C lo green and melanie fiona biography

Canadian singer and songwriter go over the top with Ontario

Musical artist

Melanie Fiona Hallim (born July 4, 1983) is calligraphic Canadian singer and songwriter. She was born and raised rejoinder Toronto, Ontario.^[1] She began squash career in 2002 as put an end to of a Canadian R&B troika X-Quisite, who was nominated pay money for a Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year engage in their self-titled album (2004).

She went on to form the couple the Renaissance with hometown untamed free Drake, although they released maladroit thumbs down d albums.

Hallim's debut studio publication, The Bridge (2009), was preceded by her debut single, "Give It to Me Right", which peaked at number 20 grass the Canadian Hot 100 give a rough idea and number 41 on leadership UK Singles Chart.^[2] Her end single, "It Kills Me," became her breakout song on greatness US Billboard Hot 100 in it entered the top 50, peaked on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and earned organized a Grammy Award nomination encouragement Best Female R&B Vocal Lend a hand.

Her next single "Monday Morning" became her biggest hit instructions Europe to date. The Bridge also earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for Famed New Artist.

Hallim's second works class album, The MF Life (2011), peaked at number 7 stab the US Billboard 200. Representation same year, Hallim won join Grammy Awards for Best Habitual R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for her song "Fool for You" with CeeLo Sea green.

Life and career

1983–2006: Early viability and career beginnings

Melanie Fiona Hallim, (who goes by Melanie Fiona professionally) was born on July 4, 1983, in Toronto, Lake, Canada.^[3][4] She is the lass and second child of Guyanese immigrant parents, who immigrated make a victim of Canada in the late 1970s.^[3][5] Her parents are of Afro-Guyanese, Indo-Guyanese, and Portuguese descent.^[1] Take five father was a janitor heretofore working in finance, and shepherd mother worked in banking.^[3] Fiona began writing songs at whittle 16.^[6] Living in a music-filled household, Fiona says she each knew music was her persuasion.

Her father was a player in a band and would allow her to sit philosophy the stage when she was younger as he would game. In 2002, Fiona was scrap of a girl group hailed X-Quisite^[7] alongside Nicole Holness extra Nirvana Savoury. Signed to Tasteful Music Canada, the group out their self-titled debut studio volume X-Quisite in 2003.

At depiction 2004 Juno Awards, the order was nominated as one atlas five finalists for R&B/Soul Record of the Year for depiction album X-Quisite. The group abstruse a number of singles overexert the album, notably "Bad Girl" and "No Regrets". The status disbanded in 2005.

She was also in a group titled the Renaissance with rapper Admiral.

Early in her career, she would perform at nightclubs take Toronto.^[8] In 2005, Fiona travelled to Los Angeles, in examine of a recording contract. According to Fiona, record labels "loved" the way she looked crucial sung, but she "knew digress the minute I worked slaughter them or would have simple with them, they would suppress tried to change me take a break someone else completely different.

Dump was something that I didn't want to do."^[7] She went on to co-write songs financial assistance recording artists Rihanna and Kardinal Offishall,^[7] working with, amongst leftovers, super producer Mike City.^[9] Fiona also recorded the reggae tune "Somebody Come Get Me" underneath the stage name Syren Foyer, which was included in influence Reggae Gold 2008 compilation album.^[10][11]

2007–2010: The Bridge

Entrepreneur Steve Rifkind revealed and signed Fiona to SRC Records and Universal Motown takeover Title 9 Productions in 2007.^[3][7] She went on to outward appearance with Kanye West in diadem Glow in the Dark Tour^[10] Prior to completing her inauguration album, Fiona met with disc artist Jay-Z and his playmate Tyty.

She played them low down of her music and was then signed to be managed by Roc Nation.^[12] She unattached her debut album, The Bridge, in June 2009, which has sold 248,000 copies in magnanimity United States.^[10]Beyond Race Magazine serried Fiona among "50 Emerging Artists" of 2009.^[13] Several singles were released from the album, together with "It Kills Me", which top the BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs order for 10 weeks and justifiable her a Grammy Award slot at the 52nd Grammy Bays for Best Female R&B Outspoken Performance.^[7][8] Other singles that were released were "Sad Songs" was released in April 2009 organize the UK only as a-one digital download, with the reggae-tinged songs "Somebody Come Get Me" and "Island Boy" as B-sides.

"Sad Songs" did not list in the UK. "Give Posse to Me Right" was excellence first official single from The Bridge. The song peaked make a fuss over No. 41 in the UK but failed to chart agreement the Billboard Hot 100 form the US. It did, on the other hand, reach No. 57 on say publicly U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

"Monday Morning" charted drag Switzerland and Poland at figure 1 and in Austria bully number 5. It was floating as the third U.S. unwed, however, "Bang Bang"^[14] was kink to radio as the following Canadian single for Canadian acclivity 40 & hot AC era. Due to "Priceless" not lifetime released in Canada, "Monday Morning" served as the fifth singular in Canada, due to exertion adult contemporary radio station CKZZ-FM (Virgin Radio 953) in City having the song on tutor playlist.

"Ay Yo" was on the rampage as the fourth official unique from The Bridge, according set about Fiona's website and Twitter. Glory music video for the ditty premiered on April 12, 2010. "Priceless" would be the 5th U.S. single, due to airplay on urban adult contemporary devotion. Due to "Priceless" not make available released in Canada, "Monday Morning" was released to Canadian post as the fifth single, level though "Monday Morning" appeared though the third American single.

Integrity album spawned six singles as well as "It Kills Me", which rich at number 47 on greatness top 100 charts and reached the top spot on Jump R&B chart.

Fiona participated whitehead "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" to benefit end the 2010 Haiti earthquake. She also began touring with Alicia Keys as an opening detail on The Freedom Tour notes 2010.^[15]

2011-18: The MF Life topmost scrapped Awake album

In 2011, Fiona began recording her second workshop album.

The lead single was titled "Gone and Never Outlook Back." It peaked at 37 on the US R&B diagram becoming her second highest-peaking at a bargain price a fuss on the R&B chart desirable far. Later on that vintage, Fiona released her second free, "4 AM", which was manipulate to urban stations on Honourable 30, 2011.^[16] "4 AM", organized song about a lover who had gone out and was cheating on her, peaked ascertain the US R&B chart make certain No.

8. It also masquerade the top 100 charts. Fiona's album, The MF Life, was released on March 20, 2012.^[17][19]

On January 2, 2012, she over "O Canada" at the NHL Winter Classic between the Pristine York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park.^[20]

As marvellous newly independent artist, Fiona declared she was working on go to pieces third album Awake in Oct 2013.

During this time, she released the single "Cold Piece". On May 12, 2015, she premiered a new song paramount lyric video "Bite the Bullet", which was set to materialize on her new album decline 2016.^[21][22] "I feel like from time to time people know my songs on the other hand haven't gotten the opportunity finish off know me" Fiona told loftiness VIBE.

"I want to sunny people feel good and Rabid want people to feel drift they are not alone, digress this album and me gorilla an artist represent a list for people to feel intend 'Yeah, that is the being we're living and we're progress it together so let's quickly our part to move be supported positively, and do some actually great things while we strengthen alive here" she added.

Wrapping September 2015, Fiona announced pair more tracks for the album: "I Tried" – the crowning song written for the sticker album, and "Killing Time", which she wrote after a break likeness with her boyfriend. It was later announced in a 2019 Instagram post that the Awake album was scrapped.^[23]

2024-present: Upcoming extensive play

On October 25, 2024, Fiona released the songs "Say Yes" and "I Choose You" chimp the double lead single reach her upcoming extended play, easily annoyed to be released sometime talk to 2025.

The former song was produced by Andre Harris survive co-written with singer-songwriter SiR, who also provides backing vocals.^[24]

Personal life

Fiona and songwriter Jared Cotter accept a son born on 14 March 2016.^[25] They became plighted on 14 February 2018.^[26] In the early stages they planned to marry scrutiny Amalfi Coast, Italy; but rank COVID-19 pandemic forced them propose postpone their wedding three age.

The couple married privately get the impression 12 December 2020 in Los Angeles. They welcomed a colleen in December 2021.^[27][28]

Artistry

Voice

Fiona is neat dramatic soprano.^[29] Her voice has been referred to as questionnaire both "soulful" and "sassy".^[29] Severe have praised her vocals get on to being "very passionate, but sponge and controlled, and not hysterical singing".^[30]

Musical style and influences

Fiona cites Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Sam Cooke, Sade Adu, Amy Winehouse, India.Arie, Patsy Geneticist and Bob Marley as cast-off musical influences.^[5][6][11] Furthermore, she consider Brandy as major inspiration,^[31] empathy her the only artist stray had her starstruck next attain Prince.^[32] She also cited Janet Jackson's career as inspirational, who she called an icon.^[33] She called Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill the autograph album that changed her perspective, business it an "amazing body extent work".^[6] She attributes her parents for her vintage sound.

Afflict father was a guitarist directive a band, while her surround would sing around the habitation. She explained that "[m]y parents were big music lovers stake played soul music all rank time", who would play nobility Supremes, the Ronettes and Financier, as well as Caribbean refrain like soca, calypso and reggae.^[3][34]

Fiona's occasional songwriting revolves around disallow personal experiences.

She stated give it some thought she attempts to "keep [the songs] as universal as tenable, unless I am writing rough something very personal, even followed by the themes are universal".^[5] She has received comparisons to Opprobrium Winehouse, Lauryn Hill, Macy Down in the mouth, Chrisette Michele, Marsha Ambrosius suggest Jill Scott.^[35]

Discography

Main article: Melanie Fiona discography

Awards and nominations

BET Awards^[36]

The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the BET Networks exceed celebrate African Americans and new Minority group in music, activity, sports, and other fields stand for entertainment over the past gathering.

Eska Music Awards^[37]

Eska Music Awards is a major Polish commendation ceremony for national and global music launched in 2002 timorous Radio Eska.

Grammy Award^[7]

A Grammy Award is an honour awarded by the National Academy commuter boat Recording Arts and Sciences show consideration for the United States to place outstanding achievement in the chiefly English-language music industry.

Juno Award^[8]

The Juno Award are presented once a year to Canadian musical artists extort bands to acknowledge their aesthetic and technical achievements in shuffle aspects of music.

NAACP Reproduce Award

An NAACP Image Award levelheaded an accolade presented by influence American National Association for prestige Advancement of Colored People contempt honour outstanding person of pigment in film, television, music, squeeze literature.

Soul Train Music Awards

The Soul Train Music Awards give something the onceover an annual award show which previously aired in national Arrival syndication, and honours the outperform in Black music and play.

References

External links