Rahim Redcar
Rahim Claude Redcar is a French singer and songwriter best known under the pseudonym of Christine and the Queens. Born and raised in Nantes, he started learning piano at the age of four and found inspiration in one of London's clubs while studying. Redcar released a series of extended plays throughout 2011–2013.
Redcar's debut studio album, Chaleur humaine, received critical acclaim, reached number two in the French and UK charts, and was certified diamond in France; it was also a best selling debut record in the United Kingdom. In 2018, he released his second studio album, Chris, to further critical acclaim. It was ranked album of the year by Clash, The Guardian, and The Independent, and placed in the top-ten of nine other year-end lists. "Girlfriend" was recognized by Time as song of the year. In reaction to his mother's death, Redcar released an EP in 2020 La vita nuova, with some critics calling it his strongest work up to that point. Time again named his song, "People, I've Been Sad", the song of the year. Ensuing years saw the releases of Redcar les adorables étoiles and Paranoia, Angels, True Love, which were met with critical acclaim but did not achieve the commercial success of his previous releases. In 2024, he released Hopecore, a more dance-inflected album.
In 2016, Redcar was ranked number one in Vanity Fair list of most powerful and influential French people who "promote French ingenuity", ahead of the country's president. The next year, Forbes placed him on its list of 30 most influential and talented people under 30, and Time included him on its list of Next Generation Leaders twice – in 2016 and 2018. His accolades include four Victories of Music awarded by the French Ministry of Culture. Christine and the Queens has been signed to the independent record label Because Music since 2012.
Early life
Rahim Redcar was born Héloïse Adélaïde Letissier on 1 June 1988 in Nantes. His father, Georges Letissier, taught English literature at the University of Nantes and specialises in Victorian era literature. His mother, Martine Letissier, taught French and Latin at a local middle school. Martine died suddenly from a heart infection in April 2019, in the week between Redcar‘s two scheduled Coachella performances on 13 and 20 April. The latter performance was cancelled because Redcar travelled back to France to be with his mother.Redcar began learning to play the piano at the age of four, learned classical dance at five, and then modern jazz. His parents recommended to him writers such as Sarah Waters and Judith Butler, whose works served both as inspiration and reference in Redcar‘s youth. He attended Lycée Clemenceau learning theatre and then Lycée Fénelon secondary school in Paris learning literature. He later studied at the Department of Arts of École normale supérieure de Lyon and studied drama at the Lyon Regional Conservatory.
Career
2010–2013: Career beginnings
Redcar's first performance as Christine and the Queens was at a small Lyon club in 2010. That same year, Redcar dropped out of the drama conservatory he was attending out of frustration at not being allowed to direct, as well as feeling depressed after a romantic break-up. He made a trip to London and was inspired by the work of local drag queen musicians, including Russella, at the Soho nightclub Madame Jojo's. The queens then became 'the Queens' in his stage name as a tribute. As soon as he returned to France, he left the ENSL grande école in the middle of the second year to devote himself fully to the musical project now called "Christine and the Queens". He dedicated many of his creations to them, and to all transgender individuals, describing his genre as "freakpop".He released his debut extended play, Miséricorde, in 2011, with Marc Lumbroso. His second EP, titled Mac Abbey, followed in 2012, with minor hits "Narcissus Is Back" and "Cripple". The same year, he was the opening act for Lykke Li, the Dø, and Woodkid. Redcar won the Best Discovered Act award, known as "Découverte", at the Printemps de Bourges music festival and also won the "Première Francos" award at the Les Francofolies de La Rochelle festival. Then he signed with the independent label Because Music.
In 2013, Redcar was the opening act for Lilly Wood and the Prick and Gaëtan Roussel. On 3 June, he released the single, and also an EP of the same name, titled "Nuit 17 à 52", which garnered him his first charting on the official French SNEP albums chart. The song was the first single of his forthcoming studio album.
2014–2017: ''Christine and the Queens''
Christine and the Queens' debut studio album, Chaleur humaine, was first released in France on 2 June 2014. He wrote it and co-produced with Ash Workman; the track "Paradis perdus" is a cover of a 1973 French song by Christophe. Besides "Nuit 17 à 52", three singles were released: "Saint Claude", "Christine", and "Paradis Perdus". "Christine" is the French version of "Cripple" earlier released in 2012. After the album reached number 2 on the French chart and was certified diamond there, Redcar toured France.For the American market, the single "Tilted", English version of "Cripple"/"Christine", was released on 3 March 2015 under the Neon Gold Records label. Redcar then toured in the US for promotion with Marina and the Diamonds. Exclusively for this market, Saint Claude EP was released on 14 April, including five songs from Chaleur humaine in English versions. On 16 October, the full album, entitled Christine and the Queens, was released via Because Music. Many tracks were reworked with English lyrics and revamped beats by producer Ash Workman. Two tracks were replaced with three new songs, and two of these new songs were collaborations – "Jonathan" with Perfume Genius, and "No Harm Is Done" with rapper Tunji Ige. These two new collaborations were released as additional singles, the latter on 11 September, and the former on 16 October. On 11 November, Christine was warmly received in his first performance in large venue, the Webster Hall, New York; the next day, he appeared on The Daily Show. In 2015 top-ten lists by Time, "Tilted" was included as one of best songs of the year. Pitchfork listed the song in its 2010 best-of, "defining tracks of the decade" list at number 106. At the end of the year, he was back home, and, on 10 December, Madonna invited Christine to dance with her on stage during her concert at the Bercy Arena, Paris.
In the United Kingdom, "Tilted" was released on 15 January 2016 and peaked at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart. An English version of the album was released there on 26 February, under the original French title. The record received universal critical acclaim. In April, Redcar performed for the first time, and twice, at the Coachella Festival. In May, he was added to the BBC Radio 1 main rotation playlist, and on 17 June, he appeared on The Graham Norton Show. The Guardian called his performance at the Glastonbury Festival on 24 June, the day after the Brexit vote, one of the festival's "unequivocal highlights" and later described it as "career-launching". Chaleur humaine reached number 2 on the UK Albums Chart in July and was the best selling debut studio album of 2016 there. It was featured on some year-end lists and ranked 3rd by NME and 8th by The Guardian, among other accolades. In the decade-end 'top albums of the 2010s' listings, the record was ranked No. 40 by The Independent and No. 81 by NME. In September, he put together a cover version of Beyoncé's "Sorry" in the BBC Live Lounge; for arrangement and rendition he was included in the "6 Best New Songs of the Week" list by Vulture. The same month, when he was performing at the Camden Roundhouse, Elton John sang "Tilted" with him on stage; John had earlier bought Redcar‘s French album and praised him greatly. In November, Redcar performed in London, Manchester, and Glasgow, selling 16,000 seats in a few hours each time. In October, he was chosen as one of BBC's 100 Women. He appeared twice on the Jools' Annual Hootenanny TV show, on 31 December, and on 1 January 2017. Having toured intensively during 2014–16, he stopped at the end of 2016, saying later, "I didn't want to burn out on the first ".
2018–2019: ''Chris''
For his second studio album, Redcar had early sessions with both Mark Ronson and Damon Albarn, but eventually decided to work alone, with Cole M.G.N. as co-producer on some tracks. "Confident in decision to go it alone, cut hair short and started again as Chris. 'I wanted to risk it all,' said, smiling." In April 2018, he announced a tour across North America and Europe, planned for the autumn. In July, Christine also announced details of an upcoming studio album titled Chris. It was preceded by the release of two singles, each in an English and French version: "Girlfriend"/"Damn, dis-moi" on 17 May, and "Doesn't Matter"/"Doesn't Matter " on 5 July. He also released the English-language "5 Dollars" single on 16 August, which was followed by the French-language single "La marcheuse" on 23 August. Chris was released on 21 September 2018 and received universal critical acclaim. AllMusic editors summarised: "the singer/songwriter's triumphant second album borrows from '80s R&B and questions gender roles, engaging minds, hearts, and bodies along the way." Robert Steiner of The Boston Globe called the album "a refreshing, empowering record" and complimented its "stellar production and contagiously danceable jams", as well as Redcar "engrossing lyricism". Although he felt that the album "loses steam" in its second half, Steiner named "The Walker" as a highlight for its "poignant" portrayal of a victim of domestic violence. Chris peaked at number 2 on the French and at No. 3 on the UK chart. The record featured at the top of many year-end best-of lists, ranked number one by Clash, The Guardian, and The Independent, and placed in the top-five of five other lists, for a total of 12 positions in top-ten. "Girlfriend" was named song of the year by Time. In the 'top pop albums of the 2010s' listings, Chris was ranked No. 15 by Consequence, ahead of Rihanna's Anti and Ariana Grande's Thank U, Next, and No. 24 by Paste, ahead of Lady Gaga's Born This Way and Adele's 25.In May 2019, Redcar performed during the season finale for the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race held at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. The same month, he headlined the All Points East festival in London, marking his first UK headline festival appearance. His performance was well received; The Independent gave the concert five stars, calling it "a tiny tour de force". On 17 July, Charli XCX released the single "Gone" alongside the music video, a joint effort with Redcar, which they debuted earlier together at the end of May during the Primavera Sound festival. The track was shortlisted by BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac for the Hottest Record of the Year, voted for by the public, and finished in third position. Pitchfork listed the song at number four on its list of 2019's 100 best songs and at number 145 for the 200 best songs of the 2010s. In September, the duo performed the song again at the Electric Picnic festival, on The Jonathan Ross Show to promote the release of Charli XCX's studio album Charli, and on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.