Description
Courtesy – www.amnplify.com.au – Melody Moko is a woman who embraces and thrives on change. Born and raised in Adelaide, SA, she’s lived in Queensland and NSW, become a mother of two, and as a critically acclaimed songwriter she’s taken her music to the world since the release of debut album in 2017.
Melody is one of those artists whose style is a natural and heartfelt extension of her personality and perspective on life. Her songs reside under the wide umbrella of Americana yet they inhabit all its intriguing corners, traveling from melancholic alt-country to pining country songs, uplifting pop-tinged revelry and proud and powerful balladry. Her heroes and contemporaries include Brandi Carlile, Tift Merritt, Kathleen Edwards, Fanny Lumsden and Brooke Fraser.
Growing up with a father who was a passionate and encouraging music enthusiast, Melody knew early on that she “wanted to sing like Linda Ronstadt, and write songs like Bob Dylan.” That awareness of song and performance led to her traveling around Australia, playing her songs and winning songwriting awards in her early teens. The allure of international travel took her to the USA where she had the honour of performing at iconic country music venues such as Nashville’s famous Bluebird Cafe, The Continental Club in Austin, Texas and Hank William’s favourite hangout, Tootsies.
There’s a new maturity to this exceptional batch of alt-country songs – in both the depth of emotional connectivity, the richly detailed, world class voice that Melody possesses and the sonic tone and texture of the recordings. The majority of the album was recorded live, capturing the spirit of the players, including East Nashville’s Juan Solorzano and Fats Kaplin on fiddle and steel guitar (John Prine).
Songs such as ‘Easy Way To Die’ introduce a tougher, countrified indie rock sound, ‘Like Hank Would’ was inspired by a previous trip to the USA and features a divine chorus melody. First single ‘Last Cigarette’ (co-written with Britt) cleverly compares the grip of nicotine to a conflicted relationship, while elsewhere she keeps it in the family with emotional odes to her mother and children.
It all amounts to a highly accomplished second album from Melody Moko. Her fans showed their faith and commitment by contributing overwhelmingly to her crowdfunding campaign and she’s repaid them, and the many more that will get onboard in 2020 and beyond, with her most realised and honest work to date.
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