Born April 29, 1974 in Jakarta, Indonesia, Anggun Cipta Sasmi is an internationally-recognized singing success, claiming 16 albums and more than 20 music videos to her name.
The daughter of entertainer Darto Singo, Anggun began her career early, recording her first album, Dunia Aku Punya, at the age of just 12. After a number of successful singles, Anggun reached measurable success with Tua Tua Keladi, released in 1990. The single earned Anggun a Most Popular Indonesian Artist award and remained Number 1 on the Indonesian charts for a full month.
While touring in Borneo in 1991, Anggun met Frenchman Michel de Gea. An age difference between the two sparked some disapproval among fans. The two decided to marry anyway, an event which was followed by the founding of Anggun's own record company, Bali Cipta records. Anggun then released what was to be her last Indonesian album, Anggun C. Sasmi...Lah!!! A hit single off the album, Kembalilah Kasih (Kita Harus Bicara) (English: Come Back My Love (We Need to Talk)), was a national success.
Feeling the need to broaden her horizons, Anggun decided to take her talents to an international level. She and Michel moved to London, UK in 1996, where the young artist's music received a lukewarm welcome. Disheartened with her lack of success in England, Anggun decided to start anew in yet another new country, and in 1997 she and Michel landed in Paris, France, which, the young singer would later comment, "felt like home right away". This good omen bore fruit when Anggun met French singer Florent Pagny, who then introduced the young woman to producer Erick Benzy. He immediately signed Anggun to the Columbia France label.
Anggun's debut album off the Columbia France label included French, English and a touch of Indonesian in its style and lyrics. The album, Au Nom de La Lune (English: In the Name of the Moon), released in 1997, was a sophisticated departure from Anggun's former girl-rocker image. It went to Number 34 on the French Albums Chart and spawned a hit single, La Neige au Sahara. Several months after its French release, Au Nom de La Lune was launched in two different English versions in Europe and Asia. Collectively, they achieved Top 20 success in several countries. Anggun approached the North American market in 1998 with the release of Snow on the Sahara, supporting the launch by backing such musical talents as Bruce Hornsby and Natalie Merchant. Despite massive publicity, including coverage by Rolling Stone magazine and an appearance on The Rosie O'Donnell show, the album was at best a marginal success, with a mere 100,000 copies sold in the U.S. However, the record sold a million copies worldwide.
In 1999, Anggun and Michel divorced, sparking new efforts by the singing star and resulting in the aptly-named Chrysalis. A new French album followed a year later. Anggun's celebrity expanded until in 2000 she received an invitation from the Vatican to perform at a special Christmas concert. Her performances were later included in the compilation Noel au Vatican.
In 2003, Anggun severed her association with Columbia France and moved to Canada, where she met second husband Oliver Maury. The two tied the knot in Bali, Indonesia, and Maury became Anggun's manager. Anggun continues to record albums and singles, but has turned her time more and more to global causes. She was chosen as the spokesperson for the UN initiative, International Year of Micro-Credit, in 2005, and added her vocal talents to L'Or de Nos Vies, a French campaign to fight AIDS. Anggun announced the birth of a Kirana, in November 2007.
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