{{Short description|French singer-songwriter, film director, and composer}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = P.R2B Cigale.jpg | caption = P.R2B in concert at La Cigale, 23 March 2022 | background = person | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|11|26|df=y}} | birth_place = Saint-Doulchard, Cher, France | birth_name = Pauline Rambeau de Baralon | name = P.R2B | alias = P.R2B | origin = France | occupation = {{hlist|singer-songwriter|film director|composer}} | instrument = {{hlist|piano|clarinet|guitar}} | genre = {{hlist|Chanson|Alternative}} | years_active = 2020–present | label = Naïve Records | website = {{URL|naiverecords.com/pr2b}} }}
'''P.R2B''', born '''Pauline Rambeau de Baralon''' on 26 November 1990 in Saint-Doulchard, Cher, is a French singer-songwriter, film director, and composer. After studying film at La Fémis in Paris, where she graduated in 2016, she released her debut EP ''Des rêves'' in 2020, followed by her first album ''Rayons Gamma'' in 2021 to widespread critical acclaim from major French publications including ''Le Parisien'', ''Télérama'', and ''Libération''. In addition to her music career, she has composed film scores for Kamal Lazraq's ''Les Meutes'' (2023) and Amélie Bonnin's ''Partir un jour'' (2025).
== Early life and education == Born in Saint-Doulchard in the Bourges region of central France, Pauline Rambeau de Baralon is the daughter of a professional guitarist<ref>{{Cite news|language=fr |title=La voix de P.R2B | date=29 June 2020 |author1=Marion Guilbaud | url=https://www.franceinter.fr/emissions/dans-la-playlist-de-france-inter/dans-la-playlist-de-france-inter-29-juin-2020 |work=France Inter}}</ref> and a mother who worked in a production facility in Centre-Val de Loire.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|language=fr |author= |title=L'artiste berrichonne P.R2B : "Mes textes ont une langue très cinématographique" |url=https://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/a-la-une/l-artiste-berrichonne-p-r2b-mes-textes-ont-une-langue-tres-cinematographique |work=La Nouvelle République |date=26 September 2020|access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="Inrocks2019">{{Cite news |author1=Franck Vergeade |date=14 February 2019 |title=Groupe à suivre – Intense et difficile à cataloguer, P.r2b va réveiller la chanson française |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/2019/02/14/musique/musique/groupe-suivre-intense-et-difficile-cataloguer-p-r2b-va-reveiller-la-chanson-francaise/ |access-date=5 October 2020 |work=Les Inrockuptibles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716141540/https://www.lesinrocks.com/2019/02/14/musique/musique/groupe-suivre-intense-et-difficile-cataloguer-p-r2b-va-reveiller-la-chanson-francaise/ |archive-date=16 July 2020 |language=fr}}</ref> She began studying clarinet at the municipal music school and later took up guitar and songwriting during high school.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|language=fr |author1=Cécile Mette |title=Bourges : P.R2B, la chanteuse nous parle de son amour pour sa ville |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/centre-val-de-loire/cher/bourges/bourges-pr2b-chanteuse-nous-parle-son-amour-sa-ville-1876764.html |work=France 3 Centre |date=24 September 2020|access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref>
Rambeau de Baralon studied cinema at a high school in Nevers before pursuing higher education at La Fémis, the National School of Visual Arts and Sound Techniques in Paris,<ref name=FCul>{{Cite news|language=fr|author1=Aude Lavigne|title=P.r2B une musicienne 2.018, sans espoir mais pas sans esprit|url=https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/les-carnets-de-la-creation/la-sainte-pop-de-pr2b-ou-pr2b-ne-veut-plus-vivre-a-paris|work=France Culture|date=12 February 2018|access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref> where she earned a degree as a director in 2016.<ref name=":1" /> Her graduation short film, directed under the guidance of Laetitia Masson, is titled ''Bird's Lament'', inspired by a composition by Moondog. The film follows a young woman studying clarinet who discovers the American composer's music in a record store and develops a deep passion for it. During the same period, she also studied at Cours Florent.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=FCul />
== Music career ==
=== ''Des rêves'' EP and early recognition (2020) === After graduating from La Fémis in 2016, Rambeau de Baralon developed her musical career under the stage name P.R2B. On 11 September 2020, she released her debut EP titled ''Des rêves'' on Naïve Records.<ref>{{Cite news|language=fr|author1=Franck Vergeade|title=Enfin un premier ep pour P.R2B !|url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/2020/09/01/musique/musique/enfin-un-premier-ep-pour-pr2b/|work=Les Inrockuptibles |date=1 September 2020|access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref> Critics described the EP as blending hip-hop and French chanson with 1980s influences, particularly on the track "Le Film à l'envers".<ref>{{Cite web|language=fr |author=Benoit Gaboriaud |title=Fils Cara, P.R2B, Lombre et Noé Preszow, les incontournables de cette rentrée musicale |url=https://www.mensup.fr/fils-cara-p-r2b-lombre-et-noe-preszow-les-incontournables-de-cette-rentree-musicale/ |website=Men's UP |date=24 September 2020|access-date=19 November 2025}}</ref>
The EP received positive reviews from French music critics, with Laura Marie of ''Les Inrockuptibles'' praising her work,<ref>{{Cite news|language=fr |author=Laura Marie |title=P.R2B en direct de "La Chambre Noire" sur Radio Nova |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/2020/09/30/musique/musique/pr2b-en-direct-de-la-chambre-noire-sur-radio-nova/ |work=Les Inrockuptibles |date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117225042/https://www.lesinrocks.com/2020/09/30/musique/musique/pr2b-en-direct-de-la-chambre-noire-sur-radio-nova/ |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-date=17 November 2020 }}</ref> and other reviewers calling it "unclassifiable and successful".<ref>{{Cite web|language=fr |author=Yohann Perez |title="Des rêves" : l'EP inclassable et réussi de P.R2B |url=https://www.bewaremag.com/des-reves-ep-p-r2b/ |website=Beware Magazine |date=11 September 2020|access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref>
=== ''Rayons Gamma'' and breakthrough (2021–2022) === On 16 June 2021, P.R2B released the single "Mélancolie" from her debut album ''Rayons Gamma'', which was released on 22 October 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|language=fr |author=Aficia |title=P.R2B dévoile le clip de "Mélancolie" |url=https://www.aficia.info/actualite-musique/p-r2b-4/221310 |website=Aficia.info |date=16 June 2021|access-date=21 July 2021}}</ref> The album received widespread critical acclaim. ''Le Parisien'' called it "a powerful debut album for the revelation P.R2B",<ref>{{Cite news|language=fr|author1=Eric Bureau|title=«Rayons Gamma», un premier album puissant pour la révélation P.R2B|work=Le Parisien|date=13 November 2021|url=https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/musique/rayons-gamma-un-premier-album-puissant-pour-la-revelation-pr2b-13-11-2021-IY3ZZZ5F45EOXFKAVWYCJM7DY4.php}}</ref> while ''Télérama'' noted that "at 30 years old, P.R2B shakes up the music world".<ref>{{Cite news|language=fr|author1=Odile de Plas|title=Rayons Gamma P.R2B|work=Télérama|date=20 October 2021|url=https://www.telerama.fr/musiques/rayons-gamma,n6993608.php}}</ref> ''Libération'' described it as "a successful album that goes straight to the heart."<ref>{{Cite news|language=fr|author1=Patrice Bardot|title=P.R2B, emportée par la fougue|work=Libération|date=7 November 2021|url=https://www.liberation.fr/culture/musique/pr2b-emportee-par-la-fougue-20211107_UTSQ4QYHSBE2TGBE7BJKKFL65U/}}</ref>
Following the album's release, P.R2B embarked on a tour across France, including a performance at the prestigious La Cigale venue in Paris on 23 March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|language=fr |title=P.R2B à La Cigale |url=http://www.lacigale.fr/spectacle/p-r2b/ |website=lacigale.fr |date=18 June 2021|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> In 2022, she released the single "Metaverse".
=== Film composition and recent work (2023–present) === In addition to her recording career, P.R2B has composed music for cinema. She created the original score for Kamal Lazraq's film ''Les Meutes'', which was released in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/cinema/festival-cannes/cannes-la-chanteuse-compose-pour-le-cinema-5a32b262-f885-11ed-9dad-af8456fed038 | title=Cannes. La chanteuse P2RB compose pour le cinéma | language=fr | trans-title=Cannes: Singer P2RB composes for cinema | date=25 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Critique : Les Meutes |url=https://cineuropa.org/fr/newsdetail/442744/ |website=Cineuropa – le meilleur du cinéma… |date=19 May 2023 |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref> In 2025, she composed the original score for Amélie Bonnin's film ''Partir un jour'', which opened the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|language=fr |title=PR2B et Amélie Bonnin, deux Berrichonnes à l'honneur pour l'ouverture du Festival de Cannes 2025 |date=12 May 2025 |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/culture/cinema/cannes-2025-deux-berrichonnes-a-l-honneur-pour-l-ouverture-du-festival-de-cinema-7582260}}</ref>
== Musical style == P.R2B's music has been described as intense and difficult to categorize,<ref name=Inrocks2019 /> blending elements of hip-hop and traditional French chanson with influences from 1980s music.<ref>{{Cite web|language=fr |author=Benoit Gaboriaud |title=Fils Cara, P.R2B, Lombre et Noé Preszow, les incontournables de cette rentrée musicale |url=https://www.mensup.fr/musique/fils-cara-p-r2b-lombre-noe-preszow-album-437739 |website=Men's UP |date=24 September 2020|access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref> Her lyrics have been noted for their "very cinematic language",<ref name=":1" /> reflecting her background in film studies. She performs on multiple instruments including piano, clarinet, and guitar.
== Discography == === Studio albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Details ! scope="col" style="width:30em;" | Track listing |- ! scope="row" | ''Rayons Gamma'' | * Released: 22 October 2021 * Label: Naïve Records * Format: CD, digital download |style="text-align:left; font-size:85%;"| {{Track listing | headline = | total_length = | title1 = La chanson du bal | title2 = Mélancolie | title3 = Rayons Gamma | title4 = Ma meilleure vie | title5 = Lettre à P. | title6 = Mama | title7 = Qui sont les coupables | title8 = Punta cana | title9 = La piscine | title10 = Plus rien de bien | title11 = Mon frère | title12 = Vie de chienne }} |}
=== Extended plays === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Details ! scope="col" style="width:30em;" | Track listing |- ! scope="row" | ''Des rêves'' | * Released: 11 September 2020 * Label: Naïve Records * Format: Digital download |style="text-align:left; font-size:85%;"| {{Track listing | headline = | total_length = | title1 = Des rêves | title2 = Dolce vita | title3 = Le Film à l'envers | title4 = La Chanson du bal | title5 = Océan forever | title6 = Le Beau mois d'août }} |}
=== Singles === * "Mélancolie" (2021)Naïve * "Metaverse" (2022)Naïve
== Filmography ==
=== As director === * ''Bird's Lament'' (2016) – short film
=== Film scores === {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Film !! Director !! Notes |- | 2023 || ''Les Meutes'' || Kamal Lazraq || Original score |- | 2025 || ''Partir un jour'' || Amélie Bonnin || Original score; film opened 2025 Cannes Film Festival |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.naiverecords.com/pr2b}} * [https://vimeo.com/127096614 ''Bird's Lament''] – Graduation film from La Fémis on Vimeo
{{portal bar|Music|France}}
Category:French women singer-songwriters Category:French women film producers Category:La Fémis alumni Category:Cours Florent alumni Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century French singers Category:21st-century French women singers Category:People from Cher (department) Category:French film score composers Category:Women film score composers