Mélissa Laveaux
Country of origin:
Canada
Type of music generally:
Beautiful & fierce, evocative/eclectic jazzy, alternative pop with an underlying Caribbean flavour
Status:
Most recent release, Radyo Siwèl (2018)
See also:
Wikipedia's entry for Mélissa LaveauxMélissa Laveaux's facebook page (currently her offical site defaults here)
Comparisons:
I can't think of anyone with this kind of voice doing this kind of music—probably my own ignorance. Vocals a touch like Tracy Chapman but music nothing like. Music a little like some jazz musicians, but vocals utterly different. (Neile)
Covers/own material:
Own, occasional co-writing, occasional covers
General comments:
A favourite new artist. (raschee@gmail.com, stjarnell@yahoo.com)Melissa Laveaux does brilliant altpop with an underlying jazzy, Caribbean beat and creativity. Her smoky, lively, lovely vocals ground her lively guitar syncopation. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Dying Is A Wild Night
Recordings:
- Camphor And Copper (2010)
- Dying Is A Wild Night (2013)
- Radyo Siwèl (2018)
Camphor And Copper
Release info:
2010—Nø Førmat—22/Spectra Musique—SPECD 7818
Availability:
Canada and Europe
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Mélissa Laveaux—guitar, vocals, claps, bells, percussion, ukelélé
Guest artists:
Rob Reid—tabla (1, 2, 10); cajon (3, 6)
Martin Gamet—double bass (2, 3, 6, 8); claps (8)
Lisa Patterson—melodica (3); saxophone (6); tambourine (12)
Inor Sotolongo—shaker (6); percussion (12)
Jean Massicotte—electric bass, percussion (7); percussion, piano strings (11)
Eric Auclair—double bass, oudou (11)
Brownman AKA Nick Ali—trumpet (12)
Ferruccio Sardella—accordion (12)
Produced by:
Lisa Patterson and Mélissa Laveaux
Comments:
This is a magnificent album—and shows an artist already mature and singular. Her songwritingis impressive, as are her performances of her carefully chosen covers. Her version of "I Want To Be Evil" is brilliant—but so are her own songs. Highly recommended. (Neile)
Dying Is A Wild Night (2013)
Release info:
2013—Nø Førmat—22
Availability:
Europe
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Mélissa Laveaux—vocals, guitars
Guest artists:
Ludovic Bruni—guitars, bass
Vincent Taeger—drums, percussions
Vincent Taurelle—keyboards
The Hjelmeland—vocals (5, 9)
Produced by:
The Jazz Bastards (Ludovic Bruni, Vincent Taeger, Vincent Taurelle)
Comments:
a great album I just discovered was Melissa Laveaux's Dying is a wild night. Gorgeous and fierce. (stjarnell)Wow, I love this."Postman" is amazing. This is an album I fell in love with from the instant I heard some sample tracks. It's mature, fully realized, inventive, and her sound is her own. Love her vocals, love her songwriting, love how her sound is prodcued. This is a total winner. Too bad it's not easy to get here in North American, especially given she's from Montreal. This is a must have. (Neile)
