Though her unique and infectious sounds have repeatedly saturated the airwaves
of Toronto urban radio, people easily recognize her sound, but not yet her
name. With attention-getting songs as “Housework” and “Where
I’m Goin’”, her pervasive sound has been known to provoke
the question, “Who is that?” Answer: She is Melanie Durrant.
Simply being heavily rotated on local radio has not done her sound any justice.
The proof of her uncompromising, original style and wide-ranging vocal abilities
can only be found in her live performances. Her energetic and crowd-moving
stage shows have become expected of this soulful Torontonian soloist as she
gained recognition from a largely underground audience at such events as Honey
Jam. After scoring a deal with a major record label like Motown / Universal,
she has more recently moved her act to larger venues, opening for such artists
as 50 Cent and Jay-Z, Sean Paul among others, identifying herself among a
more mainstream crowd.
On her debut CD Where I’m Goin’, Melanie reveals her potent capabilities
as writer, arranger and vocalist with sounds ranging from reggae to blues
to downright R&B/Soul. Although most songs on her album are distinct in
their own right, they are each strung together by a strong, soulful element,
catchy lyrics, and the ability to make your head bob unconsciously. Her lyrics
are also deeply personal, giving the album, and the singer herself, a very
unpretentious quality. Because this unique songstress can so easily adapt
her vocals to a sundry of different sounds, her style has yet to be accurately
categorized.
With her unapologetic stage presence, the ability to move both underground
and mainstream audiences, why is it that people still ask the question, “Who?”
When stating the name Melanie Durrant?
Why do you think people know your sound more than you know your actual name?
A name is a name. I’m terrible with names so I don’t really expect people
to remember my own. I never remember names, so, maybe that’s the big payback,
who knows? (Laughs). You know songs are how people relate to feelings. So
maybe they were feeling determined to do something one day and the song caught
them, they were just like, "I’m gonna get to where I’m going, too!"
So they remember the song.
Do you think it’s because you have yet to release a video and people haven’t
attached a visual representation to your sound?
Definitely, definitely.
Talk about your new video.
The video is for “Where I’m Going”. That’s the single that we’ve been doing.
And it’s about a journey to a final destination. It’s about the people that
I meet along the way and things that I experience.
Who is your core audience? Who are you singing to?
Everyone, I’m singing to the children so I don’t say bad words. And I’m singing
for the grown-ups. I’m singing for everybody who’s a person.
As a Canadian, have you come to find that being recognized and garnered
by Americans has been the benchmark of a recording artists’ success?
No I don’t really think it’s about them, quite honestly. It’s about everybody,
every country, every people. If they don’t understand the words, they feel
the rhythm or they like the melody. But I did notice a lot of people aim to
be accepted in the States. Basically it’s just like the song says, ‘New York,
New York, if you can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere!’ You know?
I’m not saying it’s not important to be recognized by Americans, because
it definitely is important. But I’m not focusing my energy on them alone.
Canada is where I’m from and I’m really proud to be Canadian, which is why
I yell at the end of my show, “I am Canadian!” because I think as Canadians
we need to show some more patriotism, as a whole, and stop looking at why
Americans are so proud of themselves and start being proud of ourselves.
Describe your meeting with Kedar Massenberg (CEO of Motown/Universal).
I’ve done Motown shows with my mother. So to actually be in Motown Records
was really shocking. I don’t think I was in my body. I was just observing.
In your song, "Where I’m Going", you say, "I’m gonna get
to where I’m going," where is that place?
Where is that place? Basically to success. It isn’t an actual physical place.
It’s in here (points to temple). It’s the place of happiness. It’s total satisfaction.
How do you manage to stay so humble? Does being Canadian have a lot to
do with it? (Sighs modestly.) I don’t know. I don’t know. I didn’t
think of myself as anything. (Laughs).
Wrapping up her a recent performance at the Revival, in front of local, hometown
industry socialites, the modest Melanie needlessly feels she must remind us
of who she is.
“As for me, I’m Melanie. And if you don’t know, now you know!” She’s gonna
get to where she’s going. From where she is now, she’s not too far away.
