{"id":196,"date":"2026-09-24T11:15:26","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T11:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/menalua.com\/?page_id=196"},"modified":"2026-09-25T08:58:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T08:58:34","slug":"bio","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/menalua.com\/en\/bio\/","title":{"rendered":"Bios"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Biography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Navigating between modern jazz, latin influences, and intimate songwriting, MENALUA is carving out a unique path in the current French jazz scene. This group, which won awards in Vannes (1st prize at the 2024 Vannes National Talent Showcase) and then in Crest (1st prize at the 2025 Vocal Jazz Competition), surprises with its \u201cability to explore highly complex territories, while also being surprisingly accessible\u201d (P-A Jonard, Longueur d\u2019Ondes). The constant and ever-evolving dialogue between its members offers a true poetry of the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A contraction of \u201cMenina da Lua\u201d (song by Renato Motha), MENALUA evokes both a dreamlike quality and the Brazilian music that has profoundly influenced the group's musicians in their artistic development. Their first album, \u201cPremier Printemps\u201d (First Spring), was released on June 6, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distinctions:<\/strong>
1st prize <\/strong>from the Crest 2025 Vocal Jazz Competition
1st prize <\/strong>National Tremplin Vannes Echos Jazz
Finalists of the Ren\u00e9 Urtreger Jazz Prize at the \u00c9cuje 2024
Finalists of the Golden Jazz Trophy 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The musicians<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Mathilde Gardien<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Composition \/ Voice, piano, synthesizer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She began her musical career playing the drums, piano, and classical singing at the Conservatoire de Chamb\u00e9ry. This soprano is often noted for her pure and airy voice, a timbre that is rarely found in jazz. After studying at Sciences Po and starting a career in social work, her passion for jazz was confirmed at the Crest Festival, where she worked as an intern for 3 years.
She then studied vocal jazz with Manu Domergue at the Centre des Musiques Didier Lockwood and graduated in 2022. Beyond her various collaborations within the jazz scene, this singer-songwriter also works as co-leader of the vocal trio \u201cLa M\u00e9canique des Songes\u201d.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n