Americana artist Melanie Brulée debuts the music video for her track “Pretty Wasteland,” exclusively with C&I.
Some musicians have a special gift for finding beauty in negative spaces. Canadian folk-rock singer-songwriter Melanie Brulée has that rare ability, producing Americana songs that transform dark and gritty moments into beacons of hope and recovery.
Brulée, who spent years living in Australia and France before taking up residence in Toronto, utilizes her multicultural experiences in her upcoming album, Fires, Floods & Things We Leave Behind.
On the track “Pretty Wasteland,” she employs the whistles of old spaghetti westerns, simple country strums, slow electric pickings, and soft harmonies to animate her story songs.
“One of the most fascinating things I experienced during [a] road trip was driving through ghost towns,” says Brulée. “I thought it was so interesting that you could leave entire town behind.
“Upon my return home, I began working on this song and during the writing process I received a phone call from a dear friend who had been struggling with addiction. He was calling to tell me he had been sober for three weeks and the song took on a deeper meaning. It’s a song dedicated to everyone struggling with addiction and their loved ones.”
In the music video for “Pretty Wasteland,” Brulée, alongside Kevin “The General” Neal on electric guitar, performs the moving track in a live session. It’s a fittingly intimate performance for a deeply personal song.
Get an exclusive first look at the music video for “Pretty Wasteland,” below.
For more information on Melanie Brulée and to preorder Fires, Floods & Things We Leave Behind, visit her website. Photography: Courtesy Emma Lee.