Melissa Lauren: I always knew I was a musician, even as a toddler! But I think I really decided that I wanted to pursue a career when choosing what to do in University. I actually didn’t really need to think it over, it just was. I didn’t even second guess it, maybe I should have a bit more!
YA: Was your family supportive?
ML: My family actually encouraged me to do it. My dad told me that if I’m going to study something, it might as well be something that I love, otherwise it would be hard to be successful. They come to all of my gigs. Literally, all of them. There have been times when they were the only audience…
YA: What do you find most challenging?
ML: The networking/business/organization side of it. I am not a very detail- oriented person, and so I find things like tour booking, invoicing and such to be challenging. I’ll miss some detail like setting a printer to 8.5 X 11 and show up to a rehearsal with charts the size of store front windows.
YA: Who or what has been your inspiration?
ML: I try to keep my day-to-day inspiration fairly local. It makes it easier to try and map out my own career. I look to artists that I figure I have a good chance emulating success and that I may be only a few steps behind and then go from there. Then of course there are the epic songwriters, poets, performers that draw most of us into awe.
YA: Who are some of your favorite bands?
ML: Hmm. Can I name singers too? I love Elvis and Ella and Frank Sinatra and Patsy Cline and Nat King Cole and the Supremes and Ray Charles. I love Feist and Esthero and Melody Gardot and Adele and Amy Winehouse and Tom Waits. Also Rufus Wainright’s voice kills me every time and Jeff Buckley. Recently, I’ve really noticed Mumford and Sons and rediscovered a love for Cold Play (say what you will but Chris Martin can write a lyric) and Radiohead. From the age of 7 – 15 I listened almost exclusively to Mariah Carey..:)
YA: What are five of your favorite things about being on the road?
ML: I haven’t actually done a lot of touring yet. 2013 is shaping up to be a tour-filled year with Western Canada and Europe and maybe even parts of Asia. I think I’ll enjoy just meeting different types of locals and getting different types of feedback. Not having to worry about cleaning my apartment will be nice too!
YA: Is your song “Good to You” about someone specific?
ML: Yes. I had a serious relationship which I was fighting tooth and nail. I realized what a mess I was making and thought that if I could behave more like a hibernating animal everything would work out..in the long run, it did not. But that’s okay, feelings change and new songs can be written!
YA: What message are you trying to share?
ML: I love psychology and the human brain and find everything we do to sabotage ourselves fascinating. I like to write lyrics with a lighter edge about more serious things, I really appreciate that dichotomy. I guess my message is self-exploration and expression? And cradling neurosis..lol
YA: What do you have coming up?
ML: I have a Western Canada Tour in March, and performing as part of Canada Music Week. I am scheming up a European tour in the Summer and hope to start getting in the studio for a new album soon! I will be debuting some tunes in the New Year..
YA: What would you tell someone pursuing the same career?
ML: It’s lovely, but you have to treat it as a career. As much as inspiration hits, there are as many times that you have to force yourself to do something creative, buckle down and work very hard to sometimes no results. But when you do get results they feel great and epic and worth all the self-doubt. Thick skin is important too. But make sure you are still enjoying the music part of it, and surround yourself with supportive musicians.
YA: What’s your favorite book, or what book are you currently reading?
ML: I tend to like books that are about post-apocalyptic society or mother-daughter relationships. “A Handmaids Tale” “1984” and “White Oleander” are re-reads for me. Right now I am reading a book called “Cease To Blush” by Billie Livingston. It’s about a daughter who finds out her deceased super-feminist professor mother was a stripper during the Rat Pack Hollywood days.
ML: Thanks again. I greatly appreciate this.
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