BLUES ANGEL
Y oung and beautiful , with a quiet , trusting nature , Melody Angel is used to being underestimated . That is , until the moment she picks up her guitar and pours out her evocative , powerful vocals . Melody has been carving out a presence on the Chicago music scene since she was a kid , singing on Michigan Avenue , teaching herself to play guitar and playing local jams and open mics . Today at 26-years-old , she ’ s
By Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
Melody Angel
developed into a riveting blues and rock musician , capturing ears and hearts at last year ’ s Blues Fest and at weekly Thursday night shows at Rosa ’ s Blues Lounge . With the her well-received CD , In This America ( One Melody ) and fresh from opening for Buddy Guy ’ s famous January shows , Melody Angel has managed to prove that you should never underestimate a South Side girl with music in her soul and something to say .
“ I grew up around musicians , in and out of studios , watching them play . All I ever wanted to do was to be a musician ,” said Melody of her drive . Her mom sang background for gospel singers and on commercials and did jingles and TV themes ( she sang Oprah ’ s original TV show intro ) and young Melody would sing along with her as she practiced . Singing and affecting people with her expressive vocals was Melody ’ s main focus until she hit a turning point at 7- years-old .
“ When I was seven , all the adults were talking and not paying attention while they had “ Purple Rain ” on . I watched Prince come out with that white guitar and jump off a piano and I fell in love . I wanted to make that sound . I never stopped asking for a guitar until my mom could afford one . At about 14 , she got me one from a pawn shop and I never put it down . “
It ’ s clear from the first note of her standout album that Melody rarely lays down her Fender Stratocaster . A self taught musician who relied on YouTube and asking non-stop questions of her mother ’ s musician friends , Melody ’ s natural talents and quick study skills are showcased on In This America ( One Melody ), a seven-track collection that delivers blues , rock and socio / political realities in one effective package . The title track , a heart-wrenching stunner , tells a story with acoustic guitar and blues-filled vocals : “ how do I know it ’ s safe / to have a son / in this America / I always wanted a son / but now I ’ m afraid / how will you see my baby / how will you treat my baby / how will I protect him from you ” Even if you don ’ t recognize her references to Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown , you can not listen to the tune without feeling the anguish and frustration . Like the best blues women , Melody takes the pain and challenges of life and translates them into an art form that connects with anyone who listens .
The slow , formidable blues ballad , “ End Me Now ,” recalls classic blues laments of separation and a soldier ’ s dance with death and “ Cease Fire ” pumps searing rock riffs with blues undertones to a tale of living in the bulletriddled existence of gang warfare . “ My songs have always been a way for me to get the things that have happened to me off my chest , good or bad . My writing process has always been really simple , I hear the words first . The music inspires me and then the words pour out . I think I write so honestly because I have no fear of what anyone will think of my truth ,” she said .
Fear doesn ’ t seem to figure into Melody Angel ’ s makeup , as she ’ s been facing down challenges from the time she started performing ten years ago . “ When I was 16 , my confidence was up and down because at every rehearsal , the musicians would try to take over . I had to find my voice and step up .” She learned to command her music and the stage , working her way around local open mikes and jams , ignoring the closed circles that she encountered . “ A lot of musicians have not wanted to help me because I ’ m a woman . I ’ ve had to prove myself wherever I go . I learned to take the positive where I can get it .” One positive came with an invitation to appear on the P Diddy reality TV show “ Starmaker ” in 2009 . She wowed the judges week after
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18 illinoisentertainer . com february 2017