A BALLER ALERT EXCLUSIVE: MELANIE FIONA IS TAKING IT TO THE BRIDGE...

Being the new kid on the block takes some getting used to. The title comes as a gift & curse. When we hear of new music & the voices behind them we seldom take the chance to allow them to win over our ears. Why, might we ask? Case in point, the relevance of GOOD music. The industry, here lately, has been dominated by watered down artists hungry for the devils candy, instead of producing quality music.

It's hard not to love newcomer Melanie Fiona. Though she's a member of the "new class" she brings a presence as if she's been there done that. She's what our ears have been missing for quite some time now. I had the opportunity to witness how humble of a person she was during her stop here (Washington DC) while on the Heineken Red Star Soul tour. Based on that short time, I knew she'd be an artist that one would remember for years to come.

Since then, she's been prepping for the release of her debut The Bridge which is currently available via Itunes, however, it won't reach stores until November 10th. With two hit singles in Give it To Me Right & It Kills Me, Ms. Fiona is well on her way to iconic status. Prior to hitting the road on her promo tour, she caught up with me to discuss her feelings on being managed under the Roc, life as a new artist, & what type of designers tickle her fancy.

Peep our conversation below:

MF: Heyyy Melanie!

BA: Whats goin on Melanie?! We've had the opportunity of meeting one another while you here for the Heineken Red Star tour.

MF: I remember at dinner! Your name is still awesome! (laughs)

BA: How has life been for you since your time here in DC? I can imagine, rather hectic.

MF: It has been very very hectic, but you know what, its been great. I have a new release date for the album, which is fantastic, November 10th. Just been busy, you know. Doing shows here in the states as well as overseas. We're just gearing up for the launch of the album.

BA: Sounds good, now I hear its available for purchase on itunes October 20th, correct?

MF: Yea, its available on the 20th & that's really really a big deal. A great situation for a new artist to have that feature.

BA: Now your official promo tour kicks off October 19th, how amped are you to hit the road?

MF: I'm really amped actually because its a different kind of promo tour. You know, aside from going to the radio stations. Its going to be really interactive. I think its really unique & major going on the road as a new artist, because its really about interacting with the people. Its going to be great going to the different colleges & universities around the country. Doing different select spot dates, on the downside just going to the different cities, you know just hanging with the people who really want to kick it. I can just get familiar with the different cities, what to do while there, you know. As we prepare for the launch of the album, its just good, I'm really excited.

BA: Hopefully, you'll come back to DC & I'll get a chance to check out your performance.

MF: I actually am coming back to DC, not quite sure what the date is, but I know I am, definitely.

BA: Cool, Cool. I hope to check you out, because I just love you as an artist. There aren't too many artist these days that bring real music to the table, so you're definitely appreciated.

MF: Awww, thank you....That's one of the best compliments I could receive, thank you.

BA: You're welcome. Now with your Canadian background, do you feel such artists like Tamia & Deborah Cox help pave the way for artists' as yourself to make it big in the US?

MF: Absolutely, you know I think every Canadian artist in urban music can really branch off now. Because we all have the intention to be big, but we also know how difficult it is to break into the US & cross over into the international market. I definitely am fortunate to have had Tamia, Deborah Cox, & Jully Black to kinda show that it is possible if you really work at it- but we(new generation) are paving the way other artists as well, later on. Its kinda like what we can give back as Canadian artists.

BA: That's a great thing that you admire/recognize those have come before you. Now with your first single, Give It To Me Right being a huge success with it being more uptempo, why the change in pace with It Kills Me?

MF: I feel like It Kills Me is such a unique record. Its like one of this big ballad records that when you heard it like back in the day like, mannn that song makes me wanna sing. Or it makes me feel something, you know. The weather is getting colder. I felt like it was a good record to match the season that we're getting into. I just wanted to create a song that people I know could appreciate. I feel a record like It Kills Me hasn't come around in a long time, so for me I wanted to feel it & appreciate it from that perspective, before even having the album.

BA: Well best believe we definitely can feel it (women) 100%.

MF: (laughs) I know! I love it. I love the fact that women can feel my music. From Give It to Me Right til It Kills Me, its really a big compliment to know that women feel it. Its focused, I mean I'm a young woman, & I wanted it to be something that women can appreciate for sure.

BA: Now your album, entitled The Bridge, figuratively speaking, bridges connect highways, etc. Do you see your album doing so in the musical scheme of things?

MF: Definitely, you know in naming the album The Bridge, it was one of those things, where I wanted to have a meaning attached to it. Because I did want it to be something that people listened to for a long time that would bridge the old & young, black & white, male & female & different genres of music. That's really what I wanted it to be; something that connected me to the rest of the world. So in naming it The Bridge, I just wanted it to bring people together through music. I think music is such a powerful thing that sometimes we forget just how powerful it is. With this album I just wanted to get a feel for who I am musically, culturally as well as have an album that people could relate to.

BA: Agreed. You made mention back during the Heineken tour that your album was already released overseas, how do you feel the American market will receive it?

MF: Man! I'm really hoping they receive it well, especially with It Kills Me out as the second single. That's really been a big big jump in awareness for the album & just for me as an artist. I think its being received well. The awareness is picking up, so I think its great that people are kinda now understanding the difference from Give it To Me Right & the artist Melanie Fiona, to know who exactly Melanie Fiona is. So its a really exciting feeling. I think once people get the music in their hands, I think they'll really enjoy it.


BA: I understand. Now are you one of those artists who are worried about numbers or are you more focused on producing quality timeless music?

MF: You know what, I'm not worried about numbers. I'll leave the numbers to the number crunchers & let them figure it out. For me, if I put all the energy into how much I'm selling, it just takes away from the energy from the people who are actually paying attention to the music. For me it is about making the music, its not about first week sales, its about the long race. Its about building a bigger fan base every single time, so I don't want to be the biggest artist out the gate. I want to look forward to building & becoming bigger & better.

BA; I can appreciate your honesty in that answer.

MF: Don't get me wrong it would be nice (laughs). I'd be really excited if I had the #1 sales too & I think it would say a lot about where people's interests are in music, which would be really great, but I'm more focused on the art than I am the numbers.

BA: Now I'm sure with this being your debut, there aren't any collaborations on the album, but if you had a chance to make one past/present, dead or alive, who would you work with?

MF: There aren't. I would love to have done a dream collaboration with Sam Cooke & Bob Marley. Presently, I would love to collab with somebody like Kanye West, Wyclef Jean.

BA: Great names & even better artists. Sam Cooke is my idol, speaking of idols & icons, you're recognized as one of BET's rising icons, with that title being so powerful, how do you feel about such an honor?

MF: I am, which I think its a trip. (laughs). You know its a real honor, to even be considering a rising, or whatever kind of icon. To have the word icon next to my name is an honor & its a big title to live up to. Now that I'm out, I think its an amazing opportunity for BET to show the world what I'm doing on television, which is really a great look to the BET audience. For me, its a REAL honor, I just hope that in my lifetime & career I can live up to a title such as an icon.

BA: Well, you're on the right path, so you need not worry about that. You have a solid fan base, just with your two singles alone & your gaining more as your career grows, so I truly feel you'll be "iconic".

MF: Thank you, I'm hoping.

BA: There's no hoping, you gotta claim it girl. (laughs)

MF: (laughs) Alright girl, I'm an iconic artist & I have grammy's coming to! CLAIM IT!

BA: (laughs) Now, if there is something that your fans don't know about you, what do you care to reveal about yourself outside of your celebrity?

MF: I feel like not just with me, but how people look at artists' in general. What I want people to know is that I'm vulnerable & fragile just like everybody else. I don't want to get my feelings hurt. I've had my heart broken. I feel lonely, I miss my family. There are definitely private moments in which I feel frustrated & I cry, those are just things that people don't get to see. You know as artist's feel we have these lives that are just sooo great & nothing goes wrong for us. You can't deny the human emotion that comes with just being a person. So for me, I want people to know I have bad days too & they hurt just like they do for you. So if you catch me on a day like that just show me some love, because I sure could use it.

BA: Ok, I will keep that in mind. Now, our site is caters to & is ran by women, however, we do have a percentage of men who chime in on our discussions, so to cater to those guys, I must ask, are you single? If so, what type of guys are you into?

MF: (laughs) Well you can tell them they can listen to Give it To Me Right. (sings) That's Why That's Why I'm Nobody's Wife...So I'm not married, I'm not really involved in the dating game either. I'm really particular & specific on what kind of guys I give my attention to, or I should say keep my attention. So, for me, I really love a guy who is confident & not cocky. He's comfortable within himself. A guy that's funny & doesn't take himself too seriously & can get goofy with me-because I can get really goofy. The real definition for me is when a man can make me feel like a woman. You know a man who asserts himself as a man & that I can learn from, that's something that's really intriguing to me.

BA: I'm the epitome of the word goofy, so I understand wanting a mate with a sense of humor.

MF: Yea I'm goofy, nuts! I'm like don't let the makeup fool you (laughs).


BA: Now Melanie, from what I remember, you seem pretty fashion forward, what type of designers are you into?

MF: You know I range from pretty much across the board from what you call high end to low end. From big names to no names, I'm pretty much across the board. I'm kinda into whatever I like. Some of my favorite designers on the high end, I really love Alexander McQueen, Matthew Williamson, those two designers make great pieces that I absolutely love from like a couture level. I can range from that to like H&M. As long as it fits great, looks great, its great. I'm always about its not about the clothes making you, its more so how you make the clothes. So its pretty much whatever I feel comfortable & confident in, I'm there.

BA: Indeed, do you prefer to be dolled up or casual most of the time?

MF: To be honest, I'd most rather be casual. Because I feel when you really get a chance to step it up & be dressy it REALLY stands out. I'm not like a glam girl all the time. I enjoy wearing kicks, jeans & hoodies & stuff like that, just as much as I like throwing on some knee high boots or 5' stilettos with a dope trench or pencil skirt. Whatever type of mood I'm in that day is pretty much how i dress for that day. As long as I'm comfortable I'm good.

BA: You've pretty much summed up how I feel in regards to my style. Its definitely been a pleasure & on behalf of Baller Alert I truly thank you for this opportunity given your schedule.

MF: No thank you! I'm glad we finally got to speak with one another & I truly thank you for the support. Hopefully when I get to DC we can kick it.

BA: Most definitely, now before I go, how does it feel to be managed under the company that Jay-Z is the front man for?

MF: Well, I got to tell you, its like a dream come true for any artist, well its my dream come true to be working with Jay-Z on this type of level. Its a great opportunity. I feel like what he's done as an artist & business man is a great model to have in front of me. So for me its like wow, to say I have Jay-Z in my corner is a great place to start & its an honor.

BA: You can say that again! Again, Melanie its been great & of course I wish you much success, keep making our ears happy with the music you create!

MF: Thanks!

*Melanie went on & said she appears on fellow Roc Nation family member Wale's Attention Deficit album on a track entitled Beautiful Bliss alongside J Cole*