Carmen Maria Vega

Born in Guatemala City in 1984 and raised in Lyon, Carmen Maria Vega first pursued a career as an actress before drawing attention on Lyon’s stages in the mid-2000s following her collaboration with guitarist and songwriter Max Lavegie. The name Carmen Maria Vega also referred to a band built around vocals, guitar, double bass and drums, with an aesthetic blending French chanson, rock, cabaret and touches of jazz. Spotted at the Chantier des Francos and the Off du Printemps de Bourges, she released a self-titled debut album in 2009, then Du chaos naissent les étoiles in 2012, where the writing and stage energy took on a more direct pop‑rock hue. In 2017, Santa Maria, co‑written with Kim Giani, tackled questions of origin and identity more head-on. Alongside her discography, Carmen Maria Vega has maintained regular work for the stage and image, notably playing the lead role of Mistinguett, queen of the Roaring Twenties, between 2014 and 2016, as well as appearing in theatre and film.