Originally known for his virtuoso guitar work in the band Bittersweet, Cyril Paulus developed a successful solo career by combining a heavy Brit-pop influence with lyrics that recalled American and French singer/songwriters. Paulus was born and raised in Montpellier, minus two years he spent living in Britain as a child. The U.K. influence stuck long after he returned home to France, with bands like Coldplay and Travis becoming heroes along with the Verve, whose "Bittersweet Symphony" gave Bittersweet their name. After the band broke up, American songwriters like Jackson Browne, Carole King, and James Taylor became of interest and steered Paulus' own writing in a new direction. While figuring out how to present himself as a solo artist he gave his songs to some of France's more famous pop artists, including Thierry Amiel, David Charvet, and Erwann Mentheour. In 2006 his debut full-length, Banquise, arrived on Sony/BMG. One of the album's singles, "Un Autre Nom," won the French recording industry's Les Jeunes Talents de l'Année (Young Talent of the Year) award in 2007. ~ David Jeffries