Fatima Zahra Hafdi, also known as La Zarra, is a Canadian singer and will be France's representative at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool. She was internally selected by the French national broadcaster, France Télévisions, in lieu of a national final.
La Zarra was born in Montreal to parents of Moroccan descent on August 25, 1997. While she long dreamed of a career in music, she did not take singing lessons in her early youth, as one might expect. Instead, she honed her craft by listening to and absorbing the music of Barbara Streisand while working as a hairdresser, a job she held until her very recent transition into the music industry. In fact, La Zarra only considered music as a real option after she suddenly became allergic to hair dye, bringing her hairdressing career to an auspicious end.
Benny Adam, a producer in Montreal who also has Moroccan roots, has played an important role in La Zarra's ascent. La Zarra pitched a few songs to him over the course of several years, and those songs went on to become hits in Europe, including her debut single, "Printemps blanc" in 2016. That success got the attention of record labels in Europe, who then gave La Zarra the support and tools that allowed her to create and produce on a professional level. In 2021, her single “Tu t'en iras” was certified platinum, earning her a nomination for Francophone Revelation of the Year from a prestigious French radio station's annual award show in November 2021. La Zarra was signed to deals with Universal Music Canada and Polydor France and released her first album, Traîtrise, the next month.
La Zarra's musical lodestars are évident the moment you hear her perform. Alongside her original inspiration Barbara Streisand, the observant ear will detect elements of Audrey Hepburn, Edith Piaf, and Lady Gaga in her performance. La Zarra seamlessly blends the influences of her forbearers with a style all her own to create a dynamic, timeless experience. Her Eurovision entry "Évidemment" is simultaneously classic, modern, and innovative, an exemplary demonstration of how La Zarra combines traditional chanson with modern musical sensibilities to fantastic results. Here’s to an excellent placement in the Grand Final and her continued career success!