Musical catastrophe with November Ultra, Barbara Pravi, Mélissa Laveaux, Yael Naim, and Pi Ja Ma

November Ultra, Barbara Pravi, Mélissa Laveaux, Yael Naim, and Pi Ja Ma discuss writing songs from their beds, catastrophe in music, feeling connection to family, and being a bad musician away from the public.

November Ultra started singing at the age of three in Paris with with her Spanish mother and Portuguese father. She embraces the many facets of folk, R&B and the Iberian music traditions she grew up with.

Barbara Pravi is one of the biggest stars in French chanson. Her powerful and passionate vocals have drawn comparisons with icons such as Édith Piaf and Jacques Brèl, and in 2021 she came second in the Eurovision Song Contest with her song, Voilá.

Mélissa Laveaux is a Haitian-Canadian performer known for her poetic lyrics and unique guitar style. She sings in both English and Haitian Creole, and her adventurous songwriting sees her do everything from reinterpreting long-lost Haitian tunes to exploring the lives of resilient women that history has cast aside.

Yael Naim is a Franco-Israeli singer and multi-instrumentalist who, in a 20 year career, has created a sound world that stretches from upbeat piano pop to introspective and emotional music.

Pi Ja Ma started out busking covers of Patti Smith and The Velvet Underground. After taking part in French talent show La Nouvelle Star aged 17, she’s gone on create bold tracks with lush arrangements that are inspired as much by ‘60s pop as contemporary indie-pop.