Olivia Ruiz

Folk-punk chanteuse Olivia Ruiz vaulted to stardom in her native France with the 2003 release of her debut LP, J'aime Pas l'Amour. The daughter of musician Didier Blanc, she first gained attention when she auditioned for the inaugural series of the French television amateur showcase Star Academy. Despite leaning more toward indie rock than mainstream pop, she nevertheless advanced to the semifinals. Ruiz issued her debut single, "Paris," in mid-2002. J'aime Pas l'Amour followed more than a year later, selling more than 50,000 copies. Her sophomore album, 2005's La Femme Chocolat, became a blockbuster hit thanks to its lead single, "J'Traîne des Pieds." ~ Jason Ankeny