A native of the Champagne region, Marion Grod aka Emji (b. 1987) got her start in local singing competitions, before entering the Léo Delibes Conservatory in Clichy (Hauts-de-Seine), where she learned to master her soprano voice. She then went on to perform at every possible venue in and around Paris, showcasing her personality. For a time nicknamed "the little redhead of the metro" because of her underground performances, Emji met acolytes in the Parisian music scene who helped her firm up her style. From November 2014 to March 2015, she was a contestant on the eleventh season of Nouvelle star, which she won that year. Presented during the final and released on March 23, 2015, her single "Toboggan" is acclaimed by the public. The orchestrated song calls for other more pop tracks, "Dur dur" and "Pas à pas", paving the way for the release of her debut album Folies Douces. Staggered from October 2015 to February 2016, the album, produced by Antoine Gaillet, features compositions by Mathias Malzieu, Olivier Daviaud and Cathy Dennis.
