Mélanie De Biasio
{{Short description|Belgian jazz singer, flutist and composer}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Melanie De Biasio
| image = Melanie-De-Biasio.jpg
| caption = Melanie De Biasio performing at the European Border Breakers Awards Show, Stadsschouwburg Groningen, Netherlands, 2015
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|07|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = Charleroi, Belgium
| genre = Jazz
| occupation = Singer
| years_active =
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|www.melaniedebiasio.net}}
}}
Melanie De Biasio (born 12 July 1978) is a Belgian jazz singer, flutist and composer.
Early life
De Biasio was born in Charleroi, to a Belgian mother and an Italian father. She learnt ballet from the age of three, and started playing the Western concert flute at eight. Being a fan of groups like Nirvana, Portishead, Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull, at the age of 15 she joined a rock band for a while. After three years of singing studies at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, she was awarded a first prize with a degree of highest distinction. In 2004 during a tour in Russia, De Biasio suffered from a serious pulmonary infection which caused a loss of singing ability for a full year. During this time she developed her characteristic whispering chant.{{cite web|url= https://couleursjazz.fr/melanie-de-biasio-lilies/|title= Melanie De Biasio Lilies |publisher= Couleursjazz.fr|accessdate=2020-04-29}}
Career
Soon after she graduated, Belgian jazz musician and saxophone professor at her Conservatory Steve Houben asked her to appear in concert with him, allowing her to play in numerous festivals and other large music events in Belgium. In 2006, De Biasio was nominated for a Django d'Or award, in the "Young Talent" category.{{cite web|url=http://www.igloorecords.be/artists/melanie-de-biasio/|title=Mélanie De Biasio|publisher=Igloo Records |accessdate= 17 June 2014}} One year later, she released her first album, A Stomach Is Burning, on Igloo Records. It was favourably received by critics and it won the "Best Jazz Album" award at Les Octaves de la Musique.{{cite web|url=http://www.citizenjazz.com/Melanie-De-Biasio.html|title=A Stomach Is Burning|publisher=Citizenjazz |language=fr |first=Jacques |last= Prouvost |date=3 September 2007 |accessdate=20 July 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://lesoctavesdelamusique.be/les-laureats/les-laureats-2007/ |title=Les lauréats 2007 - les Octaves de la Musique |access-date=November 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115071502/http://lesoctavesdelamusique.be/les-laureats/les-laureats-2007/ |archive-date=November 15, 2016 |url-status=dead }}
In 2013 Melanie De Biasio signed a long term record deal with independent label [PIAS]. Soon thereafter she released her second album, No Deal, which has been described as a simple and sensual work.{{cite web|url=http://www.franceinter.fr/personne-melanie-de-biasio |title=Mélanie de Biasio|publisher=France Inter |language=fr|date=2014 |accessdate=18 June 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lesinrocks.com/musique/critique-album/no-deal-melanie-de-biasio-un-album-de-vertige-pur/ |title=Mélanie de Biasio, un album de vertige pur|language=fr|publisher=Les Inrocks |date=13 December 2013|accessdate=20 July 2014}} Rolling Stone gave it a 4-star review and JazzNews included in their Top 25 Best Albums Ever. Jamie Cullum recommended the album in his radio show and Radiohead's drummer Phil Selway chose it as his favourite album of 2014: "No Deal had me hooked from the first listen. It sounded like Billie Holiday had walked into the sessions for Mark Hollis's solo record. […] there is true soul in this record." {{cite web|url= https://www.npr.org/2015/05/23/408558784/jamie-cullum-wants-you-to-hear-these-jazz-tunes?t=1587543308606 |title= NPR - Jamie Cullum wants to hear these jazz tunes |publisher= npr.org |accessdate=2020-04-22}}{{cite news|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/my-album-of-2014-some-of-pop-worlds-biggest-stars-choose-their-favourite-releases-9935635.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/my-album-of-2014-some-of-pop-worlds-biggest-stars-choose-their-favourite-releases-9935635.html |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title= Independent - my album of 2014 |website= independent.co.uk |accessdate=2020-04-22}}
In 2014, Melanie De Biasio became the second Belgian artist to play on Later... with Jools Holland, after Zap Mama almost 20 years earlier.{{cite web|url=http://focus.knack.be/entertainment/muziek/melanie-de-biasio-eerste-belgische-artiest-in-20-jaar-bij-jools-holland/article-normal-435221.html |title= Melanie De Biasio eerste Belgische artiest in 20 jaar bij Jools Holland |language=nl|publisher=Focus Knack |date=8 October 2014|accessdate=9 December 2016}} She supported Eels on their European tour. In 2015 a "No Deal" Remix album was released, created in collaboration with artists such as The Cinematic Orchestra, Eels & Gilles Peterson. That same year, De Biasio headlined the Montreux Jazz Tokyo Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.montreuxjazz.com/montreux-jazz-festival-returns-tokyo |title=Homepage - MJF |website=Montreuxjazz.com |accessdate=2020-03-10}}
Melanie De Biasio was proclaimed to be the Best Live Act by Gilles Peterson and received his Track Of The Year award in 2016. In the same year she also won the European Border Breakers Award and the Champagne Price in France, along with the Octave De La Musique, D6BELS and Medaille Chevalier Wallon in Belgium.{{cite web|url= https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/node/74_es|title= European Border Breakers Music Awards 2015 |website= ec.europa.eu |accessdate=2020-04-22}} At the Haldern Pop Festival in 2016, she collaborated with Damien Rice, on a spectral cover of Nina Simone's 'Be My Husband'.
Also in 2016, Melanie De Biasio and her band recorded an exploratory version of a new track she had been working on. The take runs to almost 25 minutes and was released uncut on an EP, named Blackened Cities. The EP's cover artwork contains a black-and-white picture of Melanie De Biasio's home city Charleroi by photographer Stephan Vanfleteren.
In 2017 Melanie De Biasio released her third studio album, Lilies. It was reviewed very favourably and De Biasio once again received multiple awards, including best composer/author at the 2017 Music Industry Awards and D6BELS Awards.{{cite web|url= https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/01/29/mia-s-2017-gedomineerd-door-jong-talent/ |title= VRT News - Jong talent domineert de MIA's |website= VRT |date= 30 January 2018 |accessdate=2020-04-22}}{{cite web|url= http://www.federation-wallonie-bruxelles.be/index.php?id=detail_article&no_cache=1&tx_cfwbarticlefe_cfwbarticlefront%5Baction%5D=show&tx_cfwbarticlefe_cfwbarticlefront%5Bcontroller%5D=Document&tx_cfwbarticlefe_cfwbarticlefront%5Bpublication%5D=2341&cHash=639c0b3b3842f8a543c8fb4ccefe315e |title= D6bels Music Awards : le palmarès 2017|website= federation-wallonie-bruxelles |accessdate=2020-04-22}} Shortly thereafter she played 3 sold-out concerts in a row at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels. Melanie De Biasio then started a 2 year tour with concerts at festivals and venues all across the globe. While on tour, her track 'I Feel You – Eels Remix' was used to promote the film Alien: Covenant directed by Ridley Scott, it runs during the entire in-universe short movie "Meet Walter" starring Michael Fassbender.{{cite web|url= http://www.wallonia.be/en/news/melanie-de-biasio-lends-her-voice-alien-covenant |title= Melanie De Biasio lends her voice in Alien - Covenant |publisher= Wallonia|accessdate=2020-04-22}}
In 2018, the President of Italy honoured Melanie De Biasio as Cavaliere Della Stella d'Italia.
Community projects
Starting in 2011, De Biasio worked with prisoners for two years in a collective creative process using voice, movement, breath and rhythm, in collaboration with the non-profit organization Avanti that led to a critically acclaimed performance in the prison.
{{See also|Jules Audent}}
In 2017, in collaboration with a group of 10 patrons of the arts from Charleroi, Melanie De Biasio bought the house built in 1877 for Jules Audent, then mayor of the city. This building had long been occupied by the Italian consulate. After renovation works the site is now being used as an artist residence named, l'Alba - House of Shared Talents.{{cite web|url= http://www.alba-charleroi.org/ |title= Alba official site |website= Alba |accessdate=2020-04-22}}
Awards and honors
Awards
| class="wikitable sortable" | |
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Brussels Royal Conservatory of Jazz – 1st Prize with the highest distinction |
| 2006 | Django D'or Awards – Nominee 'Young Talent' |
| 2008 | Octaves de la Musique – Winner 'Best Jazz Album' |
| 2013 | Octave de la Musique – Winner 'Best Artist' |
| 2014 | Octave de la Musique – Winner 'Best Album' {{cite web|url=https://www.jazzinbelgium.com/ldh/musicians/prizes/prizes/octaves|title=Octaves de la musique jazz|publisher=Jazz In Belgium |accessdate= 6 May 2020}} |
| 2015 | Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards – Winner 'Best Live Act' |
| 2015 | Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards – Nominee 'Best Album 2014' |
| 2015 | European Border Breakers Awards – Winner |
| 2015 | Champagne Price 2015 – Winner |
| 2016 | D6BELS Awards – Winner 'Musician Of The Year' |
| 2016 | D6BELS Awards – Winner 'Author & Compositor Of The Year' |
| 2016 | Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards – 'Track Of The Year' {{cite web|url=https://www.frontview-magazine.be/en/news/melanie-de-biasio-wins-track-of-the-year-at-gilles-petersons-2017s-worldwide-awards|title=Melanie De BIasio wins track of the year|publisher=Frontview Magazine |accessdate= 6 May 2020}} |
| 2016 | Music Industry Awards – Winner 'Best Artwork'{{cite web|url=https://stubru.be/music/puurgoudbazartgroteoverwinnaarmet5mias |title=Puur Goud|publisher=StuBru |accessdate= 6 May 2020}} |
| 2017 | D6BELS Awards – Winner 'Best Album' |
| 2017 | D6BELS Awards – Winner 'Best Music Video' |
| 2017 | D6BELS Awards – Winner 'Author & Compositor Of The Year' |
| 2017 | Music Industry Awards – Winner 'Author & Compositor Of The Year' |
Honors
| class="wikitable sortable" | |
| Year | Honor |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Medaille Chevalier Wallon |
| 2019 | Cavaliere Della Stella d'Italia |
Discography
= Albums =
| class="wikitable"
|+List of albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Album ! scope="col" colspan="5"|Peak positions |
| scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:90%;" | BEL (Fl) {{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/search.asp?search=M%E9lanie+De+Biasio&cat=a|title=Mélanie De Biasio discography|publisher=Hung Medien|work=ultratop.be/nl/|accessdate=3 January 2017}} ! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:90%;" | BEL ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | FRA |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"|2007
|A Stomach Is Burning | style="text-align:center;"|144 | style="text-align:center;"|113 | style="text-align:center;"|— |
| style="text-align:center;"|2013
|No Deal | style="text-align:center;"|14 | style="text-align:center;"|5 | style="text-align:center;"|55 |
| style="text-align:center;"|2016
|Blackened Cities (EP) | style="text-align:center;"|5 | style="text-align:center;"|10 | style="text-align:center;"|155 |
| style="text-align:center;"|2017
| style="text-align:center;"|3 | style="text-align:center;"|7 | style="text-align:center;"|35 |
| style="text-align:center;"|2023
|Il viaggio | style="text-align:center;"|2 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|— |
= Singles =
| class="wikitable"
|+List of singles, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Title ! scope="col" colspan="5"|Peak positions |
| scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:90%;" | BEL (Fl) {{cite web | url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/search.asp?search=M%E9lanie+De+Biasio&cat=s | title=Mélanie De Biasio discography | publisher=Hung Medien | work=ultratop.be/nl/ |accessdate=17 October 2014}} ! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:90%;" | BEL ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | FRA |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"|2013
|"The Flow" | style="text-align:center;"|59 | style="text-align:center;"|27 | style="text-align:center;"|— |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2017
|"Your Freedom Is the End of Me" | style="text-align:center;"|97 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|90 |
| "Gold Junkies"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|195 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.melaniedebiasio.net/ Official website]
- [http://www.alba-charleroi.org/melanie-de-biasio/ Alba]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:De Biasio, Melanie}}
Category:Belgian women jazz singers
Category:Belgian women jazz musicians
Category:Belgian jazz composers
Category:Belgian women composers
Category:Belgian women jazz composers
Category:Belgian women flautists
Category:PIAS Recordings artists
Category:21st-century Belgian women singers