Zayra Setouty was born in Hyères, in the Var region of France, on August 18,
1987. Attracted to music from an early age, she began singing at the tender age
of eight, following the TV show Star Academy. Fascinated by gospel, soul and
even jazz, she joined a choir and developed her passion for Stevie Wonder and
Aretha Franklin. She then joined a group called Kantiyo, which fused the
musicians' flamenco influences with her own, more soulful ones. In 2012, at the
age of 25, she joined the cast of the ninth season of Star Academy, singing
alongside Jenifer, Lââm, Mika, Chimène Badi, ...