Mélanie Pain: “I Fell in Love Instantly with ‘Senden Daha Güzel’”
The iconic voice of Nouvelle Vague, Mélanie Pain, is preparing to release her fourth solo album How and Why with a bilingual interpretation of Duman’s “Senden Daha Güzel.”
French singer and songwriter Mélanie Pain is back on stage with her fourth solo album How and Why. Known as the iconic voice of the group Nouvelle Vague, Pain is now embarking on a more personal journey. She recently opened the album with its first single, “Bluer than Blue.”
But this album has a special meaning for Turkish listeners. It features a Turkish and French cover of Duman’s famous 2009 hit “Senden Daha Güzel.” The album will be released on digital platforms on September 24. Immediately afterward, Pain will give her first solo concerts in Turkey: on September 26 at Ankara Jolly Joker and on September 27 at Istanbul JJ Arena as part of the Pulse Festival. We talked to Mélanie Pain about Duman, of course, but also about her new album, her view on love, and holding on to hope.
Your new album How and Why greets us with a wonderful surprise: you’re covering Duman’s “Senden Daha Güzel.” How did you decide on this song?
I toured many times in Turkey with Nouvelle Vague, and I always had the idea of covering a Turkish song in the back of my mind. I asked a friend in Istanbul—she’s a teacher—to send me some of her favorite Turkish songs. When I heard Duman’s “Senden Daha Güzel,” I couldn’t get it out of my head for weeks. It reminded me of the music I loved when I was younger… raw, grunge-style, but with such deep emotion. I fell in love instantly.
Do you speak Turkish? Or did you learn a little bit just for this song?
I don’t speak Turkish, so my friend helped me with the accent and rhythm. When I finally recorded it, I sent the cover to Kaan Tangöze. The fact that he liked it made me incredibly happy.
We can say that Turkey is no longer foreign to you—it’s a country you’re now a part of. What do you always make a ritual of doing when you come here? I’m sure you have foods you love or places you always visit…
My “péché mignon” (my guilty pleasure, my little sin) is börek! Morning, noon, or night—it doesn’t matter. Most of the time we’re in Istanbul, but I wish I could travel more on the Asian side of the country. I can’t say I know Turkey very well; there are still so many places I haven’t seen.
Nouvelle Vague is also a very beloved group in Turkey. Now, as part of the Pulse Festival in Istanbul and Ankara, we’ll watch your solo performance. You’ve been performing in Turkey for many years. What is your relationship like with the audience here?
I have such beautiful memories, especially from concerts at Babylon in Istanbul (now called Blind), and also from performances in Izmir and Ankara. The audiences here are very warm and very open. Every time they sing “In a Manner of Speaking” with me, my eyes fill with tears. Playing my solo songs in Turkey has been my dream for a long time; finally making it happen is incredibly exciting.
“I’M A FAN OF BARIŞ MANÇO AND CEM KARACA”
Are you interested in the Turkish music scene? Apart from Duman, who do you listen to or find interesting?
I’m a big fan of classics like Barış Manço and Cem Karaca. More recently I discovered Kalben and Maya Perest.
Your first single “Bluer Than Blue” is a soft, profound song blending the delicate tones of folk music with pop. Listening to the lyrics, we once again see how love can bring someone down to the ground… I read that you originally wrote this song for a short film. Why bring it to life now?
“Bluer Than Blue” was actually the first line I wrote, and I loved the melody and lyrics so much that I kept building around them; eventually the song came alive. In a way, it’s a sad song, but I wanted melancholy to feel positive. There’s no anger. Only resilience and a calm beauty.
Listening to the song, I realized that we never stop fighting with ourselves, and sometimes we need to draw a world of emotions, like keeping a diary. Love sometimes comes from where we least expect it, and sometimes, while we try to hold onto it, it slips away from our hands. How do the other songs on the album look at love? Can you tell us some of their stories?
There’s a song on the album called “Same”; it’s about the beauty of growing old together. About embracing the routine, the “always the same, always the same.” Personally, unlike some people, I don’t constantly seek change or wild passions. I like to imagine love as a river. Sometimes it flows stronger, sometimes calmer, but it’s always there.
“EVEN THROUGH MY DARKEST SONGS, THERE IS A LIGHT”
Your first video is also very simple—you’re barefoot on a rooftop singing… We see the bright blue sky, the sunlight, the green of the trees. It feels both broken and strangely comforting. Where did you shoot this video? Was the idea of keeping it simple yours? What did you feel when you watched it?
The song is strong enough on its own, so I wanted the video to remain very natural. The director suggested shooting on a rooftop in Belgium in early summer. We filmed it three or four times, in one take, at sunset. I love the sense of fragility and quiet strength that came out of it. It feels like I’m lost in the sky, but also safe there.
When I saw How and Why as the title of your album, I couldn’t help but wonder: what do you ask this question about the most? About people, relationships, politics, friendships, or family? What surprises you most these days?
“How and why we keep our hopes so high?” is the question I constantly ask myself. The fact that our emotions can pull us through the hardest situations always fascinates me. I usually write about relationships, but this song goes beyond that. It’s about change, about dreams, and about holding onto them despite all obstacles. The album is actually quite hopeful. Even through the darker songs, there is a light shining through. I wanted to create something inspiring, and I think I managed to do that.
When you’re not performing or recording, what does an ordinary day look like for you? In the hustle and bustle of life, how do you create a calm world for yourself? Do you have specific escapes?
Walking has become my morning ritual. I try to walk for an hour every day. Then I come home, have a coffee, and only then do I feel ready for the day. It helps me stay calm. The rest of the day can be a bit chaotic, because I have two kids and I tour a lot. That’s why I really treasure a peaceful day at home.
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