Engine Company Records

MELISSA GIGES - Feature Interview in the U.K. Magazine: FIREWORKS

Another New York artist is MELISSA GIGES. Melissa’s musical style is pop-based but melodic, and vocally she reminds me of Fiona Apple with an edge ala U2, and possesses a fabulous voice and a recently released new record called ‘Evident’.

‘I write music on... my upright piano, a piano that my parents gave to me. It’s the same piano that I learned how to play on growing up. I play shows in New York City, at national venues like Joe’s Pub, a performance space in the Public Theatre in Greenwich Village. I also love playing intimate venues like Rockwood Music Hall, another beautiful space in New York with great sound. Sometimes I play solo, other times with a band. I also do session singing and have travelled the world with singing groups. In 2007 my music came to the attention of Blake Morgan, producer and owner of Engine Company Records, and we really connected musically,’ explains Melissa. Guitarist, keyboardist, producer Blake Morgan and Melissa discussed about what kind of album she wanted to make for about two months before they cut anything in the studio. ‘We went through all of the songs I had written over the years and picked which songs were the best for the album that we wanted to create. After narrowing it down, we soon realized that I had more songs to write. Our creative process in the studio made it that much easier. With that said, the songs I had written in the past as well as the newly written songs were about the push and pull between two people whether it be between producer and artist or any other kind of intimate relationship. One tiny thing that people don’t know is that part of the arrangement in the title track ‘Evident’ sounded to me like an elephant marching. So, soon enough each song wound up with an animal character attached to the song. We even had little plastic figures on the console.’

Melissa’s recent shows have all been sell-outs. ‘My recent show at Joe’s Pub was huge. It was an Engine Company Records showcase event featuring in addition to my music, that of Blake Morgan and David Cloyd. We will continue to have shows throughout the year.’

The track ‘Before I’m Barely Seen’ has already been featured on MTV’s Real World and Melissa has had three other songs used on other TV networks. ‘In addition to so many terrific reviews, we’re now also having success on American radio. The response to the album from so many people has been incredible, and humbling. I’m looking forward to more shows and bringing the album to an even larger audience’, she concludes.

Have a listen to Melissa at www.enginecompanyrecords.comRead More