Tess Merlot

Lightning struck, the first time Tess Merlot heard Jacques Brel. From that moment on, music was all around. After playing hundreds of shows, the essence remained: allowing the human soul to reach the surface the way only French torch songs can. With original songs from Brel, Piaf en Aznavour and her own catalogue.

Motivated to share her passion and unite cultures, Tess released her first EP Chansons pour non-francophones in 2017, followed by debut album Laissez-moi in 2021 and her second album, Chante la vie, in 2024, containing exclusively originals. Her songs received extensive airplay on multiple popular Dutch radio stations, such as NPO Radio 1, 2, 5 and the Belgian VRT 2. In collaboration with regional public broadcaster Omroep West she created two seasons of chanson podcast Enchanté and hosted a radio show of the same name.

Whether Tess takes the stage with an entire orchestra or with her band, an irresistible joie de vivre is given while chansons in their purest form are sprinkled across the room. Sometimes it’s stripped down and pure, other times grotesque and bold. Whatever it takes to do them justice. And every time Tess allows the chansons to do their work, magic appears. In short: Tess Merlot is the perfect addition to any room that doesn’t mind a little wine getting spilled.