Mélaine Favennec

Born in 1950 in Quimperlé (29), Melaine Favennec developed his musical ear under the influence of his father, Robert Favennec, founder of Bagad Bro Kemperle, which covers traditional songs and tunes from the region. In his youth, he learned to play the bombard and bagpipes, and began writing songs at the age of twelve. After a spell in Alençon, Favennec returned to Brittany, where he formed the group Diaouled Ar Menez, playing the violin from 1972 to 1975. Keen to strike out on his own, he met Gérard Delahaye and Patrik Ewen, with whom he ran the Névénoë label and cooperative. With this structure, Melaine Favennec produced his first personal albums, Basse Danse (1976) then Chansons Simples Et Chants De Longue Haleine (1978), on which he gave pride of place to the Breton and Celtic musical tradition that accompanies the singer's lyrics and voice. His productions enabled him to support the likes of Bernard Lavilliers, Archie Shepp and Léo Ferré, before signing to RCA, which produced his third album, Au Secret Déluge (1982). Melaine Favennec toured at the Printemps de Bourges festival, and won an award from SACEM. This notoriety and the particularity of his music, rooted in the Breton heritage, aroused curiosity and supported him in the production of shows. While performing in France, at Les Tombées De La Nuit and alongside Henri Texier, he released the albums Melaine - Masculin Singulier (1988), La Chambre (1990) and Présent D'Exil (1993). Well-identified in the French music world, Melaine Favennec was honored by the Académie Charles-Cros and the Prix de la Création en Bretagne. After a 2003 reunion with Patrik Ewen and Gérard Delahaye, and personal albums Nos Îles, Nos Amours (1999) and Hey Ho! (2005), Melaine Favennec is back in the news in 2012 with the album Émoi des Mots.