Concert Review & Interview: “Melanie Fiona Makes Her Music Come Back Shining Bright Live At The Howard Theatre”
In a room fueled by love, a zen feeling overtook the vibe as we anticipated the privilege of being amongst greatness. In any format, Grammy Award Winner Melanie Fiona is a thrill. However, having the honor of sharing the same space with her, in an intimate setting that the Howard Theatre in Washington, DC gives, is breathtaking.
It is a rare occasion to be able to reach out and touch the hand of a super star such as Ms. Melanie Fiona but on this night her interaction with her fans would bring this dream to reality for some.
Setting the tone of the night was the looming knowledge that many members of the audience were there to celebrate their Love union on the eve of Valentine’s day. This made the night a double dose of special, as this audience would be one of the first to experience the return of such an amazingly talented R&B singer/songwriter who’s main lyrical forte focuses on Love’s many topics.
Looking out, it was blatantly obvious that the connection between, Melanie Fiona, her music and the audience’s reactions & reason for being at the show, was all in sync and had so much meaning, it interestingly created it’s own melodic structure, in visual form.
Hitting the stage diving straight into performance mode, Melanie Fiona passionately embraced each song as if she herself, was falling in love with them for the first time. In a very transparent manor, she let her musical soul be exposed and that vulnerability manifested into pure bliss as the audience sang along to her songs, in agreement to all the expression and depth of each song’s content.
Singing songs we all knew and serving us new musical dishes, we all in fascination, ate all the magic up. Her incredible band laid down a solid foundation so she could take whatever path she wanted, and boyyy did she take us for an amazing ride. Performing hit songs such as: “Give It To Me Right“, “Fool For You“, “Wrong Side Of A Love Song“, “Change The Record“, “4AM” and “It Kills me“, everyone got hyped! You will have to go to an upcoming show to hear some of her new unreleased songs because it is a special treat. However, she has already released her first single “Remember U” as a solid teaser of what’s to come from her upcoming studio album entitled: “NEXT TRAIN“.
Explaining, that the meaning behind the album title: “NEXT TRAIN“, is believing that everything she has to do must be Flowing Motion. Conveying a moving forward idealistic approach in her everyday lifestyle is a standard professionally and personally, even more so, as she now takes on another incredible responsibility and title of being a new mom. She speaks volumes on this topic in a 4 part Shea Moisture Intimate interview. It was very informative to me. However, because I have yet to be blessed in this way, here is what my lovely cousin Kyrah Brinkley had to say regarding the effect those 4 clips had on her as an expecting mother:
● “I love MF she’s so pretty and her son is adorable. I had no clue she was a mom & I love Shea Moisture products. I use them on my hair, thinking baby Aylah may like them as well lol.
First clip: OMG, Melanie is speaking straight facts no one woman and pregnancy are the same. You don’t really know what’s going to happen you just have to go with flow of things. All in all right now pregnancy has been a breeze for me hopefully the next three months will be the same. Labor is something that I think about a lot so I definitely agree with her you may think something won’t happen but you never know.
Second clip: I concur, it’s extremely important to keep going. Motherhood should never slow you down to the point that you stop doing and pursuing anything you want in life. Being a mother is such a beautiful job and it’s important to make sure you instill in your child, to always keep going and strive for the best life possible.
Third clip: I definitely agree! Women are the most adaptable species on this planet and for many reasons. We have the power to transform, conform when necessary, delegate, motivate, and nurture all in one. We are incredible and the most rewarding aspect for me as a women, is doing what I love and working hard on my craft(s) or whatever makes me happy.
Fourth clip: There is definitely no manual to motherhood and no parent is perfect. Caring for your child is the most important job you will ever have, but you must always make sure you take care of yourself as woman as well. It’s also very important to always be transparent with your child. I hope and pray when my daughter is here and for the years we’ll share to come, she will know exactly who her mom is and what I stand for. I’m excited about motherhood and it’s the biggest blessing thus far in my life!” ■
Needless to say, Melanie Fiona’s ability to touch lives, expand across all phases of life and is a total, extra special inspiration to those pursuing music, unconditional love and motherhood. We here in the DMV are elated that she would stop through our area dropping jewels while we sit back in excitement, that only a diamond like her can bring.
So everyone, definitely support Melani Fiona’s new single “Remember U“, vow to get your copy of her new album as soon it becomes available and purchase your tickets to the shows she will be bringing to a town near you. ***To intice your appreciation and love for Melanie Fiona further, Below is our transcribed EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW we had the pleasure of conducting with her:
●●●●●●●
Marquita Cheron:
What is up Music Lover’s! You are currently Rocking With Your Girl Marquita Cheron. One of your favorite Music Journalists with Concert Daily and I am with the Amazing, Talented, Very Beautiful, Singer/Songwriter, R&B Diva: Ms. Melanie Fiona. How are you?
Melanie Fiona:
Wow, that is quite the intro. I’m doing great, thank you very much for that warm welcome. I’m doing great.
MC:
Yes, yes. It’s definitely a warm welcome. I’m so excited about this new single that you have called: “REMEMBER U”. I want to jump right into it. You’ve just released this recently. Please tell us about that?
MF:
Ah, “Remember U”. For me, this song is really just what I feel is quintessentially “What Melanie Fiona does”. And that is, sing a good ballad over a cinematic, dramatic, body of work of music, ya know. I did this record with Jack Splash and Andrea Martin, who I’ve had previous musical and just wonderful success with, with Grammys and “Fool For You”, “It Kills Me”, “Wrong Side Of A Love Song”. So, there’s definitely magic there between all of us. It’s been a while since people have heard something from me and my fans have just been rocking with me for so long. I just wanted to give them something that they love, that they know that they can always expect from me, and I’m just really excited that people are loving it. I’ve been performing it and people have been loving it. …But it’s really just the tip of the Iceberg. It’s really just kind of the warm up record for me cause I just can’t wait for people to hear the evolution of the entire album and the whole body of work: “NEXT TRAIN”.
MC:
Yes! I love that. I love the fact that you are excited about the connection with who you work with to make the music so magical, and that it is to me, when I listened to it, like YESSS! That is Melanie Fiona right there! You’re giving us real life experiences. I can directly relate to everything you’re saying in the song and again, I love the fact that you are excited about who you work with. Working with certain producers and everything, how do you feel about, that bringing out extra enhancement in all of your artistic flow? You really being able to present it the way you really want and the way you feel it in your soul?
MF:
You know, that’s everything to me. I feel like right now, in a world where music is so diverse. It’s so spread out. It’s so vast. It’s so much. I think it’s important to have a voice and stay true to what it is, you do as an artist. I always want people to be able to hear a record and be like: That’s a Melanie Fiona record or that’s Melanie Fiona. Know that and have an identity. I’ve been able to build a beautiful and wonderfully successful career off of that and you know that old saying: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” but you can throw some rims on it if you want too. So, that’s where we’re at right now. So, the producers I’ve worked with on this album have definitely stayed true to the integrity of who I am and what I do but have definitely elevated me to stretch and grow and to experiment and be great. Dre Harris, being a co-executive producer on the album, I’ve been able to do that with him on the majority of the records that people have even yet hear. He actually did: “Bite The Bullet”, “I Tried” and “I Want It All” which are three songs I put out before “REMEMBER U”, just kinda in the in betweens. I feel like that chemistry is there as well. So, it’s a really nice place to be working with people that you feel that comfortable creating with and you can make really great stuff with.
MC:
Yes, and when you say all of those things it reminds me of two words: Gratitude and Respect.
MF:
Amen!
MC:
I think that takes you so long, so far in this industry, especially nowadays. You’re one of the artists that definitely have true talent. Every time I’ve ever seen you perform live, you’re giving your all on stage. I love the fact that, with the people that you are working with, you actually put it in a studio recording. That means so much to any person listening and needing that inspiration. Needing that healing that your music gives us. So, thank you for that.
MF:
Well, Thank You! I definitely pride myself on making the music live worthy. Not just studio music cause I am a live performer and I do love that. That’s like my favorite part of being an artist, performing live on stage. So, that’s how I always choose my records to be able to know, if it’s going to be amazingly live in the studio, then it can only get better when it comes to life on stage.
MC:
Yeah! So, I know in your life recently you have just been glowing. Every area of your life has been wonderful and now you’re jumping back in about to give us some heat, some fire I’m sure, cause you’re talking about this album. I don’t want to ask you too much because I want us to be anticipating it and excitable about it. …..but when it comes to the movement that you’re making now as a new mother and all of these wonderful things, how does it feel fusing it all together? (I know my cousin Kyrah is going to read this and be inspired because she is expecting right now. So anything you say, anything you’re doing right now will be beneficial.) She watched the Shea Moisture 4 part series you did with them, and was very touched and inspired by that. So, how do you feel now as you look at life and you look at the words that you’re writing for music as a mother, as an artist? …You are about to hit us with some phenomenal stuff. So, how does that feel to be able to know that you have all of this gift to give us, that we are anticipating?
MF:
Well, I just feel blessed. I feel very blessed in my life right now. My life has really come full circle in all areas of being able to have a successful career, now have a successful family and building that. I really do feel blessed about that and I just approach it with great responsibility now that I have someone that’s really paying attention to my every word and thought. I always want to make him proud, my son, and I want to make music that inspires also women, to feel like they can do whatever it is they want to do in their lives. They can be business women, they can be mothers, they can be artists, and they can be entrepreneurs. I’m still finding my way through that too because life on the road with the baby, is not always easy at times but I’m learning my way. Life is always like that. It’s important for me to always continue to just strive for greatness. Not just for myself but because I have to set an example of that, of what hard work can do, for my son.
MC:
Yes, and I so appreciate your thought process on everything. Every time I hear you speak, you speak very intelligently and you always have something so profound to say. I really appreciate that especially as a young artist out here having so many people looking up to you. I really really really appreciate and respect your perspective on things.
MF:
Thank You!
MC:
Yes! You are very welcome, thank you! That leads me to a song that you actually performed live on a Billboard series back in 2013, called: “One Moment In Time” By Ms. Witney Houston. I am an album girl like you said that you are, and that’s one of the songs that I’ve always loved. The words in that song kinda captures what you’ve been saying about all of the great things happening in your life, music wise and personal. Can you elaborate a little on the meaning of this song and why I would even bring it up as something significant to your, right now, scenario as the song describes?
MF:
It’s just inspiration. That record just makes me, and has always made me feel, triumphant and strong and motivated. Whitney Houston is just my favorite vocalist of all time. Hearing her say such positive words, it really is just a testimony to the power of music and what that can do to people. I believe that song was used in the Olympics when she released it. How fitting. It’s a song for champions. It’s a song for greatness. I always want to have music, some way shape or form, whether it’s vulnerability or inspiration or strength, that allows people to feel like that. Whether it’s the lyric or the melody or just the way I’m delivering the song. Whatever it’s about, no matter the subject or context is. So, I just love that song. Whitney Houston, she’s like the encyclopedia of music for me. I just live for everything she’s ever done.
MC:
Yesssss! It touched my heart when I actually saw you perform that one because, I was like: “Oh my goodness! She performed one that’s off the Olympic album.” You Know, people tend to only pay attention to the songs that are the radio hits.
MF:
Right!
MC:
But it’s always the songs within the album that’s just also incredible. You have some. You have one in particular that I really love off of your 2nd Album, “THE MF LIFE”. It’s a song called: “L.O.V.E. Feat. John Legend”. I….Lovvveee….That….Song! Understand, I play that song at least 30 times a day. It’s so empowering.
MF:
Thank You! Thank You!
MC:
Oh my goodness. It was sung so perfectly. It was amazing.
MF:
Thaannkk Youuu!
MC:
Yesss! I definitely just had to let you know that. Another song that I think everyone loves is “Gone And Never Coming Back”. Even the video, with you actually playing the piano at the end, oh my goodness, was just incredible. You’re definitely one of those artists who are endless. You’re endless with ability. You’re endless with what we are needing from you. So, we cannot wait for this album that’s coming.
MF:
Thank You!
MC:
We are definitely loving the song: “REMEMBER U” right now, and also the live acoustic clips where you are going into “It Kills Me” mixing it with “Loyalty”. Ohhhh Yaaassss honey YES! You Did That!
MF:
Thannnkkk Youuu Sooo Much!
MC:
Yes! I just had to let you know that. Yess! I’m looking forward to your show. You’re coming here to Washington, DC on February 13th at the Howard Theatre and then you’ll be in Annapolis MD the very next day. So, we’re excited about that and can’t wait to actually see you perform live. It would be great to meet you too.
MF:
Yesss!
MC:
Either way, seeing you live will be amazing. I hope everyone comes out and shows you so much love and you sell out.
MF:
Thank Youuu! Thank You So Much! Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. The DMV is a special place for me. I always have amazing shows out there. The people in the DMV know and love good music and it’s really one of my best markets in the country. So, I’m always coming out there and I’m happy to be back now. It’s been a couple of years so I’m happy to be back and performing the songs that everybody loves. Also, giving sneak peaks and first looks of the new album and new songs to expect. So, you’ll have a whole lot more to write about after the show, for sure.
MC:
Yes. I’m looking forward to it. I’m so thankful that you would take the time to speak with us, Concert Daily, myself. I am just so appreciative.
MF:
Thank You!
MC:
You’re an amazing artist. Honestly, it doesn’t matter how long you’re gone. We know you’re working on something fabulous and we’re just waiting and waiting but we’re going to play your stuff until we can’t play it no more. So that means endlessly.
MF:
Amazing! Perfect, I love that. Thank you so much.
MC:
Yes, Of course.
MF:
We are so thankful.
MC:
Yes. Well, you have a wonderful night.
MF:
Thank you! You Too.
■■■■■■■
Follow Concert Daily: Instagram @ConcertDaily, Twitter @Concert Daily and Facebook: Concert Daily and Youtube: Concert Daily
Story By: @MarquitaCheron
About The Author: Marquita Cheron is a Jazzy-Soul/R&B Singer/Songwriter, Correspondent, Writer and overall Music Enthusiast; who has a love for every positive angle of the Music & Entertainment industry. Simply on a quest to reveal the greatness of amazing artists and their music to the masses, while also being a contributor of it herself.
