JAMES STRECKER: Please tell us about one or more projects that you have been working on or have recently completed. Why exactly do they matter to you and why should they matter to me
MELANIE: The last project /single I released which is almost at 200K plays is a song called ‘Love Sucks’ which I released on Valentine’s day. It was talking about how as kids we’re programmed to think romantic love means finding your prince charming, but no one teaches us the importance of finding love in ourselves first. The song is an ode to loving ourselves first and says that love doesn’t suck when you do. Love is amazing if you can love YOU FIRST. Happily ever after needs to live inside of you and you need to be your own love story. This single was important to me because my message as an artist is to help people remove their own masks, and things they are hiding behind, whether that be in love or in life in general. I want people to fight the ‘norm.’ so this loud rock song is fighting for people to fight for themselves. I want people to get their voices back. Through my photos, write ups and songs, I want people to regain their voices and their confidence. I want my fans to know they have a friend in me. That I understand and I TRULY GET IT.
JS: How did doing these projects change you as a person and as a creator?
M: All of my projects take everything out of me. I write from my heart and I write from a place where I want people to know that I’m going through the same things as them. I don’t have it all figured out and know that none of us do but we’re all doing the best we can. All my projects/songs are creative but relatable. I touch on topics that can be gripping and quite emotional, but I do it in a way people don’t need to feel alone. M? is in everyone and we are all together and trying to find ourselves. My projects change me as they change the people around me.
JS: What might others not understand or appreciate about the work you produce or do?
M: Sometimes people don’t understand the work I do. Rock music has been very misunderstood the last few years to 10 years in Canada and especially in Toronto. A lot of people aren’t leaning towards this genre of music. Also, my imagery tends to be on the provocative side of things because I like to shock people sometimes to get my point across. But I’ve stayed consistent with my messages and maintained relationships with my growing fan base, and people haven’t given up on me, despite all the changes I’ve made and time to myself I’ve taken. I’m finally making a small dent and I won’t give up on my message and purpose for the people who DO believe and have ridden with me.
JS: What are the most important parts of yourself that you put into your work?
M: I always speak MY truth. How I feel, who I am, what I’ve been through personally so that people who are reading, listening and coming and tuning into me for the first time know it’s a safe space with me.
JS: What are your biggest challenges as a creative person?
M: Being in ROCK music, being a FEMALE in rock music. Being an independent artist and going up against massive labels and distribution these days.
JS: Imagine that you are meeting two or three people, living or dead, whom you admire because of their work in your form of artistic expression. What would you say to them and what would they say to you?
M: I would just say to Kurt Cobain “I’m so sorry you had to suffer the way you have and thank you for your music in the most authentic way I knew how.” The same for Amy Winehouse and Tracy Chapman and I would ask them what they have learned the most and what I need to know.
JS: Please describe at least one major turning point in your life that helped to make you who you are as a creative artist.
JS: What are the hardest things for an outsider to understand about your life as a person in the arts?
M: What is a big turning point is constantly getting turned down over and over again with no inspiration but yourself telling you to keep going. No one knows how truly ugly and grueling this is. There’s nothing pretty about it and I haven’t even gotten to the nice part yet. It’s constant and it’s ugly. It’s a constant no. No income. So, people really need to have a respect for artists who don’t give up!
JS: Please tell us what you haven’t attempted as yet that you would like to do in the arts? Why the delay so far?
M: I haven’t toured— the pandemic delayed it and I haven’t been signed and put enough music out yet! That is happening now!
JS: If you could re-live your life in the arts, how would you change it and why?
M: I would have started a lot younger and not been so scared of myself!
JS: Let’s talk about the state of the arts in today’s society, including the forms in which you work. What specifically gives you hope and what specifically do you find depressing?
M: TikTok makes me depressed and the fact there’s not a lot of “real” music being made. REAAAAL rock music with live instrumentation and stripped down powerhouse vocals. But what gives me hope is when the real music being made by some of the cool artists coming out of my very own city like Tobi and Allan Rayman gets recognized! Those guys are killing it and I hope to follow in their footsteps.
JS: What exactly do you like about the work you create and/or do?
M: All real instruments and amazing production! And when I go live, you’ll see!!!
JS: In your creative life thus far, what have been the most helpful comments you have heard about your work?
M: That I don’t need to hide behind gimmicks. I just need to sing
JS: Finally, what do you yourself find to be the most intriguing and/or surprising things about you?
M: That I’m so much more badass then I know and I can take over the world if I just do it!