Melissa McClelland 'New Mixes By Jeff Trott' album

MELISSA McCLELLAND invites you to story time, so pull up a chair, relax and get lost in the world of THUMBELINA’S ONE NIGHT STAND. On her newest album, McCLELLAND weaves together stories that have shaped and influenced her life to create her very own fairy tale, but not the kind you tell your children before they go to sleep. THUMBELINA’S ONE NIGHT STAND leads you on a dark journey through obsession, desperation, deception & love.

“This is by no means a concept record, but nearing the end of the recording process I considered Thumbelina to be the appropriate character to take us through these fairytale like stories,” Melissa says. “Her journey, lost in a big city will be portrayed literally through the album artwork, but the music can be interpreted in any way the listener chooses.”

On her third studio album and second label release, McCLELLAND redefines her sound, beautifully blending her rootsy influences with pop and jazz undertones to create the perfect countrypolitan blend.

MELISSA began to create her own songs at the ripe old age of four, armed with a tape recorder her parents gave her as a distraction. By the time she turned eleven she was creating songs on the piano. Although McCLELLAND took violin lessons for ten years, she has no other formal musical training. The violin lessons employed the "Suzuki method" of learning music, which focuses on training the ear. She subsequently moved on to piano and guitar (guitar being her instrument of choice).

For THUMBELINA, McCLELLAND reunited with renowned producer Luke Doucet (Sarah McLachlan, Veal). Doucet has been a fan and supporter of McClelland since working on her previous release, Stranded in Suburbia, in 2003. He heard something special in her, and aside from her dazzling talent, he saw a person whose personality and drive predispose her to success.

Doucet wasn’t the only person who saw something in McCLELLAND. Earlier this year, Sarah McLachlan asked McCLELLAND to join her summer Afterglow tour, singing back-up vocals.

“It was such an unbelievable experience to back her up. She’s such a world class singer and performer and it was the most exciting challenge I’ve ever taken on as a vocalist. I was venturing into uncharted territory with my vocal chords, it pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to become a better singer. It was such a blast to be on stage for the final shows of such an incredible tour.”

McLachlan also appears on THUMBELINA as a guest vocalist, along with Greg Keelor (Blue Rodeo) and Justin Rutledge. Headed by Doucet, the players on this record are a who's-who of the Canadian musical landscape. Paul Brennan (Big Sugar, Sarah McLachlan, The Odds, Chantel Kreviazuk) holds it down behind the drum kit, while the bottom-end comes courtesy of bassist Rick May (Ricki Lee Jones, Michael Jackson). Andre Wahl (Duran Duran, Shania Twain); creative and technical wizard engineered and mixed the record with mastering credit going to Chris Potter (Brian Adams, Sarah McLachlan).

Throughout all of this musical artistry and engineering prowess, the songs retain their backbone - McCLELLAND's songwriting and stunning vocals.

Melissa is enjoying life on the road, currently on tour with Luke Doucet across Canada and the UK. She plans to tour North America early next year. THUMBELINA’S ONE NIGHT STAND will be in stores April 2006.

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Melissa McClelland - New Mixes By Jeff Trott