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In her interview with The Coveteour magazine, Melanie Fiona reveals her surprise separation from her record label, her latest video “Cold Piece”, and her first experience meeting Jay-z.

Check out the interview below:

On signing her record deal: “One of the most memorable  experiences, absolutely, has to be signing my record deal. Not only for the  reason that it was what I had been working towards all the years prior, but the  story that came along with having to fly to New  York to make it happen. What was  supposed to be a quick hour and a half flight from Toronto,  turned into a 13  hour re-route through Atlanta, an emergency medical landing  because someone had  a seizure on the plane, and arriving in the middle of the night without my suitcase (that the airline had lost), with no clothes to  meet the President of Universal Motown Records in the morning. What started out  as a disaster, turned out to be such a beautiful, life-changing moment. It  always happens that way for me.”

On career highlights: “Touring with Kanye West and then  touring with Alicia Keys, two of my FAVORITE artists. I also got to be a part  of  the new ‘We Are The World’ tribute for Haiti, which was so surreal. I was  singing chorus lines with Barbara Streisand, being directed by Quincy  Jones!”

On working with Roc Nation (a.k.a. Jay Z. No big deal or anything,  you guys.): “It was pretty crazy! I was actually one of their first  signees. When they approached me about management, they set up a meeting. I had  no idea that Jay Z would actually be in the meeting, so it was nerve racking  and  exciting all at the same. Having his support as a manager and as an artist  is  pretty cool, in business and as far a street credibility goes! He’s  brilliant  and having him as a resource for advice is definitely helpful along  the creative  path. Soon after I signed to them, Jay picked me as the face of  the Rocawear  Women’s line. They put a massive billboard of me from the campaign right in the middle of Times Square!  Crazy!”

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On what’s next: “Right now I’m in such a great place.  The motto is ‘If it doesn’t make me happy, healthy, or creative, I’m not  involved’. Staying on that path, I’ve been working on putting out free music  for  my fans, while I work on my third album. It’s a great way for me to work my  inner artist and service the fans with music. I’m about to put a mini bundle of  music called ‘Free Love’. I have a song out right now off that compilation  called ‘Cold Piece’. In July, I was approached by Nike to be a part of their  Women’s Marathon in San Francisco, this October. I was completely honored. It’s  a great way for me to challenge myself in such a positive way, for such a  important reason. I will be running for  friend of mine who is battling cancer right now.”

 

On dream collaborations: “Stevie Wonder. To me, he is a  living legend that has contributed so much over the years in music as well as  having a direct influence on the type of music I love  and make. When Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston died, it really put  things into perspective for me. I was devastated that I would never have the  opportunity to meet them or ever possibly work with them. I don’t want to wait  till it’s too late. I’ve already spoken to him about it… Now all that’s left is  to actually make it happen. It will.

On the best advice she’s ever received: “It was [from]  Roberta Flack. I met her one year during Grammy weekend in Los Angeles. She  said  ‘Always keep your head up. It’s the moment you look down, that you’ll trip  and  fall’. It rang true for me in so many ways, at so many times. Focusing on  the  negative is the worst possible idea any artist or public figure can do. It  thrives on your spirit, and you can lose your way so easily. I would give  aspiring artists the same advice. I would also tell them to do a lot of artist  development and self-work before they decide to put themselves out there. In  other words, decide what type of artist you want to be. Whether that means  touring the world or singing at your local bar. Do what makes you  happy.

Melanie Fiona Leaves Record Label  was originally published on ipowerrichmond.com