Olivia Merilahti Explained

Olivia Merilahti
Birth Name:Olivia Bouyssou
Birth Date:1982 2, df=y
Birth Place:Paris, France
Alias:Prudence
Instruments:Vocals, guitar, keyboards
Genre:Indie rock, folk rock
Occupations:Singer
Years Active:2007–present
Associated Acts:The Dø

Olivia Bouyssou[1] (born 25 February 1982),[2] known professionally as Olivia Merilahti and Prudence, is a Finnish-French singer and composer, best known for being the frontwoman of the musical duo The Dø. Her work has been compared to that of Björk, whom she cites as a major influence.[3] Merilahti was born to a French father and a Finnish mother.[4] She primarily uses English in music, which she learned at an early age.

Finnish is my intimate language; I speak Finnish with my mum and I've been living in France for most of my life, so it's been my secret language. My secret weapon somehow. So these different languages play different roles in my life, and English has always been the musical one.[5]
Having studied classical music in Helsinki, Merilahti gravitated to rock music, then jazz and electronic music. In 2004, during the writing of music from the movie Empire of the Wolves, she met Dan Levy, with whom she formed French indie rock band The Dø. In 2020, she released a solo project under the name Prudence.[6]

Discography

Extended plays

TitleDetails
Be Water
  • Released: 4 November 2020[8]
  • Label: Sony
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
The Submarine Files
  • Released: 12 November 2021[9]
  • Label: RCA, Sony
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearAlbum
"Never With U"2020Be Water
"Passionfruit" (Drake cover)
"Offenses"Be Water
"Freed from Desire" (Gala cover)2021
"Good Friends"Beginnings
"Here & Now"
"Your Power" (Billie Eilish cover)The Submarine Files
"La Nuit N'en Finit Plus" (Petula Clark cover)

As featured artist

TitleYearAlbum
"The Thrill I Need"
2022Moonpark
"Zenith"
Reborn
"Feels Like Home"
2023

Filmography

YearTitleNotes
2005Empire of the WolvesCo-composed with Luca De' Medici, Grégory Fougères, Dan Levy, Pascal Morel, and Samuel Narboni
The PassengerCo-composed with Dan Levy
Wild CampCo-composed with Dan Levy, Nicolas Baby, and Philippe Neil
2017SparringAlso portrays Marion Landry
2023Aspergirl10 episodes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pliskin . Fabrice . L'ex-chanteuse de The Dø devient Prudence . . 11 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210523125449/https://www.nouvelobs.com/culture/20210523.OBS44369/l-ex-chanteuse-de-the-do-devient-prudence.html . 23 May 2021 . fr . 23 May 2021 . live . subscription.
  2. Web site: Olivia Merilahti Discography . . 11 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230911164240/https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/composer/olivia-merilahti/674987 . 11 September 2023 . live.
  3. Web site: Global Hit piece on PRI's The World, October 1st, 2010 . 2 October 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101004182353/http://www.theworld.org/2010/10/01/the-do/ . 4 October 2010 . dead .
  4. http://yle.fi/uutiset/suomalaisranskalaisesta_yhtyeesta_indie-suosikki_ranskassa/5800960 Suomalaisranskalaisesta yhtyeestä indie-suosikki Ranskassa
  5. Web site: Catching Up with the Dø, the Separated French Couple Who Still Make Music Together – Noisey. Noisey. 2016-11-23.
  6. Web site: 9 March 2020. Olivia announcing her solo project. Facebook.
  7. Web site: Prudence Releases Debut Solo album "Beginnings" & New Music Video for "Here & Now" Out Now . . 11 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210616141220/https://www.sonymusic.ca/press_release/prudence-releases-debut-solo-album-beginnings-new-music-video-for-here-now-out-now . 16 June 2021 . 28 May 2021 . live.
  8. Web site: Sonsa-Kini . Kevin . Prudence : "Ma carrière solo ne fait que commencer" (Interview) . Toute La Culture . 11 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201118120712/https://toutelaculture.com/musique/pop-rock/prudence-ma-carriere-solo-ne-fait-que-commencer-interview/ . 18 November 2020 . fr . 18 November 2020 . live.
  9. Web site: The Submarine Files, Prudence . . 11 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230911181226/https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/the-submarine-files-prudence/bs8w289qjw6wb . 11 September 2023 . live.