Local Artist Spotlight… Melissa Payne
“You have to be in it for the love of it”
That’s the advice Ennismore singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Melissa Payne has for up-and-comers in the music industry, as she gets set to release her third album, “Darker Than Your Dark.”
She also says that one must be true to their craft, even if it doesn’t fit the cookie-cutter music industry. “People will try to put success into a brand. You have to conform to be mainstream, but if you’re not true to yourself you have sacrificed a large piece of your creativity.”
Payne’s early influences range from Elvis and Ray Charles to George Jones and Dolly Parton. She admits it is difficult to pin down a genre to define her own music, saying it ranges from alt-country to pop to whatever the next inspiration may create.
“As an artist I am constantly evolving, and while the songs for my first two albums – self-titled (2012), and “High and Dry” (2015) – were my own compositions, I am now open to collaborating. I worked in Nashville for awhile, and co-wrote with Greg Keelor (of Blue Rodeo fame, and who also produced the new album). I’m excited for the possibilities that open up by sharing the creative process with someone else,” Payne explains. That also includes working with respected Toronto/Montreal based songwriter, producer and performing artist Maia Davies.
Payne also describes the early excitement of writing her first song, and says she wants to recapture that by expanding her musical horizons. “I wouldn’t say I’m jaded – I have respect for anyone involved in the music business – but I never want to lose the magic. I’ve learned and grown over the years, and yes, I’ve had dry spells. But I try to set aside time each day to write – it’s a job and I have to keep at my craft in order to continue to grow.”
Following a month-long tour – 23 dates across Canada – with the Matt Mays Band, and while getting ready for a series of shows across Ontario to promote the new CD, Payne reflects on her chosen path. “First starting out, success is defined as singing in front of huge crowds, on the biggest stages. But the highlight of my career is simple: I make a living doing what I love to do. The mortgage and bills get paid each month. What can be better than that?”
Payne also makes time to teach guitar, fiddle and vocals. “I especially love working with kids, watching them experience music,” she explains.
The world-wide release of “Darker Than Your Dark” is set for March 7 and the album release takes place at Market Hall in Peterborough. The release party is open to the public, and tickets can be ordered through markethall.org.
Subscribe to Melissa Payne’s YouTube channel to catch the first single, “September Skies,” check out her website – www.melissa-payne.ca – and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
by Belinda Wilson
