Janis Sahraoui

Janis Sahraoui (; born 16 September 1988) is a French pop musician and singer-songwriter.

Sahraoui debuted in the late 2000s under the stage name Sliimy (rhyming with "Jimmy") through social networking websites where she released her songs. The artist soon received attention online and signed into recording label Warner Music Group, releasing the single Wake Up and her debut album Paint Your Face in 2009, which reached number 2 in the French charts. The singer then performed on stage, in concerts and in opening acts for Britney Spears and Katy Perry.

Singing mostly in English in an accent that has been described as "mockney", with androgynous looks and a falsetto voice, the artist was compared to Mika or Prince by the press. Sahraoui was sometimes also dubbed "the French Mika" in her native France and internationally.

Sahraoui performed as "Yanis" from 2015 to 2023 and released the EP L'heure Bleue in 2016.

Life and career

Early life Sahraoui was born on 16 September 1988 in Saint-Étienne, Loire. Assigned male at birth, Sahraoui used her birth name Yanis until 2023. Of Moroccan and Algerian descent, As Sliimy, Sahraoui used social networking websites such as Myspace where she uploaded recordings of her songs. The artist was met with success online, and with her guitarist Feed she eventually signed into recording label Warner Music Group. Sahraoui received more international attention in late 2008 after her cover of Britney Spears's song Womanizer was featured by American blogger Perez Hilton. before releasing an EP titled in February 2016.

Recent endeavors (2018-present)

In 2018, Sahraoui released a new song Embrace accompanied with a music video co-directed with Ludovic Zuili and Sahraoui. This was followed in 2020, when the artist released two songs titled Grace and You Boy.

Since 2023, she has become known as Janis. In May 2024, Sahraoui published her autobiography , co-written with journalist Tal Madesta.

Personal life When she was 20, three days before the release of her debut album, Sahraoui (who presented as male at the time) came out as gay to the media: "I have no problem saying that I’m gay. I know it and I am not afraid to hide it." When questions about this subject recur, Sahraoui responded that she likes to play with different sexualities and ambiguity. In an interview, according to VS. magazine, the artist insisted that music "transcended sexuality."

On 16 September 2021, while preparing the release of her new EP Solo, Sahraoui publicly came out as transgender and non-binary.

Discography Albums Paint Your Face (2009) (as Sliimy)

EPs L'heure Bleue (2016) (as Yanis)

Singles As Sliimy Wake Up (2008) Paint Your Face (2009)

As Yanis Hypnotized (2015) Crave (2015) Embrace (2018) Grace (2020) You Boy (2020) Solo (2021)

Filmography Orlando, My Political Biography, directed by Paul B. Preciado (2023) : Orlando

Books