Stéphane Hugues Norbert Paut,[6] known professionally as Neige (French: "Snow") (born 16 April 1985), is a French songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist musician, and record producer from Bagnols-sur-Cèze, now relocated to Paris. He is the primary songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist of the post-black metal band Alcest and is the former guitarist, bass guitarist, and drummer of the post-punk/post-black metal band Amesoeurs.
Neige quickly started to gain public recognition for his involvement as a vocalist, drummer and live rhythm guitarist for French black metal band Peste Noire at the beginning of the 2000s.[7] At the same time, Peste Noire bandleader Famine was also the lead guitarist on the first Alcest demo, Tristesse hivernale.
Neige has since condemned his tenure with Peste Noire, citing his disagreements with the band's far-right views and racist imagery.[8]
He also became involved with black metal band Mortifera in 2003 up to the Vastiia Tenebrd Mortifera (2004) album for which he wrote two songs.[9] In parallel, he started to make a name for himself with his main bands Amesoeurs[10] and Alcest.[11] Alcest's first EP Le Secret (Drakkar Productions; 2005) and album Souvenirs d'un autre monde (Prophecy Productions; 2007) mixing numerous shoegaze rock and metal influences skyrocketed Neige to fame, which led him to lay Amesoeurs to rest. Later he also provided vocals for Old Silver Key and Lantlôs and live bass for Les Discrets. In 2007 he was also asked by Rune Veddaa to make vocals on the forthcoming Forgotten Woods album entitled Intolerance Div. but this collaboration did not come to fruition.[12]
Drums on Phalènes et Pestilence – Salvatrice Averse (demo, 2003)
Drums and bass on Phalènes et Pestilence (demo, 2005)
Main vocals on "Dueil Angoisseus", drums on "Nous sommes fanés", drums and bass on『Des médecins malades et des saints séquestrés』and organ on『Phalènes et pestilence...』on La Sanie des siècles – Panégyrique de la dégénérescence (2006)
Vocals and rhythm guitars on『La Césarienne』and acoustic guitar introduction to "Amour ne m'amoit ne je li" on Folkfuck Folie (2007)
^"DELIVRANCE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
^ Winterhaeler, Alcest's drummer, was his replacement, and his Neige declared: "I was only a guest in [Peste Noire] as I played drums for him (up until 2012)[Famine], but I did/do not share his views at all. Don’t even ask me about the concept behind [Peste Noire], it is very complex. It was basically the exact opposite of Alcest : love for evil, but in a real way.""Transcending Human Boundaries". Avant-Garde Metal Webzine. 17 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-05-17.
^Neige declared: "The titles that I have composed for Mortifera "Le Revenant",『Ciel Brouillé』are just spits.""ATMF webzine, 23 November 2006".
^Amesoeurs was born on the ashes of Mortifera as Neige explained: "When we created Amesoeurs in 2004, it was a post-punk band without any black metal influence whatsoever. Both black metal titles on Ruines Humaines ("Bonheur Amputé" and "Ruines Humaines") were written for Mortifera but since my collaboration with Noktu has ended, I decided to use them for Amesoeurs.""Klemi, From dream kingdoms to metro tunnels: ALCEST / AMESOEURS, Kaleidoscope mag, Issue number 4, 2007". 6 March 2012.
^Neige explained that all the bands he took part in helped him express different sides of his personality:"Indeed, there are “several” sides to Neige. Alcest’s Neige is like the basis of my personality, its essence: a joyful and quiet man who is a reflection of the music. Amesoeurs’ Neige is more of an urban man who is completely lost, sad and anxious, not knowing his goals anymore nor his desires. He doesn’t know himself any longer since he has accumulated a great deal of frustration and unspoken vices. Last but not least, Peste Noire’s Neige is a kind of old, evil and stupid witch whose unbearable stench is equalled only by his ugliness. My urge of animal and primitive regression is embodied by this mix between a cave woman and a fiend.""Klemi, From dream kingdoms to metro tunnels: ALCEST / AMESOEURS, Kaleidoscope mag, Issue number 4, 2007". 6 March 2012.
^Neige declared:"Rune Vedaa from Forgotten Woods contacted me last year because he looked for a vocalist. He asked me to join the band, to participate in the next albums, an offer I couldn't reject. I will not get involved in the songwriting process. I'm only waiting for them to send me an instrumental version so that I can add my voice to it." "Caedes, La Horde Noire, Extreme Metal webzine, Alcest Interview, Question 10, France, 20 September 2008".
