Melanie Fiona Talks About Transformation, Love and New Music
By: Ann Marie Collymore
We all try to do what’s best for ourselves in our times of need including listening to ourselves and our bodies when we’ve hit a wall. There are so many lessons to learn from the process of rebuilding. Toronto’s own, Guyanese descendant, Juno and Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Melanie Fiona, learned a lot about herself when she decided to walk away from the industry and the negative energy surrounding her. She took action and sought help for issues that were stripping her mentally and physically. She knew a transformation was in store, and took the necessary steps to rehabilitate, purge and restore.
In 2009, Fiona’s debut album The Bridge was released and singles like “Give It To Me Right” and the gut-wrenching “It Kills Me” garnered fans from across the globe. Like her greatest inspiration, Whitney Houston, Fiona’s ballads came from her gut. Her name was at the top of Billboard’s R&B list. Alongside other released singles, the album was a bona fide hit. Moving on to The MF Life secured Fiona a sound spot as an up-and-coming R&B ‘it girl.’ She was on fire. Then in 2012, she won a Grammy for her duet with CeeLo Green for “Fool For You.” But with the joy of professional highs came the debacle of professional lows. And then, she was gone.
At the time, what we didn’t understand was why. Fiona went through new artist woes, deteriorating health, losing her voice, a shelved album, postpartum depression and amongst all of that, her trusted support system started to crumble. These occurrences moulded into one, and the experiences taught her to put herself first. “It’s taught me that my peace is my priority and that is my actual real job in this life—to make sure that I always have space to hear, to honour and to protect myself. That’s the most important thing. And to do the hard things sometimes, which means putting aside the ego or saying no to certain things. It’s really given me more respect and reverence for my human self,” says Fiona.
Boundaries, energy and faith are now high on Fiona’s list. It’s her way of showing up for herself first. Essentially, never leaving room for previous experiences to have that effect on her again. “I think it was just about showing up for the demands of the industry and what’s being required. Even though I thought I was doing the best that I could. There was still more from a demand that sometimes we see people and artists do, they over-exert themselves. They’re tired. They’re doing too much. I kind of got pulled by the coattails when I started to feel like I got into a season and I felt like I was doing too much where my voice was affected. I think that was kind of God’s way of saying, ‘Hey, you need to refocus the way you’re going to move through this career and the way you’re going to live in your purpose and carry out this gift because you can’t sustain this way.”
Fiona found that tapping into her faith, being present, and shedding loose ends and relationships was the cleanse her soul needed. “It was just a matter of not being mindful, not having real connection and grounding with God at the time. I was having huge professional success, but personally, God was really speaking to me and telling me, ‘Hey, you could lose all of this if you don’t protect yourself, get grounded and connected.’ And as I mentioned, it affected my voice. I was having issues singing and after going to different vocal specialists and doctors, it came down to a spiritual energetic blockage that I was experiencing more than a physical issue with my vocal cords. That’s kind of what started the whole journey to understanding that it was more than just music and it was more than just a job,” says Fiona.
During this time, Fiona also found the love of her life, songwriter Jarred Cotter. They got married, and now have two beautiful children. She also started a podcast on motherhood called The Mommas Den and has curated and grown a brand stemming from the latter called Melly Belly, where she focuses on the journey of motherhood through candid conversation and community. Mom, friend, daughter, creator and singer. She’s multifaceted. And now, after all the growth, confidence-building and liberation, she has returned to her love of singing in a big way with a new 6-song EP coming in 2025.
In November, Fiona released two new singles via Public Records/Cadence Music Group with considerably distinct sounds. “Say Yes” is a mesmerizing musical treat. A seven-minute sensual opus that will satisfy any music-head. Co-written with R&B star SiR and produced by her long-time collaborator, Andre Harris, it showcases Fiona’s vocals beautifully. But the standout is how her vocals fully complement the live arrangements from Charlie Bereal on guitar and Thundercat on bass.
“It’s interesting because when you create music as an artist, it’s generally from chapters of your life when you felt most connected or what you want to represent. When I first came out, I was so focused on being respected and recognized as a vocalist. So being a vocalist is a top priority for me. That came with singing love songs, and heartbroken love ballads that were very vulnerable and heart-wrenching. These are the things that I was always drawn to because Whitney Houston is one of my greatest inspirations. Experiencing lots of relationships and heartbreaks is where I draw all of my strength from. Vulnerability, truly,” says Fiona
“So, this time around with these songs and this music, it was truly about representing who I am and who I’ve become. It wasn’t just about being a voice or a storyteller. This time is about truly sharing the music that was created from what people have known about me while I haven’t been putting out music—becoming a mother, becoming a wife, and telling these stories and giving people insight to celebrate musically, the love that they’ve been celebrating with me publicly and personally online. So motherhood, partnership and becoming a wife, changed my perspective on what I want to say when I open my mouth now and what I want to create and give to the world.”
On the flip side, “I Choose You” is a straight-up dancehall trip. Both videos have been released, but the latter just premiered recently, and it’s a splash of summer vibes cozily making its way to warm you up as we jump into the blustery winter season. Fiona goes to her happy place and returns to her Caribbean roots for a reggae-infused lovers rock hit accompanied by a two-step line dance for all the dance and social media lovers too. The video is a trip back to basement bashments with booming speakers and perspiring walls, dancing with your loved ones and catching a riddim. You can’t help but smile, close your eyes and get caught up in the rapture. She is fully aware of the aura, energy shift and magic created in both videos.
“I shot both of these videos the same day. When I was leaving, we were driving home and I was looking at some of the behind-the-scenes that I had on my phone and that friends had sent to me that were on the shoot. I looked at it and was like, wow—you did this. I kind of gave myself a little pat on the back. Seasoned is the word. So when I was in front of that camera, being very hands-on with the creative and the director and really carrying out these visions, I felt the most confident I’ve ever felt. I think that came from having to clear out a lot of noise and reset; from refocusing and shifting my team and going independent and really getting back to me, then trusting myself and going with it. You know, not necessarily seeking validation,” says Fiona.
“I welcome the expertise and opinions of people I love and cherish and value and respect, but I can honestly say that this chapter of my life has truly been driven by me learning to trust my voice and myself more than I ever have. So when you say [you see and hear a change and energy shift], when you say that to me, I receive that as such a compliment because that’s what I know is going on inside; I feel more like myself than I ever have. So thank you for seeing that and thank you for recognizing that light is shining through.”
#season 21
About Ann Marie Collymore
Montreal-born Ann Marie “amc” Collymore is a veteran independent writer, blogger and copywriter with more than 20 years of experience writing for various print and online publications in Canada and the U.S. Her work has been featured on Centric TV/VH1 Networks, Toronto Life, Bustle.com, Revolt.tv and ByBlacks.com to name a few. amc was the host of a popular radio show/podcast with DJ Sean Sax called The Rhythm with AMC, which was syndicated on four American stations and one Canadian station. Always a creative at heart, you’re bound to find Ann Marie taking in a show, producing or networking in a city near you. amc resides in Toronto.
