M. Pokora

Matthieu Tota, professionally known as Matt Pokora and later M. Pokora, is a French pop singer, songwriter, and dancer born on September 26, 1985. Known for singing primarily in French while also recording songs in English, he has built a long-standing career in music, musical theater, and television. In addition to his recording work, he served as a coach on The Voice Kids France in 2016, 2017, and 2025, and as a coach on the sixth season of The Voice: la plus belle voix in 2017.

Born to professional footballer André Tota and Brigitte, he grew up in France and attended elementary school in Hohberg, Germany, followed by studies at Collège Paul-Émile Victor in Mundolsheim and Lycée Aristide Briand near Strasbourg. Football was his initial childhood ambition, but he later chose to pursue music. After discussing the concept of humility with his Polish grandmother, he selected his stage name Pokora, which translates to humility in Polish. Early in his music career, he gained public attention as a member of the French R&B group Mic Unity.

In late 2003, Tota participated in the third season of the M6 reality talent show Popstars. He emerged as a winner and was placed in the boy band Linkup alongside fellow winners Lionel and Otis. The group released the chart-topping single "Mon Étoile" and the album Notre Étoile. After releasing a second single and collaborating with British boy band Blue on the bilingual song "You & Me Bubblin", Linkup disbanded due to poor sales performance.

Tota launched his solo career in 2004. Following a lawsuit by French R&B artist Matt Houston, he adjusted his stage moniker from Matt Pokora to M. Pokora and re-released his self-titled debut album in 2005, which generated hit singles including "Showbiz (The Battle)" and "Elle me contrôle". In January 2006, he released his second studio album, Player, which topped the French chart. The album featured singles such as "De retour" and a bilingual version of Ricky Martin's "It's Alright". Pokora promoted the record with a national tour that concluded at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, and he subsequently established his own label, M2theP Entertainment.

In 2008, Pokora released his third album, MP3, collaborating with international producers Ryan Leslie, J. R. Rotem, and Timbaland, who appeared on the lead single "Dangerous". His fourth studio album, Mise à jour, was released in 2010 and featured the NRJ Music Award Song of the Year "Juste une photo de toi". The project was accompanied by an English-language adaptation titled Updated in 2011, as well as a updated version containing his successful cover of "À nos actes manqués".

Pokora released his fifth studio album, À la poursuite du bonheur, in March 2012, led by the single "Juste un instant". The following year, he starred in the title role of the French musical Robin des Bois: Ne renoncez jamais, which premiered in Paris before touring nationally. He continued his recording career with the studio albums R.E.D. in 2015, My Way in 2016, Pyramide in 2019, and Epicentre in 2022. Outside of music releases, he voiced the character Duncan Rosenblatt in the French dub of the animated film Firebreather.