Emerging country music artist Melanie Meriney’s sophomore EP Up In Lights, which dropped in May, alludes to the journey of self-discovery that has come with navigating the music business as a rising pop-country artist since her move to Nashville where she attended Belmont University as a songwriting/ English major.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Melanie loved playing ice hockey, reading novels, and writing songs. Melanie became an avid fan of country music, citing influences such as Shania Twain, Phil Vassar, Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, and Miranda Lambert. While her mom always played country radio in the house, her dad instilled in her a love of rock music. Surrounded by Pittsburgh’s metal/rock/pop scene, Melanie’s songwriting and singing became a product of her environment: primarily country with an urban, pop-rock feel that comes from growing up in a Northern city.
She has had the privilege of opening for Little Big Town, the Commodores, Rick Vito of Fleetwood Mac, and Steve Augeri of Journey, as well as headlining many festivals around Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Tennessee.
Her second EP “has a little more edge and a little more honesty,” Melanie explains. “I’ve taken the past few years to really come to an understanding about who I am, where I’m from, and what I want to say and it comes out in the music and lyrics of this project.” Whether it’s showcasing her sarcastic wit in the title track, giving a shout-out to her roots in “Drugstore Makeup,” or portraying her slightly rocker side in “Lipstick on a Microphone,” Melanie’s sophomore EP is a diverse reflection of what makes the singer uniquely herself.
Already having broken the top 10 on Europe’s Hot Disc chart with her single “Lifeboat” and gaining speed in the Music Row chart arena, Melanie’s future plans include a 2018 tour.
“I wrote ‘Lifeboat’ because I think a lot of people can relate to using a crutch to avoid facing their problems. It’s about vices and how far some people go to escape,” Melanie shared about her vivid track. “I chose ‘Lifeboat’ as the single because it walks the line between country and pop. We wanted a song that was a little bit edgy while still being singable and relatable.”
Enjoy the exclusive premiere of the singer-songwriter’s “Lifeboat” music video below!
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