Mélissa Laveaux

Mélissa Laveaux, born on January 9, 1985, is an independent singer-songwriter and guitarist from Canada with Haitian heritage. She was previously signed to No Format! Her musical style blends elements of roots, folk, and blues, showcasing her distinctive percussive finger-style guitar technique and soulful vocals. In 2006, Laveaux released her first full-length album featuring her original songs, which she co-produced with percussionist Rob Reid (on tabla and cajón) and Lisa Patterson of Imaginit Music Studios. She has garnered acclaim from her peers, as highlighted in magazines like ColorLines, and was honored with a Songs from the Heart award in the World Music category for her composition "Koud'lo" at the 2006 Ontario Council of Folk Festivals' conference. Laveaux has had the opportunity to open for several influential musicians who have inspired her, such as Meshell Ndegeocello, Feist, and Lura. She has also graced the stages of jazz and popular music festivals worldwide. While most of her performances have taken place in France, she regularly entertains audiences in Japan and Spain. Notable festivals where Laveaux has been featured include the Montreal International Jazz Festival (2007, 2009, and 2010), Cully Jazz, Donostia Jazzaldia, Festival du Bout du Monde (2008), Les Francofolies de La Rochelle (2009), Sakifo Musik Festival in La Réunion Island, and le Printemps de Bourges. Moreover, she has made guest appearances on local CBC Radio programs like Ottawa Morning and All in a Day, as well as national radio broadcasts such as Bandwidth, Canada Live, and Go!. In December 2007, Laveaux earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Ethics from the University of Ottawa. In 2009, Laveaux collaborated with producer MaJiKer on a track that was set to be released on his B-side EP titled Body Piano Machine. In 2018, Laveaux's album Radyo Siwel received long-list recognition for the Polaris Music Prize. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.