I am kicking off a new feature today: 20 Questions with an artist. Pretty self-explanatory, I think. So without further, ado, get to know Toronto rocker Melanie? (If her name sounds familiar, maybe you read THIS RECENT POST about her Masks For Music campaign to raise funds for artists).
Introduce yourself: Name, age (feel free to lie), home base and other details you’d like to share — height / weight / identifying marks / astrology sign / your choice.
My name is Melanie Goldman aka MELANIE? And I just turned 33. I never lie about my age. I’m very proud about how far I’ve come. I’m a little kid trapped in an adult’s body. I was born and raised in Toronto. I am a Taurus, the bull. A woman never shares her weight. Even though mine fluctuates too much to tell you. My weight and physical image journey is also a long story, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come and I’m confident at any weight. I’m 5’6 and half. The half is very important!
What’s your latest project? Tell us everything we need to know.
The last project /single I released which is almost at 200K plays is a song called Love Sucks which I released on Valentine’s day. It was talking about how as kids we’re programmed to think romantic love means finding your prince charming, but no one teaches us that the importance of finding love in ourselves first. The song is in ode to loving ourselves first and the realization that love actually doesn’t suck when you do. Happily ever after needs to live inside of you and being your own love story.
What truly sets you apart from other artists?
My message to the world. Some artists live everyday for themselves only to just show everyone what THEY can do. I want to make sure that I help the people in my world find themselves in others by realizing we are all one when we come together. Identity drives everything we do. What’s our legacy? What are we leaving behind? I want my impact to be that I helped people get comfortable with who they really are deep down and remove that mask we all hide behind when we don’t feel okay. When I was diagnosed Borderline Personality Disorder, I knew right away I wanted to be public and vocal about it and use my mental illness and my music to help all the other artists struggling and fans struggling come to terms with their own illnesses and demons, and show people how freeing it can be to own what you have and work on yourself every day. What sets me apart will be my ability to inspire that change and to create that ripple affect with my message. IT’S BIGGER THAN JUST ME NOW.
What will I learn or how will my life improve by listening to your music?
You will learn how to invoke change in your life. Stand up for yourself. Everything I want to do in life is to motivate the people around me. My message is to inspire and to help people. By listening or jumping on my journey of life with me you’re joining in a step to your more badass self!
What album / song / artist / show changed your life?
Nirvana: Nevermind / Kurt Cobain in particular.
Movies: It’s a childhood thing but and for some reason whenever I am sad I will watch Sister Act 1 and 2 on repeat
What is the best / worst / strangest / most memorable performance you gave?
The strangest performance was at Canadian Music Week 8+ years ago in the tightest shorts where I was popping out of every part of my outfit. The sound guy was someone in-house and I couldn’t hear myself at all! I was a pop artist in my youth named MISS GOLD and it was at the upstairs of Hard Rock Café in downtown Toronto. Where I invited all 400 of my closest friends out, and they all came.
What is the best / worst / strangest / most memorable performance you’ve seen another artist give?
Definitely my favorite was ALLEN STONE SURPRISE performance at Danforth Music Hall in the bleachers last year. No one knew he was coming and the whole audience’s jaw dropped including the three people I brought that night.
What do you want to be doing in 10 years?
Singing live music on stages, festivals, touring, writing for big artists, owning businesses, coaching, running a foundation, traveling the world, helping people, taking over the universe!!!! Most importantly, being the best version of myself! Can I do it all?
What living or dead artists would you collaborate with if you could?
Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Tracy Chapman, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Susan Tedeschi… I could do this for a looooong time.
What artist or style of music do you love that would surprise people?
Country. Me and my boyfriend listen to tons of country!
Who would you be (or have you been) starstruck to meet?
I’ve met quite a few people but I was shockingly so happy and tongue tied when I met Gavin Degraw. I’ve been in love with him since Grade 3. Now you guys really know how dorky and old I am.
What do you drive and why? What do you want to drive and why?
Audi 4 because my sister got pregnant and I took over her lease. If I had a choice I would drive a 2 tone red and yellow 1957 Chevrolet Bellaire. Red and yellow all day!
What do you collect?
I buy and collect anything that is red and yellow J
If I had a potluck, what would you bring?
I always bring things that are gluten-free/lactose-free and healthy!
What current trend or popular thing do you not understand at all?
Tik Tok … the only time I understood it was when people told me I looked like Kesha.
Tell us about your current and/or former pets.
I own a tortoise named Yellow. I used to own a fish named Red, but he just died. I just put a deposit down for a Boston Terrier with my boyfriend. They say you can’t name your animal until you see them, so will update you soon!
If you could have any other job besides music, what would it be and why?
I would/will own an inpatient mental health facility specializing in patients with Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar and coach on the side. As well open family-run daycare facilities.
What’s the best advice and/or worst advice you were ever given?
BEST ADVICE: My brother said, ‘Don’t worry about the zit on your face. While you’re thinkng about the zit and concentrating on it everyone else is concentrating on their own zit, too.’ We all have zits and problems. Not everything is about me.
WORST ADVICE: “BE QUIET.” Or “tone it down.” I will never not be me. LOUD AND PROUD. There’s only one you. People will like you and they will not like you. WHO CARES !!!!
Masks for Music are available via GoFundMe, and you can keep up with MELANIE? on her website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
