She was not just starting out, but it was three years ago that Barbara Pravi revealed herself to the general public with the emblematic Voilà. She followed up with a first album that took her to the Victoires stage in 2022. She came back with the trophy for “revelation of the year” that no one could dispute. She then followed up with a first tour in France and Europe. At the same time, she continued to publish EPs where she declines her Prayersincantatory poems where other voices intersect. She also continues to release, every March 8, Women’s Rights Day, a feminist anthem, like the last one, Get up. All this weaves together an already rich work and it is almost hard to believe that The Pievawhich comes out this Friday, is only the second album.
Strong songs
Barbara Pravi presents strong songs, faithful to themes that she carries as so many battles to lead or paths to follow. In this album, she goes in search of her family and musical roots. In my blood there is war, loss and departures / But only love tells my story well ” she sings in The Pievawhich gives its title to the album.
“La Pieva” is ” the singer ” in Serbian. And that is how one of her gypsy ancestors was named. This name gave Pievic, which Barbara changed to Pravi. She went in search of this story at the request of her grandfather who wanted her not to ignore “ what fate brings him ” This quest comes back in filigree in the songs (The Ruins, Jivelli, Alive).
In this album, which alternates between piano and voice (Maman) and rock flights (The Armor), and even invites some electro sounds, it is a question of self-confidence as in the first single Bravo (« Good for you for doing what you can to become what you want. “), of a society which crushes the individual in the second, Exist (« I don’t need anyone / I have pockets full of money / At work I’m the king / Oh yes I have all the rights ”) and still feverish, as in the disturbing Fantasize me. Because if there is something common to everything Barbara Pravi does, it is its intensity.
Our opinion: 4/5
The Pievareleased this Friday, September 6. At Virgin Records.
Coming soon to the cinema
For her first film role, Barbara Pravi is well surrounded: Elsa Zylberstein, Françoise Fabian, Clémentine Célarié, Sandrine Bonnaire… It is in front of Claude Lelouch’s camera that she begins as an actress, in the film Enfin which was presented at the beginning of the week at the Venice festival. She plays the daughter of Kad Merad, who plays the main role, that of Lino, who gives up everything from one day to the next. The film is released on November 13.
