Who doesn’t know the feeling: you’re walking down the street, already thinking about where your steps will take you next; you open a book, and your mind drifts to the ending before the first page has even settled. Where does this restless energy come from — the constant urge to move forward? Yet it is possible to learn how to stay in the moment. Not to cling too tightly to the “good old days,” not to get lost in nostalgia, and not to dream too far ahead into a future that has not yet arrived.
For French singer and songwriter Mélanie Pain, songwriting has been one of the ways to root herself in the present. “My biggest struggle has always been learning to live in the moment — to really be here, without overthinking, projecting, fantasizing, or rationalizing. Just being true in the moment is really hard for me,” she says.
Best known as one of the iconic voices of Nouvelle Vague for the past twenty years, Mélanie continues her singular path as a solo artist, weaving pop, folk, and intimate poetry. With her fourth solo album How and Why, she strips everything back to raw folk, centered around acoustic guitar and that unmistakable voice: soft, deep, and elegant. Recorded live with her longtime bandmates, the record reflects on resilience, fleeting emotions, and the fragile balance between past, present, and future. The new single and video from the album, “Bluer than Blue,” offers a touching glimpse of this emotional journey, serving as a powerful introduction to the album’s themes. The single’s haunting melody and evocative lyrics, which Mélanie originally wrote for a short film, are now beautifully complemented by a new music video that serves as a quiet, visual story, perfectly mirroring the song’s intimate and introspective feel.
As she puts it: “Writing songs is another way for me to capture the present as best I can — to translate it into lyrics, melodies, chords, arrangements, and interpretation, all speaking to each other to create a snapshot of a moment, a story, an emotion.”
photography by Simon Vanrie
Hey dear Mélanie, I’m listening to your lovely new single Bluer than Blue. It’s such a beautiful song. Very emotional. You said that, “Unlike the rest of the album, the arrangements came after — with a kind of classical urge to translate emotion and lyrics into sound.” Where did the lyrics come to life, and how can we non-musicians imagine what it’s like to turn emotions into arrangements? Do you just sit down and play out whatever’s inside you in that moment, or is your process more conceptual?
I wrote Bluer Than Blue years ago for a short film. Back then it was just one verse and a vocal line over a minimal synth arrangement—very atmospheric but unfinished. I always felt it could become a real song, so I came back to it later, added a chorus and a second verse, and it slowly turned into a piece about self-doubt and how love can ground you.
I pictured those emotions like waves—sometimes they lift you, sometimes they crash down and it all feels like “too much blue.” Eventually, I shared the demo with my friend, pianist Mathieu Geghre. He decided to start completely fresh, keeping only the voice, and built a whole new emotional soundscape around it.
The song feels a bit like a battle with oneself — unreachable expectations, persistent doubts, and that longing for unconditional love that keeps us going.
What’s been your biggest battle in life so far, and does music help you cope with things more easily?
My biggest struggle has always been learning to live in the present—to really be here, without overthinking, projecting, fantasizing, or rationalizing. Just being true in the moment is really hard for me. I keep telling myself I should probably start meditating… But music already helps me a lot. Touring is all about being present: you share something unique with the audience that can never be replicated. That’s what makes it so precious.
Writing songs is another way for me to capture the present as best I can—to translate it into lyrics, melodies, chords, arrangements, and interpretation, all speaking to each other to create a snapshot of a moment, a story, an emotion. I’ve always believed the past isn’t lost—it’s something you’ve gained forever but I’m constantly trying to find balance between past, present, and future.
“Touring is all about being present: you share something unique with the audience that can never be replicated. That’s what makes it so precious.”
What are some “unreachable expectations” in your life — personally, and in your work?
And are you at a point now where you’re starting to let go of them?
I guess I’m resilient because, deep down, I’m not that ambitious :) For years I thought that was a weakness, but actually it keeps me sane. I like working hard toward goals that feel realistic—less chance of major heartbreak that way. Of course, I still dream big sometimes. I would have loved to learn guitar or write a novel… maybe one day.
Unconditional love is… hard. It’s very hard not to judge and really hard to forgive.
The song is from your fourth album How and Why – raw folk, centered on acoustic guitar, and recorded live with your longtime bandmates from Nouvelle Vague. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think back to that recording time?
I was so happy to finally get into the studio. I’d worked the demos to death—changing lyrics and melodies over and over—so it was a real relief to hand them to the musicians and just let the magic happen.
Recording live was a commitment I couldn’t keep for every song, but on most of them we kept the very first takes, and I loved that. Not too much post-production, just the raw energy of the musicians playing together.
“I’m always amazed by how some people manage to stay positive even in the toughest moments—how and why they do it is a bit of a mystery.”
Making music together for 20 years — that’s really something special. How did you all first meet, and what would you say is the “secret” behind such a long-lasting collaboration?
Nouvelle Vague pretty much changed my life. I probably wouldn’t be a singer if I hadn’t met Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux at exactly the right moment—in 2004, in Paris. The secret to the band’s longevity? It’s not really a band—it’s more like a collective. Every artist involved has their own projects or bands, and they can move freely between them. That keeps it fun and alive!
What does the title How and Why mean to you, and why did you choose it?
It’s the title of my favorite song in the album. It’s about resilience – again – keeping hope alive no matter what. The song is about a relationship, but really it’s about life in general. I’m always amazed by how some people manage to stay positive even in the toughest moments—how and why they do it is a bit of a mystery.
Who are your musical heroes, and what kind of music do you find yourself listening to the most?
I’m a huge fan of Iron & Wine, Calexico, Emiliana Torrini, Kings of Convenience, Wilco, The Smiths, Bon Iver… but lately I’ve been obsessed with Dekker. I could listen to his albums on repeat every day. There’s a groove in his music I really love—it’s acoustic folk, but rhythmic and catchy. It’s the type of melancholy I like : with a sunny, positive twist.
When you’re not making music, how do you most love spending your time?
Cuddling my sons.
Happiness is… now.
Listen to the new single, “Bluer than Blue,” here:
modulor.lnk.to/BluerthanBlue
Follow Mélanie Pain for more:
www.instagram.com/melaniepainmusic
