Melanie Peterson
Blessed with an ability to deliver quiet, sensitive vocals that are soaked with emotion, Melanie Peterson, a Saskatoon born, Toronto based, singer-songwriter and actress has become one of the bright lights on the Toronto folk music scene.
Melanie initially moved to Toronto to pursue a career in acting. Between acting jobs, she often picked up the Gibson guitar her father had given her as a parting gift. She then began the second leg of her artistic journey: songwriting and performing her songs live. The feedback she got each time she ventured out to play her songs for Toronto audiences was encouraging. She was invited to host and perform her original songs in a monthly female singer-songwriter night at the renowned Cameron House. The show was called ‘Girls Girls Girls’, held on the second Saturday of every month between September 2010 and December 2012. Melanie, along side many of Toronto's top female singer-songwriters, packed that room.
Melanie released a five song EP in 2011 called ‘After The Fall’ and the reviews were encouraging.
“A melodically enchanting songwriter and musically adept guitarist” ~ New Moon Magazine.
“If you are looking for super live music, check out Melanie Peterson, a terrific singer and songwriter...she sounds just as good live as she does on her album…. She has a beautiful voice and her songwriting is tops, too." ~ Toronto Sun.
“Melanie Peterson is destined for great things. With aching vibrato that reminds one of early Joni Mitchell she weaves the stories of her life into her music with effortless ease." ~ Beach Metro.
Melanie has been referred to as “Mary Poppins with a broken heart” by BBC Radio and has been recognized as having “a beautiful voice” and being a “terrific songwriter” by Joe Warmington of the Toronto Sun. She earned her spot within the global music scene in Toronto March 2012, when she showcased her original music during Canadian Music Week, at the Royal York Library Bar. She was invited back to perform two showcases at CMW 2013.
She launched her first full-length album ‘Unbreakable’ in April 2013 at The Piston in Toronto. Melanie followed that up with a triumphant NXNE showcase and a successful southern Ontario tour.
‘Unbreakable’ was well received by critics and fans alike. Many of the songs from ‘Unbreakable’ received spins on BBC, CBC, various indie and college radio stations and Mediazoic Internet radio and is currently available on all digital platforms.
“We have very much enjoyed playing a variety of tracks from ‘Unbreakable’, Melanie's first full length CD release and my Saturday morning listeners have been quick to let us know they enjoy what Melanie does!” ~ Monica Winfield BBC Radio Leicester host.
Melanie followed the release of ‘Unbreakable’, with a six-song cover EP titled ‘Read It On The Radio’, which was part of a six-week digital download campaign in which Melanie released one new cover song every week from April 28, 2014 to June 1, 2014.
Melanie's song “Lucky Me” was chosen, out of hundreds of submissions, to be included in Toronto's Music 311 winter 2015-2016 playlist.
Then, with a grant from FACTOR, Melanie Peterson, once again teamed up with producer and band member Mitch Girio to produce her sophomore album ‘Anywhere from Here’, which she released on March 16, 2016 at The Piston in Toronto.
“Melanie Peterson is a Toronto-based singer/songwriter with a lovely lilting voice and strong songwriting chops” Kerry Doole FYI Music News
“After recently releasing her second full length album, ‘Anywhere from Here’, Melanie and her band came to The Piston wanting to give their dedicated audience a live experience of all of the songs from their new album. The evening was spectacular and the house was packed!” ~ SNAP Bloor West.
The album feedback was positive and Melanie toured through Ontario and Quebec in the summer of 2016. She also played shows in Edmonton, Vancouver, St. John and Halifax in March 2017 thanks to the Via Rail ‘Artists On Board Program’, which allowed her to “play her way across the country”.
“The songwriting is genuine and self-aware, and there is a positive tone even in the heartbreak. In fact, the progression of the songs on ‘Anywhere From Here’, reads like the life of a romantic relationship.” ~ Cate McKim, Blogger, Life With More Cowbell.
In November 2016, Melanie received a FACTOR artist development grant, which she used to record and promote an original holiday single titled “Santa's Sleigh”. The single was produced by award winning producer Chris Birkett (Sinead O'Connor and Buffy St. Marie), and was released to radio stations across Canada in December 2016.
In early 2017, renowned SKA artist Susan Cadogan recorded a cover of Melanie's folk song “Truth Talking” and released it as a single. “The legendary Susan Cadogan sings a rootsy rocksteady love song in her unmistakable voice, with a sweet lyric by Melanie Peterson that could have been written a thousand years ago or last week.” ~ SKA’D For LIFE, ska4u.com.
Melanie released a summer EP in 2017 titled ‘Two’. Produced by Mitch Girio, released on July 14, Melanie did a Southern Ontario tour in support of the EP which is received community, college and interent radio airplay as well as spings on CBC and BBC and is available on all digital platforms.
In November, 2017, Melanie released to Bandcamp a 4 song digital album called 'Refresher Vol.1' with remixes of fan favorite tracks from Unbreakable and Anywhere From Here. She also completed a residency at the legendary Cameron House which took place every Monday in November with her full band.
In December 2017 Melanie recorded and released a holiday single, produced by Mitch Girio, called “When You Were Here”. Contact: www.melaniepeterson.ca
