By Sommer Thornton

Beauty, brains, and a voice is an understatement to what newcomer Melanie Fiona brings to the R&B game. Tuesday night she performed in Chicago as part of the Lexus Listening Lounge – promotion of Lexus’ GS, ES, and the ISC convertible. Lexus produced a showroom style soiree inside the Chicago Illuminating Company downtown. The large courtyard and mansion-like foyer was the perfect milieu for socialites and businessmen to mingle and check out Lexus’ sleek new whips.  

Melanie Fiona, a Toronto native, showed the audience her eclectic vocal style and her lively stage presence singing notable hits, Give it to Me Right, It Kills Me, and Monday Morning. The audience was already feeling Fiona’s exotic beauty, and her passionate lyrics. But when she went into her rendition of Bob Marley’s classic, “One Love” –to a smooth reggae groove, she set the roof off! “Where my Shottas at,” Melanie called out, channeling her West Indian roots.

Melanie proved she’s a unique artist focused on entertaining her real fans with an exciting performance. Fiona even sang her own version of Kanye West’s Heartless, digressing from her song, Somebody Come Get Me [Before I Kill This Man].”By the end the audience was captivated by the luxurious ambiance and this novel songwriter with the amazing voice. 

After her performance, Melanie chatted with UnRated Urban about touring with Alicia Keys, breaking down barriers in the industry, and love.

UnRated Urban: What barriers have you already busted down-either on the business side or the creative side of the industry?

MELANIE: I’m an attractive girl, rooted in music and not in gimmick and everything else. I’m more concerned about giving a good show, making sure everyone has fun. I want people to take my music seriously, so I purposely chose to go along a different path.

UnRated Urban: I saw you rocking on stage. You didn’t care how you looked. You were having a great time, so the audience fed off your vibe.

MELANIE: When you care too much about what everyone thinks about you, you’re not living your best life. Cause you’re too consumed with other peoples opinions.

UnRated Urban: How is your sound received by the R&B Soul community in the States vs. Canada vs. Europe?

MELANIE: Different songs came out in Europe and Canada. So it was fun to see how different countries responded to different sides of me.

UnRated Urban: What song brings out the most memories when you perform it?

MELANIE: It Kills Me, is the most memorable. I was in the thick of it when I wrote that song. So I put my all into it when I perform it. I always go back to that time in my life. Sometimes I get emotional while I’m performing it.

UnRated Urban: There is that line in the song that says “I know you’re messing around, but who else is gonna hold me down” You have to really be in love to understand that line.

MELANIE: Yes you have to be in that situation to understand. But yes I was saying I have your back, but no one has my back. I’ve learned that that’s not good in a relationship.

UnRated Urban: What is your view on love these days? Did you find that making this cd changed your opinion on love?

MELANIE: I believe in self love first. You gotta be happy with yourself before you can expect someone else to love you. When it’s right, it finds you. I want to find love. I feel that it’s necessary. I’ve been on the bad and good side. I love myself now.

UnRated Urban: Give me one word to describe your experience touring with Alicia Keys.

MELANIE: Enlightenment – on so many levels. She was such a joy. She was so pleasant and genuine.

UnRated Urban: What have you learned touring with A. Keys this first time around?

MELANIE: I learned humility, positivity. I grew because I was able to see some flaws and become better.

UnRated Urban: Have you had the opportunity to meet any of your idols?

MELANIE:Yes- Alicia Keys, Prince, India Arie, Brandy, Janelle Monáe – I can relate to her because she’s new and she’s a strong woman who’s refusing to let the industry change her.

UnRated Urban: Both of your parents are musicians, your father a guitarist, your mother a singer: What song are you most proud to share with your parents?

MELANIE: There is a song I just tweeted about. It has no title. But it delves deep in to the core of who I am. One line says, “You treat my dreams like it’s a game -like I’m a chess piece here for play” I’m really excited to share it with my parents.

Photos by Raymond Boyd