Biography

Influenced by the likes of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Marc Cohn and Joni Mitchell, singer/songwriter Melissa Gibson's music combines remarkable insight with sensitive depictions of emotion, encompassed by a full-bodied country/folk flavor.

A native New Englander, Melissa first immersed herself in the Nashville music scene in 1996 after obtaining her degree from St. Lawrence University. Since then, she has independently released three full-length albums. Lighthouse Point was released in 1999 and, among many other noteworthy tracks, contains the hauntingly beautiful Just Breathe. In 2003, Melissa released her second album, Welcome To Stay, which indeed proved that Melissa was here to stay showcasing songs ranging from the catchy Miles To Go to the tender lullaby Sleep Well Tonight.

While, of course, your experiences are always your own, and you go through those experiences and emotions by yourself - no matter how many people are around you at the time, Ive tried to embrace the fact that while all that is true, it isnt necessarily a negative thing. It doesnt mean that we are going through life alone. That has been my mantra of sorts. Music has an incredible capability of carrying you through those darker times, lifting the shroud and showing the way. I can only hope that mine does that in some fraction of a way, that my experiences allow someone, somewhere, to feel just a little bit better explains Melissa.

Together with her longtime producer, Vaughn Lofstead, Melissa has recently completed a cover album entitled, Under Their Influence, released in December 2005. While it contains such classic hits as Carole Kings Where You Lead, Carly Simons Anticipation and John Denvers Leaving on a Jet Plane, the album also includes lesser known gems, some that have never before been recorded.

This album was such an honor to make. We worked diligently at approaching the songs a little differently, while still respecting the original recording that made each one so fantastic. While I recognize that there is great risk in covering well-known songs, I decided to operate under the pretense that such amazing songs should be sung by as many people as possible. This album also afforded me the opportunity to include a couple of songs that struck me with such force the first time I heard them, that I'm not sure I've recovered yet. They are so beautiful and so well-crafted that it was an extremely humbling experience to try to give them the voice I felt they deserved," says Melissa.

Regardless of the album, rest assured that Melissa will take you on a journey with her thought provoking collection of insightful lyrics and rich melodies in which she weaves a thread of hope, imploring the listener to persevere through lifes tribulations. Her writing exemplifies Melissas talented grasp of communicating real life emotions, crossing lines and barriers. Her naturally soothing, earth-toned voice shines effortlessly, whether she wrote the songs themselves or is lending them her warm, rich alto voice.