Trinidad Carnival 2012 was as tradition would only have it, filled with Soca, fete and politics. The main event during carnival is of course the road march on Carnival Tuesday. Bands from around the world come to display their costumes at mas and compete on the main stage.
The International Soca Monarch the most prestigious award for a Soca performer to win falls on last day of carnival week known as fantastic Friday. Trinidad and Tobago National government along with private sponsors come together to produce the stage show competition with a $2,000,00 first prize.
Trinidad hosting an International Soca Monarch competition and not a National competition has many Trinidadians concerned about the possibility of a non-national performer winning prize money that is provided by Trinidad’s national government. Rachel Price Comedian and Radio host say’s “I am very fucking curious to know who is the national Soca Monarch of T&T. Other islands are allowed automatic entry into the International Soca Monarch. I have an issue when the government provides the prize money because that is national funds. A National Soca Monarch needs to be established, God forbid the winner come from Grenada, I have nothing against Grenadians but I can not see another islander leave this country with $2,000,000 belonging to are national treasury.“
The issue of a non-Trini winning International Soca Monarch sounds like a prime example of the island rivalry that has been going on since Christopher Columbus stuck his flag in the ground. If a Guyanese had won the competition I doubt they would even make it to the airport with the prize money!
Many major Soca artist like; Alison Hinds, Bunji Garlin (seven time winner) and Fay-Ann Lyons (the first female Soca Monarch) refused to enter the competition because of the social and political tensions around the event. By the end of the night Machel Mantano had the whole of Trinidad on fire, on his jet pack flying over the audience, all while performing Pump Yuh Flag and Mr. Fete. Winning him both International Power and Goovy Soca Monarch.
Island pride and friendly island rivalry for me - has always been a part of Soca music. Disappointingly the fun is now being drained from carnival season because of politics.
“Same Ledisi but she ain’t waking, she’s flying”. Ledisi kick off her European tour at Scala, bringing Rock and Roll inspired New Orleans Soul to London.
Ledisi’s constant desire and excitement to bring her audience into the fabric of each song is what makes her an engaging and refreshing performer. Even if that means walking through her audience to make sure the message was being translated exactly the way she wanted.
Ledisi emerged onto the stage with her signature electric red loc-hawk. Beginning her set with ‘Rise Up’ and ‘So Into You’ from her current album ‘Pieces Of Me’ then progressed onto fan favorites ‘Goin Though Changes’ and ‘Think of You’.
Ledisi’s effortless Jazz scats using her low register and soprano notes are clear heavily influenced by Ella Fitzgerald.
Her Jazz-Soul voice paired with a heavy base drums and base guitar drove songs from four of her six albums between reflective conversations about the ups and downs of her career. Almost giving up on music, to being nominated at next months Grammy Awards.
My only disappointment with Ledisi set was that she didn’t perform more material from her current album like the grown and sexy; ‘I Gotta Get To You’ ‘Stay Together’ and ‘I Miss You Now’ that would have fit the character of the audience.
The night ended with an encore of ‘Shut Up’ that fit comfortably into the soul freeing Friday night.
Monday October 3rd, Double M Entertainment presented Musicalize: “The Female Take Over” sponsored by Aspire at the XOXY. The event was aimed to display new female talent from the UK. Performers included; the headliner Lioness, A.L, Kirsti Robinson, Kyra, Lily Mckenzie, Molly ad Rebecca Storm.
Ace from 1xtra who is also Lioness’s manager was there to support the event. I asked him about the importance of promoting new female talent from the UK at events like Musicalize.
‘Live music events like this a so important to display how much talent we have in the UK. Every time I come to an event I’m always impressed I’m never disappointed’
The UK urban scene has always gravitated towards London, artist feel as if they have to come into London too really establish themselves. This has assumption has been changing recently, especially in the arena of Female MC’s. Artist’s like Lady Leshurr and Roxan have been gaining respect, making people pay attention to the talent in the northern cities.
‘Five years ago you wouldn’t hear about MC’s from outside of London. Thats a shame because there are some really talented MC’s from the midlands and up north. I would like too see more events like this in those areas. It feels like everybody has to London down too perform their music’ - Ace
How do you feel about Lioness’s progression as an artist?
‘I work with Lioness very closely. The thing that drew me to her was the way she put lyrics together. She could hang with the guys when it comes to the free-styles. You can see a picture of everything she says, she's a story teller, she can make party tracks and talk about love. Now she is fulfilling her potential as an artist’ - Ace
One of the stand out performers of the night was A.L, who describes her sound as fun funky soul. Her energetic stage presence paired with strong soulful vocals, made her the first performer of the night to have the audience fully engaged in her set and moving. She performed tracks; It’s Okay, Rewind and Tell Me. A reprised version of ‘Tell Me’ for 2011 featuring Mercston, Stutta & Ghetts received the most response. A.L. is a diverse vocalist that demands attention on stage as well as on track format. She is releasing a free EP in November all tracks produced by the late J Dilla.
I also ran into Amplify Dot (A.Dot) who was there to perform with Lioness. I asked about her new single ‘Semantics’ featuring Kano.
‘I actually recorded that song with no plan of having a featured artist, I played it for Kano and he loved it. Then we did the video, it just came out of no where. My new EP ‘Short Back and Sides Vol.1’ will be dropping late November early December on iTunes. I’m working on that at the moment.
What do you think about the new attention being given to the Northern Based MC’s?
‘There is talent everywhere! I did a show in Manchester and a girl came up to me and said “A Dot let me spit some bars?” and she was sick!’. People look to London because its the capital and think its the only place music can be made, but creation lives everywhere.
I later too spoke to headliner Lioness, known for her rhythmic style of flow merged with skill full word play. Making her one of the UK’s most respected MC’s braking into mainstream. We discussed; that evenings event, the progression of her music from mixtapes into a full length album, why she decided to return to music after a 4 year break and collaborating with Ms. Dynamite.
VB: How you feel about MusicaLize and a brand like Aspire coming together too support female artist at tonight’s event?
Lioness: I love events like this so much, especially this year, female artist have been going in and it’s time.
VB: Female MC’s have been getting respect for their skills, braking down that gender barrier, proving they can hold their own amongst the guys.
Lioness: Its just about working hard and putting your self out there
VB: Your first mixtape ‘Loch Ness Monster’ reintroduced you back into the scene after your break. Now you have a new mixtape out called ‘RoarNess’. Listening to ‘RoarnNess’ there is a clear difference between the two, “RoarNess’ has a more album structure. Your speaking more on life lesson especially in love. There is just a lot of growth all round including the delivery of the lyrics.
Lioness: You know what it is? Over the years I’ve been thorough a lot of things. When I started it was a hobby for me. It was me just getting my feelings out on the page and if someone like it, someone liked it and thats how it was always going to be for me. Now it’s more than me just expressing my feelings, I’m becoming more of an artist now, I’m getting older now Ive been doing this since I was 14. ‘LockNess’ was my first ever CD to show everybody what I can do.
VB: What are you trying to achieve now, are you moving towards releasing a full album?
Lioness: Hopefully if God is on my side April 18th my album will be out, I’m really excited about that.
VB: What can you tell me about the creative process, who are some of the producers your working with?
Lioness: I’m going to be working with a lot of the producers that I worked with before. They might not be the biggest names.
VB: Its the talent not the name.
Lioness: Yes, its the talent I don’t care for the name. Because I know, there have been times when people didn’t want to work with me. Now I’m at a level people take me seriously, I will never par the underdog.
VB: As a Female MC from London, how do you feel about the way the scene has expanded recently. People are starting to look outside of London. Female MC’s up north are really starting to get exposer.
Lioness: It’s heavy, I really think that twitter has brought everyone together. Before there wasn’t these huge social networks. Now everybody has that platform to get out there and people are recognizing the talent.
VB: On the track ‘Game Over - Female Take Over’ the majority of the UK Female MC’s are featured. How does it feel for you all to to come together?
Lioness: I love it. Some people saw it as a competition.
VB: I don’t look at it that way, you all have your individual styles.
Lioness: Exactly
VB: Yourself, Amplify Dot and Lady Leshurr collaborated with Ms Dynamite adding your verses too ‘Never Soft’. How did that come about?
Lioness: Dynamite just hollered like “Do you wanna jump on the remix?” Never soft is a banger and we rate Dynamite so highly. So to be able to have that opportunity is out of this world.
VB: You had your mixtape release party for “Roarness” a few weeks ago. What was that experience like?
Lioness: If I had ever been nervous for a show it was that night! Because essentially everybody was there for me. Shows like tonight even though I’m headlining, some people are here too see the other acts. So it was a huge pressure.
VB: Talking about some of the other performers here tonight. I had never seen A.L. before she blew me away. Her stage presence in amazing.
Lioness: She is amazing. I have so much time for that girl, anything she wants me on, I am there. She is going to be on my set, we have a couple songsa together that we are going to perform.
VB: I spoke to Amplify Dot earlier on this evening, you collaborate on a song called ‘BAD’ on “Roarness”. How is working with A Dot?
Lioness: Every since I met Dot we clicked, me her and Leshurr. Because we’re MC’s were are supposed to be competitive, but we are all friends and love working together.
VB: I was speaking to Ace today. He was expressing that he respects you as an MC. Also that you are working hard to push your career to the next level. How does it feel to have someone that has so much influence on what people listen too around the country giving you support?
Lioness: It feels amazing. He is my manager now I don’t know if he told you. He followed my career, even when I took a breaking and was at Uni. He got in contact with me to see if I was still on doing music and I would say no. He is an actual fan of my music and cares about my career.
VB: You took a few years out, what made you come back and decide to really focus on music?
Lioness: I was in my lectures writing bars, I was ignoring the lecture and I was writing bars. So I decided to take some time out to really focus on the music.
VB: So your performing tonight, what can we expect?
Lioness: Everything. I’m going to do some tracks from ‘Lock Ness Monster’ some from ‘RoarNess” a little acapella merging everything together. I want to compact different sides of me into one set.
Watch Lioness display her skills on Channel 4’s Random Acts
Beyonce Cover's the september issue of Harpers Bazar on a high profile promotional push for her forth studio album 4
After 5 weeks Beyonce's latest LP 4 has reached platinum status world wide selling over 1 million units according to RIAA. Congratulations to Beyonce!
King B! was spotting in New Jersey filming a 80's retro video for "Party Life" an Old Skool themed track that samples Slick Rick produced by Kanye West ft. Andre 3000. DC3 band mate Kelly Rowland and younger sister Solange were also spotted on set, no word yet on if they will be making a "Get Me Bodied" styled cameo.
Two Time Grammy Nominated Vocalist Melanie Fiona(a well deserved title)is set to release her MF Mixtape a prelude to her highly anticipated second album LP "The MF Life". Its clear that Melanie is determinedly to sweep the Grammy's second time round. With her perfectionist attitude towards the next long awaited MF stamp in her musical catalog. Clearly the key to being a Melanie Fiona fan (Melan Head) is patience and trust in Miss. Fiona to deliver. Showing from her prior releases notably her #1 single "It Kills Me" which held the number one spot on the R'n'B charts for 9 weeks, Miss. Fiona's music is every bit worth the weight. When knows shes ready, shes ready and comes with no reservations. With her voice full of passion that translates directly to her ever growing audience and commanding stage performances that seals the deal with brand new curious ears. Its just a case of getting on the MF train.
Melanie reunites with "Somebody Come Get Me" producer Super Dubs for the first release from her MF Mixtape "Like I Love You". Rejuvenation the reggae sound she was first know for as Syren Hall, moving froward into this new chapter of her career.
"All I want you to do is love me like I love you" is that really a problem Miss. Fiona? ;)
The MF Mixtape to be released this summer The MF Life LP to be released later this year on SCR/Universal Motown Records
For more information on Melanie Fiona check out:
www.melaniefionaworld.com (daily updates)
www.youtube.com/melaniefionaworldtv
www.melaniefiona.com
This Week ABC aired “Oprah The Next Chapter” a special on which Barbara Walters sat down for an in depth Interview with the media mogul herself Oprah Winfrey. The special detailed on Oprah’s life after the lights go down and the audience disappear from the most watched talk show on American television “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. For 25 years Oprah has been in the homes of over 6million viewers each day, but now Oprah has taken the well over due step of owning her “Own” television network. In reality who could create their own network of quality television out of their own pocket but Oprah?
The idea of owning her own network grew while having a conversation with her long time partner Stedman Graham about the state of quality programming particularly talk shows. Stedman then suggested she create her own net work, but at the time Oprah caste out the idea as ridiculous.Now 15 years later those ridiculous ideas have come into formation in a joint venture with the president of the Discovery Network David Zaslay to create OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) Network .The feeling of failure something that most people would never remotely think would enter the mind of a woman that seems to sore an everything she puts her stamp on and reportedly earning over a million dollars a day.The pressure of delivering on her aim of producing mind full television is a prospect that admittedly has kept Oprah awake at night.With such a legacy behind her she expects as much of herself as the public has come too.
Production has already started on programs for the network with In-depth documentaries, realities shows, a series that follows Oprah in her daily life, the search for the next big talk show host and one of the most interesting shows Master Class a show that focuses on the minds of the leading thought leaders. From the previews, Master Class is really set to expand your way of thinking further than the box that we see.I believe if you have one seedling of inspiration, as long as the mind is exposed there are no longer any limits and there are no boundaries.
It is always interesting to see an interview between two journalists because there is nowhere to hide.Oprah has always said that Barbra Walters is one of the journalists she studied when starting her career almost 30 years ago. In this trusted environment Oprah also opened up about her charity work, personal life. Including the first graduate class of “The Oprah School For Girls” in South Africa and the joy of watching them search for University in the United States.
Oprah also touched on the persistent talks about her best friend of 30 years Gayle King and the basis of their relationship, saying that if they were in a romantic relationship she would have no reason to hide. On her controversial decision not to marry her long term partner Stedman she said that the huge expectations of being in a marriage would be too much for them , and if they had gotten married they would have divorced by now.She has never once regretted her choice not to have children because she didn’t want to be face with a child that one day to turn to her and said “Mum you neglected me for your career”. The most notable point of the interview was when Barbra asked Oprah about the abuse during her child hood that she openly talks about.She details going to school every day in the 5th grade worrying whether she was going to have a baby or not. That was a heart sinking moment for me because when a person is exposed to that experience as a child that is something you have to carry for life and the effects never go away.
I am excited about these new ventures Oprah will be bringing to television. OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) Network is set to debut 2011
Quote of the day:
“Just Keep On Using Me Until You Use Me Up, That’s What I Say To God All The Time”
“I love this and I live it” Melanie Fiona truly lives up to her statement with the passion of her fiery stage presence and no hold soulfull warm vocals. The magic of Melanie’s live performances is her natural ability to capture each audience member from the moment she enters the stage and releases that first note. An undivided commitment to each lyric creates an atmosphere of emotional exchange with the audience in each one of her songs with a journey of emotional highs and lows.
Melanie gave a high energy performance in the intimate setting of the Luminaire, on the London stop of her European tour.
As Melanie belts out on of her signature songs “It Kills Me” it’s clear why she displays such confidence in her stage presence and also has a Grammy Nomination in her back pocket, she has the vocal ability to back it up! With an industry full of studio voices it’s a rarity to hear a singer who out does their studio cut to take the song to another level.
Melanie debut a brand new song called “Gone and Never Coming Back” from her new album, ‘The MF Life’ to be released early 2011. This new song flows in the vein of her new style of music Stadium Soul “I coined the sound stadium soul because its bigger, Its soul music but it is big. It’s the biggest drums, loudest electric guitar, liveist keyboards”. This song shows the growth in Melanie musically over the past two years, making her stamp on creating her own individual instantly recognisable style. While maintaining the quality of the lyrics, the freedom in her music bridges into The MF Life.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Melanie after the shows to talk; “The MF Life” and everything that comes with it, sleep sold separately.
While switching from her 5 inch stilettos into a comfortable pair of army style boots I asked Melanie how she has grown a reputation in her live shows that keeps familiar faces in her audiences.
“I would like to believe that they are enjoying my live show, because I put a lot of energy, emotion and physical thought into shows. I always base my music on emotion and I feel people feel that emotion when they listen to the music. It’s really important for me to capture each emotion on each song. Certain songs are happy, certain songs are sad, certain songs are angry and aggressive, I want people to go though the range of emotions with me, I think it’s an experience of release, it’s an exchange. I just hope that they keep loving it and each time they come and they enjoy it because I make the music for the people”
Melanie’s style of music is noticeably inspired by classic soul artist’s and her Guyanese heritage, with the album cover of The Bridge reminiscent of classic vinyl work from Diana Ross and Roberta Flack I asked her ideas on how she wanted her next album The MF Life to be presented visually.
“The Bridge I kept very universal, I kept it black and white I didn’t want people to see anything else other then music. This is now a little bit more introspective a little more personal. I certainly want people to see more colour and growth in my music I want them too see the growth in my eyes in everything in the words in my feelings. The visual is very important to me I want them to always get to know me a little bit better. The MF Life like I said out there in the show is a life style; it is the ups and downs that I go through so I’m going to show a lot of contrast, positives and negatives happy sad and by looking at the art work I want them to feel that okay I know what Melanie Fiona is trying to convey right now”
While listening to The Bridge it’s clear that the doors were left open creatively, in the many different sounds, genres and feelings Melanie could choose any direction with her next album.
“The direction I’m going with The MF Life, it’s bigger it’s better. Its growth really; it’s my growth personally as a performer, as a singer, a writer. It is really important for people to see that and feel that through the music. That was the thing about doing too many diverse sounds on the bridge it did allow me to go anywhere I wanted too and that album took me around the world. It allowed me to perform in huge stadiums large venues and tours with Alicia Keys and Kanye West. I kinda coined the sound stadium soul because it’s bigger, its soul music but it is big. So it’s the biggest drums, loudest electric guitar, liveist keyboards. You know making it that rockingist stadium soul that is just undeniable and just should be played in big concert arenas.”
I love being able to see and touch my fans in the intimate shows, but there is something very powerful and moving about being able to capture and keep the attention of 15 thousand people up high and low you see the cameras flashing. The people coming in and out and for them to stop and listen, it’s really quite an accomplishment. I’m still learning. I’m taking the experiences and learning all the time until I headline my own large venue tours.
Melanie gave me exclusive details on new material with Stephen Marley, and being part of a host of female singers coming together on one album to tribute Nina Simone
I did some really great things; we did some writing I got some tracks from him, I also wrote and did a song with him for his album. I did a compilation he’s putting together, that’s a Nina Simone tribute it’s really great, I’m waiting to find out when it’s releasing. It’s going to be a completion of female singer’s tributing Nina Simone, I covered one of my favourite Nina Simone songs. I hope that it makes the album
Which One?
Don’t explain (Melanie sings) I love it, so I hope it all works out
Melanie’s works with Andrea Martin have been her highest charting songs with tracks “It Kills Me” and “Give it to me right” their collaboration in the studio has proven to be a winning creative relationship that provided Melanie with her already signature tracks. Will they be creating music again for The MF Life?
“Of Course! GT massive for life Andria Martin is like my musical soul mate. I’ve never found a producer writer that I’ve connected with so freely that it’s like a blind relationship so that whether I’m there or not she will create from my prospective. When we’re are together we finish each other’s sentences she brings the best out in me, gives me the freedom to say what I want to do and help me tailor that to become even bigger and better. She’s the greatest teacher as well, and she’s written so many classics (Sings En Vogue - Don't Let Go) She’s Amazing”
So we’re talking about The MF Life?What is a day in the life of Melanie Fiona, ‘sleep till noon’?
O my gosh, I wish. I day in the life of Melanie Fiona right now I’ll tell you it is being on a European tour. Coming from LA, from a 12 hour rehearsal in Atlanta, flying across the ocean to Romania finishing a show at 3am going to a hotel then being picked up at 5am, flying to Albania doing a show being jetlagged, not being able to fall asleep till 7am, coming to London having meetings. Having your shorts fall apart before you have a show, having to go to north London Islington to have a tailor fix it before your show then putting on your shorts and the zipper brakes. Not going to sleep till 6am, having to get up at 9am then having a big label meeting tomorrow to play your new album having to be fresh and be excited then put on a 90min show for your fans. It’s an interesting life.
‘How do you keep up with it all? I remember that your were sick before an Alicia Keys show you were opening’
O I was so sick, it will catch up with you it always does. Truly I think I run off excitement and adrenaline for the most part. I live for this and I love it, I can sit and dwell on all the messed up shit that happens and makes it difficult, or I can keep going and jump over the hurdles and I can still do what I love, that’s how I look at it.
‘How do you maintain your voice that growling schedule?’
I pray to God every night, and thank full he pulls though for me. Sleep is really key for my voice it’s a muscle your vocal cords I’m singing, I’m performing and I’m recording all the time. I’m very grateful that it stays strong and some days it’s harder than others especially since I have a raspy voice. Raspy voices go very very fast especially with lack of sleep.
I asked Melanie how she felt about the mechanical trend of creating a star and the exposure these “singers” are getting; compared to an artist whose talent is natural. Who study their craft and the music is of a much higher quality but still don’t get the support from the executives, this is a singer’s game after all.
“I really think that the music industry has changed alot, the goals that the music industry has. It’s become more about business than the music. Some people are here strictly for money some people are here for fame. There are some people that live eat sleep sacrifice their whole life for this. Sometimes it becomes about everything else but the music, because it’s easier, it’s an easier route to get a pretty girl or a good looking guy off the street. They may not have the talent, but there is someone that wants to manipulate that person into creating a star. I really think a star is born, I think that created and manufactured stars, they fall every fast and it’s a sad thing but it’s a reality. I think that its important people are now exercising better judgment. I hope they have seen the people that have gotten called, out the people that have embarrassed themselves, the people who have said they have one thing then haven’t cut it, the people who have said that they were one thing and they were another. It’s up to the people to be objective and to really open their eyes and ears to everything that's out there. If you’re only focus on one type of artist and one type of music you’re only going to choose the best out of that. If you only listen to garbage you’re going to choose the best of the garbage. If you open yourself up and look around and see what other things are going on, you’re going to see and hear a whole other bunch of music, if you open your ears. So it’s up to the people so I feel it is the media’s responsibility to give the people everything and let them decide instead of plotting them with ABC.”
Exactly a lot of music people put out because it sounds good right now they don’t take into account of how it will sustain the long run
“You see that’s the thing you know some artist want to get in and get out quickly, I actually want a career.”
In creating a career for themselves artist particularly women fall into the stereotypical role and compromise their talent, give in to the pressure of an oversexed image to gain notoriety. A pressure a Melanie is adamant not to give in to.
“I just look around a see everybody doing it and think why would I want to be like everybody ells when I can just be different? So I figured channel other ways to be different, channel other ways to show sex appeal through beauty and intelligence and talent.”
At 19 Melanie decided she knew what she wanted. She put University on hold to pursue her singing career. Not before considering going down career paths of business, social work and medical research until a teacher said “You have too much personality to be sitting in a lab counting shit all day you’re destined for bigger things”. So at 21 she decided to take the passion for her music and chase the dream. She drove half way across Canada then flew to LA .
“What was I like when I was 19, O my gosh. I was excited, I was learning alot about myself I learned a lot about passion at 19 because that’s when I knew I was going to go for it. I put school on hold at 19 I decided I was going to pursue music I was going to work three jobs and I was going to drive across the country then fly to LA and do what I gotta do. At 19 I started my path, I really came into myself. I graduated high school and I was like okay I can go to university. There were a few things I wanted to do, I wanted to do medical research and my science teacher told me ironically. That I had too much personality to be sitting in a lab sorting shit all day so he said don’t do it.He said don’t do it and I said really no why? Your destined for bigger things. Then I thought I’ll try business, you know business is practical it goes with everything and my economics teacher was like really seriously you want to do business. I went to my social works teacher and said maybe I’ll do social work and the social worker at school said you’ll take people’s problems home.Then I said well if I’m destined to do bigger things and I care about the emotions of people then I guess I’ll have to do what I’m destined to do music.
Hard work, commitment and quality of her music has paid off. Melanie, 27 has two Grammy Nominations and recently won a Soul Train award for Best New Artist. How does she feel about receiving well deserve recognition?
“Thank you, it felt really good. I hope it felt exactly how it looked because I watched it and cracked up at myself. I was so shocked and really not expecting to win. My parents were there they surprised me they didn’t tell me they were coming and I didn’t see them until I got back to my seat was really over whelmed.”
Her love for music was sparked listening to her parent’s record collection of great vocalist like Sam Cook, Aretha and Whitney, as well as listening to her father’s band and singing while they practiced.
“My parents are the greatest support system I have they don’t miss a thing I do. My parents have flown in missed special occasions sacrificed money, and time health to be there for me, at all my major events I’m very lucky to have that. They are the proudest.”
Okay so some fire questions now
Prince or Michael Jackson?
O Jesus, Michael Jackson sorry Prince I love you but Michael.
First piece of music you ever brought?
Brandy her first album.
We are in a vinyl shop, what are you looking for?
Sam Cook I’m looking for Sam Cook
Holding up the wall or dancing like nobodies watching?
Oh no I’m in the middle of the floor, depends if I’ve had a couple drinks.
If you could tell your 15 year old self something, what would you say?
I would tell her you’re going to get your heart broken and you’re going to break some hearts.
You said you worked three jobs what was your first job?
My first job was a paper round, I rode around the neighbourhood with my best friend Ashley at the time and we threw papers around, and that lasted for all of 2 weeks. Then I started babysitting and my first real job I worked in the mall in retail. I when to work at this retail shop to I could get all the cloths for 50% off and I hooked up so many people at Christmas time, my brother got his girlfriend at the time, a whole wardrobe for 50% off.
So we have talked about your On day what’s your ideal Off day?
I would sleep I would get a message, I would eat a great meal
What are you eating, your favourite West Indian Dish?
Oww, my favourite West Indian Dish that’s a tough one, it would have to be my Mum’s curried shrimp roti home made from scratch amazing shout to my Mum
Can you cook it?
Absolutely not. I’m terrible at cooking especially West Indian food, because my mum is the Don of that I can’t even mess with her. I would eat a good meal I would have dessert, I would be surrounded with people that love me and that I love.Catch a movies maybe just really chill out and do nothing, I know that sounds lazy sometimes you don’t want to do a damn thing. Sometimes you just want to lay there and not think about anything or your phone ringing just being in your own space. That would be nice. Being in foreign places is nice but it’s hard you don’t feel quite at home, so yea stay in my pyjamas all day.
If you could have dinner with 3 people dead or alive who would they be?
Bob Marley, Ghandi and I would love to meet with Lauryn Hill
Show me the purple heart, what does the purple heart mean?
Purple Heart is fading I should probably get it touched up but I kind of like it faded now. It represents many things for me it represents a turning point in my life, from being new and fresh gaining a lot of experience. Being in love and not being in love, from being broken hearted and being stronger. Making a conscious decision to remind myself that I can really do anything and to be this strong. I did this at a time when I really felt I had earned it. If I could describe what I had been through at that time where I felt I’d over come and where I thought I was going.It’s a purple heart of courage, purple heart of strength and I wanted it to be seen on my mic hand I wanted people to see it and be inspired every time. I wear my heart on my sleeve which can get me into trouble some times, but I’ll get though it with my purple heart again.
What are the goals you wish to achieve in the next 5 and 10 years?
5 year plan, still making music maybe a couple of Grammys
10 year plan, I’ll have a family I will be married, I’ll be a mother and I’ll still be a worldwide singer
What do you want people to take away from your music?
Real life experience and I want them to know that we go though the same things
Her all or nothing attitude towards the stage, focus on the longevity of her career and raw talent proves Melanie Fiona is here to stay her while building the anticipation towards her next full album release in 2011.
