Kendji Girac facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kendji Girac
Kendji in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Kendji Jason Maillié
Born	(1996-07-03) 3 July 1996 (age 29) Périgueux, Aquitaine, France
Genres	Pop flamenco
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	2014–present
Labels	Mercury

Kendji Girac (full name Kendji Jason Maillié), born on July 3, 1996, is a popular French singer. He became famous after winning the third season of the music TV show The Voice: la plus belle voix. He was part of singer Mika's team. Since then, Kendji has released several successful albums like Kendji, Ensemble, and Amigo. He is known for his hit songs and unique style.

About Kendji

Early Life

Kendji grew up in Saint-Astier, France. He comes from a Catalan Gitano family. Gitanos are a group of Romani people, often known for their rich musical traditions. Kendji's grandfather taught him how to play the guitar and sing from a young age.

When he was 16, Kendji left school. He started working in his family's business as an arborist, which means someone who takes care of trees. He still speaks Catalan with his parents.

Before The Voice, Kendji became a little famous online. He posted videos of himself singing. One video, where he sang a Romani version of "Bella" by Gims, became very popular. It was watched over 5.8 million times! He also uploaded a well-liked cover of "Si j'étais président" by Gérard Lenorman.

His Journey on The Voice

In 2014, Kendji decided to try out for The Voice. He sang "Bella" by Maître Gims for his audition. Only one judge, Mika, turned his chair around, choosing Kendji for his team. The other judges, Florent Pagny, Jenifer, and Garou, did not.

Kendji continued to impress the judges and audience. In the "Musical Battles" round, he sang "Tous les mêmes" by Stromae. He then moved on to the next stage, where he performed "Hotel California" by The Eagles.

During the live shows, he sang many different songs. These included "Ma philosophie" by Amel Bent and "Mad World" by Tears for Fears. In the semi-final, he sang "Belle" by Garou and Daniel Lavoie. He made it all the way to the finals as Mika's last singer.

Music Career

Kendji Girac on stage in 2016

After winning The Voice, Kendji released his first official song, "Color Gitano". This song was special because it was in both French and Spanish. His first album, also called Kendji, came out in September 2014. It was a huge success!

By January 2015, his album had sold 600,000 copies. By October 2015, it had sold over 1 million copies. This made it one of the best-selling albums in France that year. Kendji became the most successful artist from The Voice around the world. His next song, "Andalouse", was even more popular. Other well-known songs from this time include "Conmigo".

Kendji's second album, Ensemble, was released in October 2015. This album featured hit songs like "Me Quemo", "Les yeux de la mama", and "No Me Mires Más", which he sang with Soprano.

His third album, Amigo, came out in August 2018. It quickly reached number one on the French music charts.

In August 2020, Kendji joined the judging panel of The Voice Kids France. This was a special moment because he was the first former contestant to become a judge on the French version of the show. He judged alongside Jenifer, Patrick Fiori, and Soprano.

Kendji has continued to release new music. His album Mi Vida was released in October 2020, and L'école de la vie came out in November 2022. His latest album, Vivre..., was released in October 2024.

Helping Others

In 2017, Kendji joined a group called Les Enfoirés. This group is made up of famous artists who put on yearly concerts. The money raised from these concerts goes to Restos du Coeur. This is a very respected charity in France that provides food and help to people in need.

Awards

Filmography

• 2017: Chacun sa vie et son intime conviction

See also

In Spanish: Kendji Girac para niños