Sofia Mestari

Sofia Mestari (born 27 September 1980) is a French singer of Moroccan origin. She is known for her soulful pop music and notable appearances in the early 2000s music scene. Mestari first gained national attention by representing France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000. Since then she has built a multifaceted career with several albums, charting singles, and philanthropic projects. 

Early Life and Eurovision Debut of Sofia Mestari

Sofia Mestari was born in Casablanca, Morocco. She moved to Paris, France with her family at the age of ten. Growing up in Paris, she developed a passion for music and was influenced by legendary artists like Tracy Chapman, Sting, and Aretha Franklin. Her big break came in 2000 when she entered and won the French national selection for Eurovision at the famed Olympia music hall in Paris. This victory led to Sofia Mestari’s Eurovision appearance, representing France at the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 in Stockholm. She performed the song “On aura le ciel” (which means “We Will Have the Sky”). The poor Eurovision result did not discourage her. On the contrary, it motivated her to continue improving and establishing herself in the French music industry.

Music Career Beginnings and First Albums

After Eurovision, Sofia Mestari signed with Universal Music and began working on her debut album. In 2001, she released her first album titled On aura le ciel, named after her Eurovision song. The album featured the title track and the single “Derrière les voiles”. She embarked on a series of concerts following this debut. Her performances were well-received by both audiences and the press.

In 2003, Mestari followed up with a second album called En plein cœur de la nuit (“In the Heart of the Night”). This album produced the hit single “Ne pars pas”, which spent 23 weeks on the French Singles Chart and peaked at #27. Another popular track from the album was “Ce que tu m’as fait”. This track also earned radio play and contributed to her rising fame. Furthermore, during this period she had the opportunity to open for Italian superstar Eros Ramazzotti in large concert venues. The Belgian singer Maurane even invited Mestari to join her for a duet onstage at the Olympia in Paris. 

Collaborations, Charity Work, and Media Appearances

As her career progressed, Sofia Mestari expanded her repertoire through collaborations and charitable projects. In 2003, she participated in a special album called Ma Chanson d’Enfance (My Childhood Song), organized by the charity Rêves (Dreams) under the patronage of Vanessa Paradis. For this project, Mestari covered the classic song “Ils s’aiment” by Daniel Lavoie, showcasing her ability to interpret beloved French tunes. In 2005, famed French singer Patrick Bruel invited her to contribute to the humanitarian single “Et puis la Terre” (And Then the Earth) with the collective A.S.I.E., in support of victims of natural disasters. This project, along with her performance at Sidaction (a major AIDS charity event in France), kept her visible in the media and demonstrated her commitment to using her voice for good causes.

Additionally, Mestari became involved with Fight Aids Monaco, an association led by Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, performing in several charity concerts for the cause. These appearances on charity singles and gala events helped Sofia Mestari maintain a public profile beyond her own albums. They also underlined her image as an artist with a heart for philanthropy and a willingness to collaborate with other well-known performers.

Continued Musical Development and Later Albums

Sofia Mestari continued to evolve as an artist throughout the mid-2000s and 2010s, releasing new music and refining her style. In 2006, she released her third studio album, La Vie en entier (“Life in Full”), whose title track was written by notable songwriters Alain Lanty and Brice Homs. Around this time, she was invited to join the prestigious Autour de la Guitare (Around the Guitar) concert series hosted by guitarist Jean-Félix Lalanne. During these shows at the Casino de Paris, Mestari shared the stage with famous French artists like Florent Pagny, Michel Fugain, and Julien Clerc.

By 2010, she had signed and recorded her fourth album, À la Croisée des Chemins (“At the Crossroads”), which included a notable duet with Jean-François Bernardini of the Corsican group I Muvrini. This album showed Mestari’s openness to diverse musical influences and collaboration across genres. In 2013, Sofia Mestari also ventured into songwriting for a cause. She co-composed the song “Atfal el Jibal” (Children of the Mountains) with artist Barry, performed by a group of renowned Moroccan artists to benefit the charity El Baraka Angels. 

Recent Projects and Ongoing Career

In the mid-2010s, Sofia Mestari prepared a return to the spotlight with new material. She released her fifth album, Écoute les Parler (“Listen to Them Speak”), in 2015. This album was a result of collaboration with French singer-songwriter Arno Santamaria and was mastered at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, reflecting a high production quality. Around 2017, Mestari spent some time in the United States, living between New York and Los Angeles. This international experience likely contributed new inspirations and perspectives to her music.

In 2020, she collaborated with the popular French-Moroccan artist Lartiste, who invited her to record a special duet version of her hit “Ne pars pas”. This modern take on her classic song introduced Sofia Mestari to a newer generation of listeners. It blended her style with contemporary urban pop influences. That same year, she became an ambassador for the charity Les Enfants du Désert (“Children of the Desert”), which works to help underprivileged communities in the Er-Rachidia province of Morocco. As of the present, Sofia Mestari has been working on her sixth studio album. With this she aims to craft a sound that is truly her own and reflects her maturity as an artist. In fact, she continues to release new music: for example, in late 2023 she released a fresh single titled “Si je ne t’avais pas”. This is a soulful ballad that highlights her signature emotive vocals.