Stressed and intimidated upon entering the imposing set of The Voice Kids France (broadcast Tuesday evening on TF1), it took a note for the young Zoé Genard to relax and deliver a remarkable performance during her blind audition.
And if you did not exist by Joe Dassin… This song, the eleven-year-old Guibertine who has been taking singing lessons for only a year and a half, did not choose it at random. “My grandpa lives 12 hours away by plane, in the Dominican Republic. He loves to sing in his corner and this song is for him. To tell him that if he didn’t exist, why would I exist”she explains.
The young girl had tried the French adventure for the first time in 2021 but had not been selected for the selections. “It was finally the production that came back to us. Zoé then went through three castings before being able to do the blind auditions on the set in Paris”says his mother, Nathalie Sanikoff.
This year, his efforts paid off as his emotion-filled performance convinced Kendji Girac, Slimane, Nolwenn Leroy and Patrick Fiori, the show’s four coaches.
A regular on TV sets
The singer Slimane, particularly moved by her interpretation, recognized her at the end of her performance. Indeed, Zoé Genard took part in The Voice Kids Belgium in 2020 and had made it to the battles alongside her coach Matthew from the Puggy group. “I was proud that Slimane is turning around this time because he didn’t do it three years ago”, says the girl.
Zoé Genard likes to participate in this musical telecrochet because she sees no sign of competition.
“It’s really leisure. We have groups in which we encourage each other and we even hear from those who have left the adventure. It’s really a family. I even still have contact with candidates from The Voice Kids Belgium. We call each other, we do lives together,… they have become real friends.”
This pre-teen who has always wanted to be an actress and singer also regularly participates in pub and film castings. “I love the artistic world, a world where we can show our hidden face and where no one suspects from the outside that we have a talent”she explains.
From Edith Piaf to Amel Bent, there is only one step
From the height of her eleven years, Zoé Genard admires the great voices of French song: Dalida, Charles Aznavour, Michel Deplech, Edith Piaf but also Amel Bent. The common point between these last two: “Magnificent vibrato, vibe and stories behind their song lyrics”.
Singers she discovered thanks to her grandpa and her parents who have always supported her in her artistic dreams.
“I am a doctor and my husband is a nurse so we have nothing to do with this environment but we got caught up in the game. We were more anxious than during the auditions in Belgium because there are more auditions and selections in France. We were afraid that she would be disappointed but we left positive because it is an experience whatever the outcome and we will support her until the end “says Zoe’s mother.
The only Belgian retained for the continuation of the adventure of The Voice Kids France finally chose coach Patrick Fiori who dried her tears of joy that were streaming down her cheek and delivered a cover of her audition song: “And if you didn’t exist, tell me why I would exist. My armchair is very sad without you, I don’t want to miss you. Come with me.”
