Ones To Watch: Melanie Fiona

Melanie Fiona can sing. Period. Her voice is a throwback to a much simpler time when singers in general were REQUIRED to have a distinct voice and offer something unique in addition to being able to carry a tune. Male or female you had to have that certain "it." This was true especially in the realm of R&B and Soul music. Think: Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, Marvin Gaye, Mavis Staples, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Dionne Warwick, Deniece Williams and there are countless others. Their voices were instantly recognizable like an established brand’s logo.

Now to be clear, I am in no way comparing Melanie to the aforementioned beyond the distinction of voice, for these greats all share impressive bodies of work that command respect beyond casual comparisons. Besides, that wouldn't be fair to her either since she is a promising work in progress. To add to that, the word diva has been overused and kicked around like a hacky sack so I won’t go there either. In fact, in today's world, many are so lost in looking for the next great thing, that they are ultra quick to cheaply and unworthily crown heir apparents to artists that are simply a world unto themselves. It runs the gamut.

"He’s the next Michael" or "He’s the next Prince" when in fact, they are merely the first version of themselves. Stop it people! You know who you are! I respectfully digress from my tangent. Now where were we? Oh, Melanie!

The point I am trying to make is that upon hearing Melanie initially, her voice resonated in a way that elevated her above many touted R&B singers today with scrawny paper-thin voices. She not only has a voice with a rich and special ear pleasing texture, but she actually knows how to use it. It’s refreshing.

Currently, she’s featured on a monster mid-tempo duet with Cee Lo Green titled Fool For You, which is in solid rotation on Urban Adult Contemporary radio stations. Check it out. It’s a super-soulful song that has a present day knock with an unearthed yesteryear feel. A rare gem deservedly getting supportive airplay and sparking a glimmer of hope that perhaps some sense of balance will be one day be restored to the airwaves.

The gifted Toronto native began writing her own songs at age 16 and was eventually discovered and signed by entrepreneur Steve Rifkind, to his SRC Records imprint at the age of 24 in 2007. She released her full-length debut The Bridge in 2009. The album was a pop influenced melting pot of Soul, Hip Hop, and R&B with some Reggae thrown in for good measure. Some of the songs were 60s soul sample-based, giving it a raw, classic, nostalgic feel. It sold modestly, but peaked respectfully at No. 4 on Billboard Magazine’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums and No. 27 on the Billboard 200 chart. The LP’s second single It Kills Me, featuring a sample of The Softones' familiar classic Hey There Lonely Girl, fueled the album's visibility. The Grammys took notice and nominated the song for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and rightfully so.

Melanie is currently set to release her second studio album MF Life in the fourth quarter of 2011. If she stays true to herself and continues to record music that well compliments her tremendous vocal gift, she may be afforded the privilege of adding her name to that list of aforementioned greats. Melanie Fiona, definitely one to watch -- and listen to as well.