Angèle at Coachella: "It's less stressful than in France, the public has lower expectations"

In France, she is already an absolute queen of pop.

But Angèle also stands out across the Atlantic, where she has won her place among the American stars who populate the programming of the very trendy Californian festival of Coachella.

Crowds do not scare this 27-year-old Belgian with a dazzling career, who has collaborated with the artist Dua Lipa and broken the records held by Stromae, a phenomenon of French-speaking song.

Read alsoWith Time will do things, Angèle enters the dance

Still, getting on such a coveted stage proves that she has gone to another level.

," she told AFP before her concert on Friday evening, smiling and tea in hand, a pink bandana on her blond hair.

," she rejoices - in English.

A resounding success

The beginnings of Angèle Van Laeken in small cafes in Brussels seem far away.

Daughter of an actress, Laurence Bibot, and a singer, Marka, she began playing the piano very early, before taking lessons at the Jazz Studio in Antwerp.

She first made a name for herself on social networks, posting short videos where she hummed covers with catchy refrains.

Success comes fast, and it's shattering.

From almost unknown, she is propelled to the status of pop star with the titles

(duet with her brother, rapper Roméo Elvis), or

, a feminist hit that refers to the

movement , born at the same time that #MeToo.

Today, she considers being a feminist to be as important as ever in a society – and a music industry – that favors men.

she said.

The one-way ticket to notoriety has not been without disruptions.

She told AFP in February that she had to learn to

her private life, and not escape moments of

.

But Angèle now seems comfortable with her new status.

she says.

"Less stressful than in France"

A few hours before taking the microphone in front of the festival-goers, she wears light makeup, a simple dress and pink Crocs - but her glittery nails, disco atmosphere, give a glimpse of the show that awaits her.

On stage, dressed this time in a silver ensemble, Angèle puts on show her supercharged energy.

Around her, dancers follow a polished choreography, to the rhythms of her electropop hits, with jazz influences.

And she is welcomed by a conquered public... even if many spectators hear her sing for the very first time.

For Angèle, this is one of the interests of performing abroad:

, where the public

," she continues.

Read alsoAngèle, the American dream, is it yes or is it no?

A parenthesis no doubt welcome for the artist, who had mentioned the pressure felt after the extraordinary success of his first album,

.

At Coachella, she even took advantage of her show to give a little French lesson to the Americans who came to listen to her, projecting the words of her songs behind her.

Angèle learned English by listening to music, but feels more comfortable writing in French – for now.

," she says.

," she adds - which is good for an ambitious singer in an increasingly international music world.