Paris-born Valentine Guilen studied modern literature at the Sorbonne and theatre at the Cours Florent, where she met Jay Alanski, producer and composer of the most influential pop songs of the 1980s.[1] In August 1986, she met her friends Les Innocents, then unknown by the general public, in a recording studio, where the group recorded their first single "Jodie", under the leadership of Alanski, who quickly offered her the chance to sing.
Valentine Guilen, who adopted the pseudonym "Jil Caplan", accepted and released in 1987 her first album, À peine 21.[2] Its single "Oh! Tous les soirs" was a success, entering the French Top 40.[3] Other singles from this album, like "Comme sur une balançoire",[4] "Cette fille n'est pas pour toi",[5] etc. received public attention and radio airplay in 1988/89.
Jil and Jay will make three albums together; directing most of the videoclips, as well as designing the CD covers.[6]
In 1990 was released the Caplan's second album (la Charmeuse de serpents), from which three singles entered the French Top 40 in 1991/92,[7] notably "Natalie Wood" which reached n°13 and "Tout c'qui nous sépare", a Top 10 hit (n°6). The album itself was a major success, earning a double Gold certification, just missing the French Top 10 (n°11).
Caplan wrote her own songs then, and chose Jean-Philippe Nataf (ex-member of Les Innocents), to produce her album Toute crue (2001, Warner).[8] Alongside her musical activities, Caplan, always fascinated by the filmmaking, produced and directed a 45-minute film for the group Lilicub. She wrote articles for the independent magazine Brazil.[9]
In 2004, she released "Comme elle vient", a single made with another ex-member of Les Innocents, Jean-Christophe Urbain. Together they went on an acoustic tourofBurma.[10] In 2006, she directed the making-of[clarification needed] the recording of French singer Patxi Garat's debut album (S'embrasser), directed by Urbain. In 2007, after a decade's absence, Caplan joined up with Alanski again. She wrote most of the lyrics, while he composed all the music of her seventh album, entitled Derrière la porte. The first single was "Des toutes petites choses".[8]
In 2013, Caplan collaborated with producer Dub Mentor on the single "Want You More", a rendition of a Robert Palmer song. A year later they collaborated again on a version of "The Crying Game". Both singles were part of Dub Mentor's Versions project (released on the alternative/minimalist label EnT-T) and she directed both video clips for the songs.[11]
