Last year, kawarthaNOW’s music columnist Josh Fewings wrote “Mark my words: Ennismore’s Melissa Payne will be a household name in Canadian music in the coming years.”
Josh’s words in his profile of Melissa were in response to the launch of her second record, High and Dry, which Josh felt showed her growth and evolution as a songwriter.
Now, Melissa has just released a new video in support of her latest record.
“Bring Me Back”, the second single off the record, was a natural choice for Melissa and videographer and filmmaker Rob Viscardis to put to film. Not only is the song’s subject relatable, it also provides a great balance of the struggles between warmth and darkness that love can sometimes provide.
“Bring Me Back” – Melissa Payne
For management and booking information, contact Chris Nickle at Forty4 North Group in Peterborough.
High and Dry, which came out last year, was co-produced by Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo and James McKenty of The Spades.
The record represents Melissa’s most personal and ambitious music to date. She writes from a place that comes across like her heart is under the microscope, and sings with equal measures of pensive beauty and triumphant power. Her voice is backed by a five-piece band that incorporate guitars, fiddle, synth, keys and percussion — creating songs that rock with immediacy and roll with the delicate touches of healing wounds.
Melissa, who has played fiddle since childhood, is known for her work in the band Express & Company and on their 2013 record Ontario. But she’s also written and performed on her own and, in 2009, released her early songs into a self-released album of demos that won the interest of Seventh Fire Records. This culminated in the release of her 2012 self-titled full-length debut and last year’s High and Dry.
Melissa is going to be busy this summer supporting her latest record. As well as other gigs to be announced, she’s performing at the 2015 Boots and Hearts music festival in August — alongside established big names in country music like Brad Paisley, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, and Justin Moore.
It sure sounds like Josh’s prediction is coming true.
