“I’d rather die living then live not at alive”
Words that Melissa Plett has come to live by and pretty much sums up her life thus far. Whether she’s playing solo or with her band These Guys, it’s a high energy, foot stompin’, country flavored good time!
Although Melissa was raised in the prairies of South Eastern Manitoba, her life was everything but simple.
At an extremely young age, while playing with her cousin in the fields, she faced a huge scare when they were attacked by hundreds of wasps… poisoning and sending them to emergency. A few short years later, at age 13, her and this same best friend were in a traumatic ATV accident. Melissa was hospitalized for a month and a half with the left side of her body completely broken, fighting gangrene and potential amputation, and suffering a collapsed lung, leaving her fighting for her life and dealing with the death of her best friend.
Melissa may say “These things happen… everyone has their story!” but because of hers she grew up fast knowing that life can be taken at any moment, so she has since lived her life to the fullest.
With ambition and passion for life, Melissa poured her heart out on the piano as a teenager, later was accepted to theatre school in New York, opting to study acting in Vancouver. She “fell into” radio for a while, traveled from province to province and from America to Mexico. Melissa now runs a live music venue in Winnipeg, and somewhere along the journey, she taught herself guitar and has been writing, performing and singing her heart out ever since, soaking in as much passion, life and stories her soul can carry.
In 2006, Melissa released a mellow and subtle EP called Repeated Stories, which revealed her heart and innermost gentle and softer side. However, after years of growth, including a showcase at the 2005 Winnipeg Folk Festival, festival gigging with trio group Little Black Dress, band make-ups and break-ups, she has finally found her own with Melissa Plett and These Guys.
Her new CD, Outside the City, shows the Melissa Plett that people who know her have come to love her by. A country girl who may be a little loud, a touch moody, but also super happy and full of energy! This girl loves to perform, entertain and tell a story with a giggle, wink, stomp, frown or a smile!
The “hint of country” in Melissa’s music is directly related to growing up a truck driver’s daughter, listening to the classics of Johnny Cash, Kitty Wells with a bit of soul added to the mix.
Her strong stage presence will captivate your attention while her unique and powerful voice seduces you. The stories she tells have the ability to move people, making them relate to their own life and personal history.
“Melissa Plett is a breath of fresh air. A real talent! She plays with such energy and passion it reminds me of how music used to be. Fun and full of legitimate passion. She clearly loves what she's doing and it's hard not to join in with her. Her music reaches in and touches your soul, while her voice sends shivers all the way down your spine… With the right people backing her this girl is set up to do amazing things!”
-Howard Mandshein, 92 CITI FM
“Melissa Plett’s new live recording just might sweep you away with her great ‘ol honest, rollin’ off the cuff of your sleeve lyrics, tunes and vocals. Melissa Plett’s music has the uncanny ability to make you drive to your local sock hop saloon, shake your booty and take in the exploits of this steamy story tellin’ songstress.”
- Joao Carvalho, Joao Carvalho Mastering
"She made a strong impression. She is a natural live performer with a strong, beautiful voice. She is totally at home on the stage."
- Jason Ringenberg, Jason and the Scorchers
“Melissa Plett is a singer-songwriter who draws on a wealth of experience and emotion that belies her youth, to craft a soulful, jazzy, country-tinged, roots/folk mélange that is as unique as it gets. Whether it's sad lyrics delivered with happy melodies, aching vocals of heartbreak and longing, or songs of unbounded optimism, Melissa surrenders her songs with a moan or a laugh that reaches deep and makes you feel.”
- Bruce Ladan, CBC Radio
"Melissa Plett's words and music speak to that part of us which we are mostly ill-equipped to express. As a musician, she is pure and sincere; as a performer, she's dynamic and passionate and laced with purpose and mischief. Melissa Plett's music is a beautifully light reprieve for the heavy-hearted. Uh-huh."
- Rene Huebener, Writer/Producer
"Melissa's voice sends shivers through your skin and feels so powerful the walls are forced to move."
- Chris Gaudry, Producer
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