MELANIE PAIN is back with the new single: “Senden Daha Güzel”, a smouldering cover of the track by legendary Turkish rock band Duman.
It all began 15 years ago, in a scene worthy of a Wes Anderson film: Nouvelle Vague was performing in a pastel-colored, retro-style seaside town in Turkey. During the show, a fan stole one of Mélanie Pain’s shoes right off her foot on stage. A few weeks later, she received a package containing the shoe, an apology note, some Turkish delight… and a CD of Turkish music. That unexpected gift sparked her curiosity — and a lasting affection for Turkish culture. Since then, the idea of covering a song in Turkish never left her.
In early 2025, her friend Aslan, a French teacher in Istanbul, sent her “Senden Daha Güzel”, a rock anthem by the legendary band Duman. The song instantly reignited Mélanie’s desire to take on the challenge of singing in Turkish. As Melanie explains:
“This song reminds me of the grunge music from my teenage years — Nirvana, Pearl Jam… I wanted to interpret it in my own way, with softness and poetry. Singing in Turkish was a real challenge, but I was fascinated by the rhythm of the language. I loved it so much, I’m already working on more Turkish covers.”
Far from the raw energy and distorted guitars of the original, Mélanie offers an intimate and sensual rendition, carried by hypnotic bass, soft percussion, and sun-drenched fingerpicked guitar.
And the cherry on top: a French version titled Aussi belle que toi, written by Mélanie herself, appears as the B-side of the single — a retro and elegant nod to the golden era of yéyé singers and 45s.
Endorsed by Duman’s frontman Kaan Tangöze, this double release marks a new chapter in Mélanie Pain’s artistic journey. She will finally bring her solo repertoire to Turkish stages, with two upcoming shows: September 26 at Jolly Joker in Ankara and September 27 at JJ Arena in Istanbul, opening for Nouvelle Vague.
The iconic voice of Nouvelle Vague, Mélanie Pain also pursues a solo career blending French and English pop and folk. ‘After My Name’ (2009), ‘Bye Bye Manchester’ (2012) and ‘Parachute’ (2016), she will release her new solo album ‘How and Why’ on 21 November 2025 — an intimate collection of folk songs.
Mélanie Pain will be on tour starting September 2025, both solo and as the opening act for Nouvelle Vague. With appearances in the UK, the full list of solo dates as follows:
LIVE DATES
26/09 – Ankara – Jolly Joker *
27/09 – Istanbul – JJ Arena *
12/11 – Nottingham – Metronome *
24/11 – Newcastle – Digital *
26/11 – Brighton – Chalk *
27/11 – London – KOKO *
28/11 – Wimborne – The Tivoli Theatre *
29/11 – Cardiff – Tramshed *
22/12 – Cologne – Stadtgarten
21/12 – Brussels – Botanique
28/01 – Paris – Café de la Danse
* supporting Nouvelle Vague
