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.

Olivia Merilahti
Merilahti performing with The Dø in 2015
Merilahti performing with The Dø in 2015
Background information
Birth nameOlivia Bouyssou
Also known asPrudence
Born (1982-02-25) 25 February 1982 (age 42)
Paris, France
GenresIndie rock, folk rock
OccupationsSinger
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, keyboards
Years active2007–present

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 edit

Studio albums edit

Title Details
Beginnings

Extended plays edit

Title Details
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 edit

As lead artist edit

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

As featured artist edit

Title Year Album
"The Thrill I Need"
(Newem featuring Prudence)
2022 Moonpark
"Zenith"
(Kavinsky featuring Prudence and Morgan Phalen)
Reborn
"Feels Like Home"
(Newem featuring Prudence)
2023 non-album single

Filmography edit

Year Title Notes
2005 Empire of the Wolves Co-composed with Luca De' Medici, Grégory Fougères, Dan Levy, Pascal Morel, and Samuel Narboni
The Passenger Co-composed with Dan Levy
Wild Camp Co-composed with Dan Levy, Nicolas Baby, and Philippe Neil
2017 Sparring Also portrays Marion Landry
2023 Aspergirl 10 episodes

References edit

  1. ^ Pliskin, Fabrice (23 May 2021). "L'ex-chanteuse de The Dø devient Prudence". L'Obs (in French). Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Olivia Merilahti Discography". Qobuz. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Global Hit piece on PRI's The World, October 1st, 2010". Archived from the original on 4 October 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  4. ^ Suomalaisranskalaisesta yhtyeestä indie-suosikki Ranskassa (in Finnish) Yle.fi
  5. ^ "Catching Up with the Dø, the Separated French Couple Who Still Make Music Together – Noisey". Noisey. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Olivia announcing her solo project". Facebook. 9 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Prudence Releases Debut Solo album "Beginnings" & New Music Video for "Here & Now" Out Now". Sony Music. 28 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  8. ^ Sonsa-Kini, Kevin (18 November 2020). "Prudence : "Ma carrière solo ne fait que commencer" (Interview)". Toute La Culture (in French). Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  9. ^ "The Submarine Files, Prudence". Qobuz. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.