Tess Merlot

The first time Tess Merlot heard Jacques Brel, lightning struck. Since then, it has been impossible to imagine her life without the chanson. She formed the band Tess et les Moutons and has since performed hundreds of shows revolving around the essence: drawing the human soul to the surface, as only the French song of life can - with originals by Brel, Piaf and Aznavour as well as her own work.

Since her debut album Laissez-moi (2021), Tess Merlot has become the chansonnière of the Low Countries. She toured the whole country, performed with the Residentie Orkest in a sold-out PAARD in The Hague, and shared her love for chanson in podcasts, radio programmes and on national TV. She also found her audience internationally, with shows in France, Germany, Belgium and even at a sold-out Ellington Jazz Club in Perth, Australia.

For her second album Chante la vie (2024), Tess drew on personal experiences: the loss of the parental home, friendships fading away, but also the beauty of growth, love and growing up. The result is a rich album full of emotion and zest for life. Singles like Ma maison / Our house and Rien à perdre found their way to radio, with success on NPO Radio 2, Radio 5 and even a No 1 listing in Radio West's Eeuwige Roem list. With the duet Je n'ai plus 20 ans with Ben Cramer, she was a guest on Tijd voor Max and Shownieuws, among others.

Whether Tess performs in small ensemble, with full band or with orchestra - there is always that irresistible joie de vivre, that boundless energy. The chanson may be subdued and fragile, but equally grand and compelling. And time and again, the audience grabs back to that primal power: singing along, tears, happiness.