Melissa Hié

Melissa Hié (djembe) grew up in a musician family and was a member of the family band from a very young age. Her father taught her how to play several instruments, including balafon, barra and djembe. This enabled her to acquire a strong knowledge of African traditional rhythms and develop her own soft and melodic touch. At the age of nine, she chose the djembe as her main instrument. Hié then began playing in various formations and bands as a percussionist. To reinforce her skills, she continued to discover other instruments such as the conga. She further developed her artistic skills (singing, dance, computer music) through several collaborations, including major projects with artists including Damon Albarn and Fatoumata Diawara. Today, she enjoys experimenting with music in unexpected ways, exploring genres ranging from jazz to electronic music.