Wallen
Encyclopedia
This article is about the singer. For the famous red light district of Amsterdam, see De Wallen
.
Wallen (born Nawell Azzouz, January 23, 1978) is one of the first French R&B
singer. Her stage name comes from the rearrangement of the letters of her first name.
She was born in Saint-Denis
, France
, to Moroccan
parents. As a child, she learned to play the violin
and developed a passion for singing. She grew up listening to Funk
, Hip hop
, and R&B
. She decided to become a singer after seeing Lauryn Hill
in the movie Sister Act 2
.
Influenced by Aaliyah, Wallen made her recording debut with producer Sullee B Wax, and female rapper Sté Strass. In 1998, she was featured on the French RnB compilation "24 Carats", with "Je ne pleurs pas" (I'm not crying).
Her first hit came with Celle Qui Dit Non with the rapper Shurik'n
. In 2004, she released the album Avoir La Vie Devant Soi which includes the singles Bouge Cette Vie, L'Olivier, and Donna. She also sang with Usher
on the French
version of U Got It Bad
. She is married to the French rapper Abd al Malik
. With Abd al Malik and a few other rappers she created a group called Beni Snassen, who recorded an album under that name.
In 2008, she released her 3rd album "Misericorde".
Wallen has one child and has stopped singing to concentrate on raising her child.
"Celle qui dit non" music video directed by J.G Biggs
/"Mes Reves" music video directed by J.G Biggs
/"Bouge cette vie" music video directed by J.G Biggs
De Wallen
De Wallen is the largest and best-known red-light district in Amsterdam and a major tourist attraction. It is located in the heart of the oldest part of Amsterdam, covering several blocks south of the church Oude Kerk and crossed by several canals....
.
Wallen (born Nawell Azzouz, January 23, 1978) is one of the first French R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer. Her stage name comes from the rearrangement of the letters of her first name.
She was born in Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, to Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
parents. As a child, she learned to play the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and developed a passion for singing. She grew up listening to Funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, Hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
, and R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
. She decided to become a singer after seeing Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress.Early in her career, she established her reputation as a member of the Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of...
in the movie Sister Act 2
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit is a 1993 comedy film starring Whoopi Goldberg. Directed by Bill Duke, and released by Touchstone Pictures, it is the sequel to the successful 1992 film Sister Act...
.
Influenced by Aaliyah, Wallen made her recording debut with producer Sullee B Wax, and female rapper Sté Strass. In 1998, she was featured on the French RnB compilation "24 Carats", with "Je ne pleurs pas" (I'm not crying).
Her first hit came with Celle Qui Dit Non with the rapper Shurik'n
Shurik'n
Shurik'n Chang-Ti is a French hip hop artist from Marseille, born in 1966. He is one of the members of the highly successful group IAM, as well as a major solo artist. With his brother Faf Larage , he also is a member of the group La Garde.Mussard was born in Marseille on 11 March 1966, with...
. In 2004, she released the album Avoir La Vie Devant Soi which includes the singles Bouge Cette Vie, L'Olivier, and Donna. She also sang with Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
on the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
version of U Got It Bad
U Got It Bad
"U Got It Bad" is a 2001 single from Usher's 2001 album 8701. It was the second US single from the album and the third international single, reaching number 1 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, and reaching the top 5 in the United Kingdom and Australia.The song was produced by...
. She is married to the French rapper Abd al Malik
Abd al Malik (rapper)
Abd al Malik, born Régis Fayette-Mikano is a French rapper and spoken word artist of Congolese origin. He took part in the group NAP . In 1999, he converted to Islam. He is married to French Moroccan singer Wallen with whom he has a child...
. With Abd al Malik and a few other rappers she created a group called Beni Snassen, who recorded an album under that name.
In 2008, she released her 3rd album "Misericorde".
Wallen has one child and has stopped singing to concentrate on raising her child.
Discography
- À Force De Vivre (2001)
"Celle qui dit non" music video directed by J.G Biggs
/"Mes Reves" music video directed by J.G Biggs
- Avoir La Vie Devant Soi (2004)
/"Bouge cette vie" music video directed by J.G Biggs
- Miséricorde (2008)