As far as interesting careers go, French professional tennis player Corentin Moutet definitely stands out. He has recently released a rap music album scattered with references to his struggles, as well as to French classic literature, another of his passions.
He began writing lyrics a few years ago during the pandemic as there was a hiatus on tennis tournaments, and decided to focus on his first EP called “écorché” (= flayed). This French adjective is commonly used in the expression “écorché vif” (= flayed alive), and evokes painful experiences. He explained that as a young athlete, he often suffered from being isolated from his family and friends, while in training camps or tournaments. Here’s an excerpt of an interview he gave a few years ago on France Info:
“La musique en général, je la prends comme une thérapie. Durant le confinement, je me suis replongé dans mon passé, dans ce que j’avais pu vivre depuis mon enfance, pour l’écrire.”
(= I take generally music as a therapy. During confinement, I dived back in the past, in what I had experienced since my childhood, to write about it.)
If you are interested in his music, check out his song “psychanalyse” (= psychoanalysis) in the video above or his Spotify here.