Melissa Mathes

One listen to Melissa Mathes’ voice and it’s obvious why she’s been creating a buzz in Nashville’s burgeoning rock and pop community since moving there in 2000. Her thoughtful songwriting and soulful, ethereal singing—at times vulnerable and innocent, other times sensual and seductive—have record labels courting her, and Music City’s A-list musicians lining up to work with her. In a musical climate dominated by hipster detachment and disaffected cool, Melissa’s sunny, anything-is-possible vibe and emotional directness are a breath of fresh air.Even from an early age, Melissa was busy preparing to make her mark in the music industry. At only eleven years old, she began to exercise her love for entertaining when she appeared on Ed McMahon’s Star Search. She has since sang the National Anthem for former President Bill Clinton, compared high notes with Mariah Carey, and performed alongside John Denver. With her own band, she has secured the opening spot for such artists as: Pat Benatar, Cheap Trick, and Shelby Lynne. In 1999, Melissa also shared the stage with Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Indigo Girls, K's Choice, and the Dixie Chicks as a part of the Lilith Fair Tour.What’s most impressive about Melissa is her ability to work in a variety of styles while always sounding like herself. Whether she’s doing rock, old-school jazz, soul, hip-hop, ’70s California country, even glam, she infuses the music with a unique, otherworldly quality that never fails to turn heads. In fact, she’s currently working on a multi-disc set exploring all of these styles, backed by an all-star lineup that includes John Deaderick (Dixie Chicks, Michael McDonald, Patty Griffin), Bill DeMain (Swan Dive), Brad Jones (Josh Rouse, Jill Sobule, David Mead) and Daniel Tashian (This Silver Seas—formerly The Bees U.S.). Her songwriting skills have attracted collaborators including the likes of Danny Wilde (The Rembrandts), Sammy Llanas (The BoDeans), Eric Benet (Warner Bros.), Joe Puerta (Bruce Hornsby, Ambrosia), The Warren Brothers (RCA), Jim Peterik (Survivor), Victor Delorenzo (Violent Femmes) and Joe Pisapia (Guster). And her versatility as a singer has made her a sought-after backup vocalist, appearing on record and in concert with acts such as Josh Rouse, Guster’s Ganging Up on the Sun and Collective Soul’s Youth album, to name a few.And it’s just this freshness and versatility that have earned Melissa an impressive commercial résumé. In 1999, she was chosen by McDonald’s USA to be the primary voice behind their “We Love to See You Smile” campaign, which included a kick-off performance at which Melissa shared the stage with Ray Charles. She was also chosen by Home Depot to sing on their Summer 2000 Olympic spot, “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” which received critical acclaim. Other commercial accounts include Minute Maid, Saks Fifth Avenue, McCalister’s Deli, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Barbie, Clearasil, and numerous other regional ads.Melissa’s also become a favorite singer for The Long Players, a who’s who of Nashville luminaries—Gary Tallent (Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band), Bill Lloyd (Foster & Lloyd), Steve Allen (20/20), Steve Ebe (Tanya Tucker, Guilty Pleasures, Mezzanine Chumps) and the aforementioned John Deaderick—who band together to re-create classic rock albums. Recent performances have featured Melissa singing Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California” and David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” and “Queen Bitch.” Her live shows have earned rave reviews, and in 2006 New West Records’ Peter Jesperson named her one of the best live acts of the year.There’s no doubt that Melissa has the sort of voice that can take your breath away—after one of Melissa’s two performances on MTV’s The Cut, judge and radio personality Leslie “Big Lez” Segar said, “When she opened her mouth, doves flew out! I’d drive across the country to hear her sing.” But just as important to her success—as an artist, collaborator, jingle singer and backup vocalist—are her sweet personality and unwavering belief in the power of music. As Melissa puts it herself, “Music is something spiritual to me. It's my way to give of myself. I want to practice on it, expand on it, explore through it, and share it, to move people. That is my art."Visit www.myspace.com/melissamathes for more info and also visit www.mechanicalbirds.com