You received the NRJ Music Awards for Belgian revelation of the year, your concerts planned there are sold out. Can we say that your native land is behind you?
Yes, we can say that! (Laugh). The Belgians have been behind me from the start and they promised me that it would continue. For a small country like ours, it's always nice to have a little woman who appears on a TV show and stands out. When I come home, I am often told “You remind us of Angèle in her early days! We hope that you will have the same journey as her“.
There is another one behind you, it’s Marlène Schaff…
It's true ! The relationship we formed was born naturally. I worked on all my bonus songs with her. As soon as I left the Castle, she told me “If you need me, you call me!“. From that moment on, our story became friendly, there was no hierarchy anymore. She helps me a lot and I love listening to her advice.
She also told us that you were the first to know about her promotion within Star Academy (Marlène Schaff was appointed teacher of stage expression in addition to her role as coach, editor's note)
Yes, she broke the confidentiality rule (Laughing).
How did you experience this evening of the NRJ Awards?
I was very stressed, telling myself that I had to take advantage, that it was a unique opportunity… But it was good stress because I wanted to make myself and my whole team proud.
Not too disappointed not to have taken your revenge on Pierre?
No ! He fully deserved his revelation victory of the year, it was no surprise to me…
We feel that you are torn between the desire to enjoy and the anxieties that we can have as a young woman and artist. Can you find a balance in the midst of all this?
Yes, because I am very well surrounded, my team tries not to overload me too much. However, it seems normal to me to sometimes be anxious and not always get used to this sudden fame. The opposite would be surprising. I can't get used to the idea that people might want to take a picture of me in a restaurant or cry when they see me, it's not in my upbringing. But I'm getting used to it a little more every day. And my parents tell me: “It’s the price of glory, my darling!“.
What can we expect from your debut album which should be released soon?
Frankly, I ask myself a lot of questions… Will people be surprised or not by what I'm going to offer them? In terms of text, I don't think so. At this level, everyone will recognize me. However, it was difficult to find new elements to tell because I already gave so much of my story and my personality during my participation in Star Academy. Musically, there will be a bit of everything…
Summer Body will be featured on the album. This title has been talked about a lot this summer…
When we are in the studio and we want to write a song that comes to us, we never say to ourselves that it will be a hit, even if, with Summer Body, I had the feeling that the subject spoke a lot to people and especially to my friends. When I played the song to them, they were very touched. And when it works, there's nothing more magical.
After the success of this title and while waiting for the release of your first album, there is a tour being prepared…
And it's exceptional. On my label, I'm considered a developing artist, and a developing artist doesn't normally tour! The people who bought their tickets don't even know what they're going to hear but they love me for who I am and that's crazy…
Héléna Bailly, on tour throughout France and Belgium from April 23, 2025. New dates on sale.
