Mélanie Pain
- chloe9732
- Jun 13
- 2 min read
Mélanie Pain is not just the iconic voice behind Nouvelle Vague’s beloved
covers (Dance With Me, Ever Fallen in Love, Killing Moon…). She’s a singular artist
in her own right — and she’s back in November 2025 with 'How and Why', a
fourth solo album of stunning tenderness.
Recorded live with her longtime bandmates, this new record marks a return to
her roots: acoustic guitar, voice front and center, stripped-down arrangements,
and a quiet intensity that lingers long after the final note.
Here, Mélanie explores intimate folk, drawing inspiration from Calexico, Iron &
Wine, Kings of Convenience, and Emilíana Torrini — delivering a raw, sincere
sound, free of artifice. “I wanted to return to my first love: stripped-down folk, clear melodies, with guitar and voice as the only compass.”
The album was born in early 2024 during a writing retreat in a wooden cabin near
Bordeaux, in collaboration with guitarist and producer Jérôme Plasseraud (Alaaska, 1973). A luminous pause on the banks of the Garonne, which gave birth to nine songs in English - blending emotion, melancholy, and renewal.
Standout tracks include:
– Cold Hands, a magnetic duet with Brian Lopez (Calexico).
– Dreamloop, a pop gem with echoes of The Velvet Underground.
– Senden Daha Güzel, a sensual Turkish cover of the cult band Duman.
– Bluer than Blue, a melancholic opener where sadness slowly turns to light.
Written and produced by Mélanie herself under her label Lucky13, 'How and
Why' will be released under license with Capitane Records (Nicolas Michaux,
Adam Green, Turner Cody…) and distributed by Modulor.
On tour starting September 2025.
Discography (main releases)
2004 - Graceland - Villeneuve
2004 - Nouvelle Vague - Nouvelle Vague
2005 - First Date - Villeneuve
2006 - Bande à part - Nouvelle Vague
2009 - My name - Mélanie Pain
2009 - 3 - Nouvelle vague
2010 - Best Of - Nouvelle Vague
2011 - Version Française - Nouvelle Vague
2012 - Bye Bye Manchester - Mélanie Pain
2016 - Parachute - Mélanie Pain
2016 - I could be happy - Nouvelle Vague
2019 - Rarities - Nouvelle Vague
2020 - Adieu Mon amour - Mélanie Pain
2023 - Kill The Pain - Kill The Pain
2025 - How & Why - Mélanie Pain
