Elise Mélinand is a singer-songwriter / composer from Paris, France. The combination of her soft, childlike vocals provide a stark juxtaposition to her sometimes frenetic yet widescreen vignettes.

Mélinand originally studied cello at the conservatory until she realized that she much preferred working on more personal musical ideas. Quitting her studies she immediately starts to experiment, via a tape recorder, with any instruments or household implements she could get her hands on.

At 19, Mélinand travels through Eastern and Northern Europe. These travels prove to be intensely inspirational. Shortly after, she relocates to Berlin, and purchases her first guitar and begins to write songs. There she meets Florian Frenzel, a post-pop-punk musician with whom she records her debut EP 'Le voyage' utilizing a collection of old analogue equipment, including an old reel-to-reel from the former East Berlin radio Rundfunk der DDR.

In 2012, Mélinand ends up meeting artist/composer Christina Vantzou (Kranky / The Dead Texan) who recruits her to play in her (The) Little Prism Ensemble from whom they share bills with Nils Frahm, Johan Johansson & Max Richter. This whole new world of music gives her such deep inspiration that she starts working on sketches that will later become her debut album.

Mélinand then heads back to France and purchases herself the equipment to write music in the comfort of her home. This period is also where she transitioned from her day to day composition tool of guitar to a computer. She eventually meets the electronic musician Franck Zaragoza (Ocoeur, n5MD) who then becomes a strong musical influence.

In March 2013, Mélinand sets out to record her debut album 'Gray Hoodie'. The album being recorded mostly at her parents' house, utilizing each room as a unique recording space. Mixed and mastered by her old friend Florian Frenzel in Berlin. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.