Nouvelle Vague

Nouvelle Vague was founded in 2003 by French musicians Olivier Libaux and Marc Collin. Their unique approach involved reimagining classic new wave and punk songs with bossa nova arrangements, a style that blends Brazilian samba with jazz influences. The group’s name, meaning “new wave” in French, references both the French New Wave cinema movement and the 1970s and 1980s new wave music genre, which serves as their primary source material.

The project quickly gained international attention with its self-titled debut album in 2004, featuring tracks like “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and “Just Can’t Get Enough.” A distinctive aspect of Nouvelle Vague’s work is its use of a rotating ensemble of female vocalists, many of whom had not previously heard the original songs they were covering. This approach led to fresh interpretations and helped launch the solo careers of several singers, including Camille, Phoebe Killdeer, and Mélanie Pain. Their second album, “Bande à Part,” released in 2006, continued this success, charting across Europe with covers of songs such as “Blue Monday” and “Heart of Glass.”

Throughout their career, Nouvelle Vague has consistently released new material, including tribute albums and compilations. Notably, the 2009 album “3” featured collaborations with artists from the original new wave era, including Martin Gore of Depeche Mode and Ian McCulloch of Echo & the Bunnymen. Despite a brief hiatus where Marc Collin expressed a desire to avoid repetition, the band returned with new albums like “I Could Be Happy” in 2016 and “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?” in 2024, continuing their exploration of musical reinvention. Olivier Libaux passed away in 2021, but the collective continues to tour and release music, maintaining their signature style and collaborative spirit.