were recorded and around 15 will make it onto the album. The first single "Je Pardonne" and the album title "Sains & Saufs" summarize the direction well: Zaz talks about vulnerability and strength, about letting go, new beginnings and self-acceptance. And she does so with an artistic maturity that makes her more than ever an exceptional voice in French pop.