L'Impératrice

L'Impératrice (French pronunciation: [lɛ̃peʁatʁis]; "The Empress") is a French pop and nu-disco band from Paris, formed in 2012. They are currently signed to French independent record label microqlima.
Originally founded by keyboardist and primary songwriter, Charles de Boisseguin as a solo project, the project expanded to its initial lineup consisting of keyboardist Hagni Gwon, bassist David Gaugué, guitarist Achille Trocellier and drummer Tom Daveau as an instrumental act, until the addition of lead vocalist, Flore Benguigui to the group in 2015, making her debut on the group's third EP, Odyssée, which significantly raised the group's profile internationally following its release.
To date, L'Impératrice have released three studio albums via microqlima, Matahari (2018), Tako Tsubo (2021) and their most recent, Pulsar released June 7, 2024.
A few months following the release of Pulsar, Benguigui announced she had left L'Impératrice, citing mental health and alleged mistreatment directed towards her by members of the group and their management throughout her time in the project, as the main reasons for the separation. French musical artist Louve was revealed as the group's new vocalist soon after Benguigui's departure.
L'Impératrice released their first, self-titled EP in 2012, followed by a second (Sonate Pacifique) in 2014, and then a third (Odyssée) in 2015. The latter was re-edited a year later under the name L'Empereur, in a slower version of the original, inspired by a fan's mistake of playing the album at the wrong speed. An acoustic version using violin, cello and acoustic guitar was also released, in February 2017.
The band received the Deezer Adami Fans' award in 2016.
In 2015, a single, "Vanille Fraise," was released, based on a sample by the soul singer Anita Ward.
The band then joined the independent label microqlima, releasing an EP title, Séquences, in June 2017. Remixes of its songs, one by the Australian group Parcels, were released that September.
On 17 October 2017, the band released "Erreur 404", the first single off their first full-length album, Matahari. L'impératrice appeared on the French television show Quotidien on TMC on 9 January 2018.
The band performed at La Cigale on 12 October 2017, and then at the Casino de Paris on 3–4 April 2018. It completed a French tour between February and May 2018. An extension of this tour took place between October 2018 and January 2019.
On 21 June 2018, during the Fête de la Musique, the band performed at the French National Assembly. The band released their second album Tako Tsubo in 2021 and their third album Pulsar in 2024. The band played Coachella in April 2022 and 2024.
On 26 September 2024, it was announced via Instagram that singer Flore Benguigui would be leaving the band, citing physical and mental health reasons, as well as "profound personal, artistic and fundamental disagreements between the other members of the band and me." On 1 October 2024, French pop-artist, Maud Ferron (known professionally as Louve) was announced as the group's new singer. Benguigui further elaborated on her departure an in interview with French independent publication, Mediapart, claiming that she was "constantly being controlled, especially by two of the band members and the manager", who would humiliate and scream at her in front of other band members, at one point losing her voice from being mistreated. The rest of the band denied the claims.