Melissa Weikart announces second album Contact and shares "L'amour se construit"

Melissa Weikart, an artist straddling French and American musical influences, is set to release her second full-length album titled Contact on October 23. Based in Paris, Weikart’s work continues to evolve through a fusion of classical training and contemporary electronic textures.

The upcoming album features 12 tracks, the majority of which Weikart herself wrote, arranged, and produced. Blending her conservatory background in piano and voice with an adventurous approach to electronic music, Contact reflects a maturation of her distinct avant-pop sound. The recording sessions took place at Studio Nocturnes with Marius Duflot, followed by mixing at Chris Cohen’s home studio in Richmond, California, and mastering by Mike Nolte, known for his work with Of Montreal.

Leading the album rollout is the single "L'amour se construit," accompanied by a surreal video directed by Ruby Cicero. The track, whose title translates to "love is built," explores the complex emotional landscape of love, encouraging listeners to embrace its inherent imperfections and contradictions. This thematic exploration aligns with Weikart’s broader artistic ethos, which often delves into the nuances of human experience through an experimental lens.

Prior to Contact, Weikart’s discography includes two EPs and a debut album released under her own name, alongside collaborative projects with Parisian artist Beatrice M. under the moniker Beatrice Melissa. Her recognition in the jazz scene is notable, having secured the emerging artist award at the 2022 Nancy Jazz Pulsations and the instrumentalist prize at the 2023 La Défense National Jazz Competition.

The artist’s trajectory has been marked by a series of European performances over the summer, including a sold-out show at Jazz à la Villette in Paris. Her upcoming live schedule spans several notable French and German venues and festivals, such as Nancy Jazz Pulsations on October 14, Festival Off Off Off in Troyes on October 20, and Sowieso in Berlin on December 9, among others.

Contact’s tracklist reveals a diverse palette of compositions, featuring titles like "Crash," "Mesurer le vent," "The Intersection," and "New Angles," the latter including a collaboration with Manu Delta. This variety suggests an album that navigates multiple emotional and sonic territories while retaining Weikart’s signature experimental edge.

Released through Midnight Special Records, Contact promises to extend Melissa Weikart’s footprint within the avant-pop and jazz-inflected music communities. While details about the album’s full artistic concept remain sparse, the integration of her classical roots with contemporary production techniques positions Contact as a compelling evolution in her artistic narrative.

As she prepares for the album launch and subsequent tour dates, Weikart’s melding of genres and thoughtful engagement with themes of emotional complexity continue to attract attention. Her work exemplifies a growing trend among Franco-American artists who harness cross-cultural influences to redefine contemporary music landscapes.