Ep 120: Melissa Lesnie takes us inside the world of Street Performance in Paris!

Melissa grew up between Australia and the Philippines, singing in choirs and writing her own songs from a young age.

She studied Musicology at the Conservatorium of Sydney and went on to work as an opera critic and co-editor of the classical music magazine Limelight.
In 2013, she moved to Paris and freelanced as a travel and music journalist, while working at the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen (selling vintage French pornographic posters, among other bits and bobs) and as a tour guide for runners.

As a record label executive with Warner Classics, she worked with some of the most prestigious classical artists in France but didn't dare to make her own music in Paris until she walked into a 'jam' one night and asked to sing.

Since then, she has become a familiar face and voice in the Paris jazz milieu, singing for swing balls and péniches, hosting her own weekly jam at the speakeasy Madame Simone, and singing with her troupe of buskers (tap dancer, accordion, etc) in the streets of Paris. She has released two albums (a rockabilly duo and a piano duo with string quartet) and will record the third album of swing 1930s swing in June with the Israeli guitarist Duved Dunayevsky.

WATCH LIVE
https://www.facebook.com/655661761/posts/10158278267491762/?d=n

Instagram @melissalesnie

The album: www.melissalesnie.bandcamp.com

(Livestream for The Music Festival in Paris)

YouTube videos

In support of struggling artists in COVID times, she gave a concert outside the occupied Théâtre de l'Odéon... with a troupe of stiltwalkers!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmcu8SNPLr0

With the tap dancer Jelly and his troupe we did a Josephine Baker tribute for the Journées du Patrimoine, in the gardens of Josephine Baker's former residence at Le Vésinet... for which the organizers let me wear a Josephine Baker dress. It was pouring with rain so we kept on playing in the shade of her doorway!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODuClvx1cZE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kplhD7wtQGE

The same tap dancer, Jelly, and my favorite banjo player Ziggy, in the streets of Saint Germain, working the locals into a frenzy! https://www.instagram.com/p/CE2UICLAVHU/

Sophisticated Lady - Track from the album with string quartet 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4MM7jq_ZVw

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