Mylène Farmer

About her

Mylène Jeanne Gautier, born on the 12th of September 1961, known professionally as Mylène Farmer, is a French singer and songwriter. Having sold more than 30 million records worldwide, she is among the most successful recording artists of all time in France, where she holds the record for the most number one hit singles, with twenty-one - eight of which were consecutive. Born in Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada (a former city now part of the Montreal borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro), to French parents, the family soon relocated to Chaville, near Paris, where Farmer pursued a career in modelling and acting. She later gained prominence as a recording artist with the release of her debut single "Maman a tort" in 1984. In 1988, she released her second studio album, Ainsi soit je..., which sold 1.5 million copies in France. The album spawned Farmer's first number one on the French singles chart, "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces". Her third studio album, L'autre..., sold two million copies, becoming Farmer's best-selling album to date. Its lead single, "Désenchantée", became Farmer's most successful single, and is often described as her signature song. Departing from the synth-pop and Europop soundscape of her first albums, Farmer reinvented her musical style with the release of her fourth studio album, Anamorphosée, in 1995. Recorded in the United States, the album features more live instrumentation and shows rock and R&B-oriented influences. Her fifth studio album, Innamoramento, was released in 1999, featuring more electronic influences. In the second part of the 2000s, Farmer continued exploring a range of genres on her albums, namely acoustic pop music on Avant que l'ombre... and electronica on Point de suture. In 2010, Farmer released her eighth studio album, Bleu noir. The album marked Farmer's return to the dark synth-pop and Europop production of her first albums. The lead single, "Oui mais... non", sold over 130,000 copies in France. In 2015, Farmer's tenth studio album, Interstellaires, debuted at number one in France; the album was preceded by the lead single "Stolen Car", a duet with Sting, which reached the number one position on the French singles chart in September 2015. Her eleventh studio album, Désobéissance, was released in 2018, debuting at number one and selling over 265.000 copies. In addition to her music career, Farmer also worked as a lyricist for French singer Alizée, while also being responsible for her image and public appearances. Her debut single, "Moi... Lolita", co-written by Farmer, reached number one in several countries in Europe, and peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart in February 2002. Farmer made her film debut in 1994, starring in Giorgino, and in 2018, she starred in the English-language horror film Ghostland. Throughout her career, Farmer has broken a number of records. She is the best-selling French singer since 1984, has a record number of diamond records, and she is the only artist to have obtained a diamond album in four consecutive decades. Selling over two million copies, her 2001 greatest hits album Les Mots is the highest-selling compilation album by a French recording artist.

Musical collaborations

Musically, Farmer is usually described as a pop and French pop artist, nevertheless, she is known for reinventing her style with every album cycle. All her albums between 1984 and 2008 were produced by her collaborator, Laurent Boutonnat. Her first albums, Cendres de lune, Ainsi soit je... and L'autre... feature dark synth-pop and new wave instrumentation. 1995 saw the release of Anamorphosée, which features more simplistic lyrics and pop rock-influenced music. Innamoramento and Avant que l'ombre... are often described as merging acoustic instruments with electronic beats. Farmer then experimented with electronica and club music on 2008's Point de suture. In 2010, Farmer released her first album without Laurent Boutonnat, Bleu noir, featuring songs produced by RedOne, Moby and British alternative band Archive. The album saw Farmer return to the darker synth-pop and Europop production of her debut album. For 2012's Monkey Me, Farmer collaborated with Boutonnat in the studio one more time. Interstellaires, the singer's tenth studio album shows influences of pop rock and adult contemporary styles, produced by French DJ The Avener and Martin Kierszenbaum. On Désobéissance, Farmer collaborated with French DJ Feder, American singer-songwriter LP and American producer Mike Del Rio, marking a return to electronic dance music. For L'Emprise, Farmer collaborated with Woodkid to produce a "confidant, and very intimate" album which offers a mix of symphonic music, industrial rhythms, and electropop. Moby, AaRON, and Archive also contributed to the album.

Albums

black and white album picture of her first debut album called 'cendres de lune'. On this photo, we see Mylene Farmer's profile.
photo of Mylene Farmer's second studio record. She is facing her own marionette.
Cover of Mylene Farmer's third record. She is lying on the floor with her vibrant red hair color, a crow on her shoulder. The background and all her clothes are white, creating a feeling of purity, simplicity.
In sepia tone, here is the cover of Mylene Farmer's fourth record. Wearing sexy clothes tailored by Jean-Paul Gauthier, we do not see her head, only her body.


photo of singer Mylène Farmer on an opened-door cage, placed in the middle of the sea. The singer wearing a white floating dress is sitting on the edge of that cage. She looks like a bird which has just been set free. There is an impression of immensity with the multiple shades of blue from the skyline and the sea.
In red and black tones, singer Mylene Farmer is sleeping peacefully on a red velvet sofa. She is wearing a cross made of matches.
Singer looking-like doll made by Etsuko Miura is on the cover of Mylene Farmer sixth record. Intriguing picture including some surgical tools.
Photo of Mylene Farmer's seventh record showing the singer in front of her mirror, the background being blurry.


futuristic, white and short-haired look for Mylene Farmer's eighth record cover.
Wearing a dark greyish loose dress, singer Mylène Farmer seems to be in a swirl of thoughts in a floating world.
picture of singer Mylène Farmer sitting proudly on an old yet stylish chair as a conqueror. Her clothes, including a light grey cape and her jackboots and leather jacket and her sword lying on the ground emphasize this impression of strength.
Avatar of singer Mylene Farmer made by Woodkid. In a fetal position, the singer seems to be floating in the void.


Tours

Cover picture of the singer first tour. She is waiting behind the bar of an old gate.
Dressed by Paco Rabbane futuristic vision, her second tour is definitely colorful.
Influenced by Egyptian mythology, the cover of the singer's third tour is highly mystical and poetic.
The singer's fourth tour is again highly mythical and theatrical.


Starring at the stage, a screen shows the singer's eye wide opened ready to welcome her public before the big show.
Cover of singer Mylene Farmer last tour reusing the very first album cover of the singer 1989 tour.
Profile picture of singer Mylene Farmer with a dark background. She looks like a conqueror.
Cover of singer Mylene Farmer last tour reusing the very first album cover of the singer 1989 tour.