Jazz singer Melissa Lauren has smoothly made the transition from veteran swing 'crooness' to songwriter. Currently in the studio recording songs for her sophomore album, she is bringing her show, “My Mess”, to Fernie as part of her Western Canadian tour.
Following the success of her first album The Other Side, Lauren is eager to debut a slightly edgier and mature sound on “My Mess”. Taking on a more polished form, the album and subsequent live sets weave together the songs in a way different from past albums and shows. Determined to stand out from the pack, the tour and album will be presented as a cohesive story, with Lauren hoping to bring more of a personal touch to the experience.
With a central theme of the beauty and torment of a mess, the songs delve into the more extreme sides of emotions we feel when dealing with the fact that our lives can completely change in the blink of an eye.
Lauren's songwriting and producing efforts were a collaboration with Toronto bassist Mark Cashion and guitarist Eric St-Laurent. The outcome is a quirky, playful sound that tests an interesting balance of darker harmonies and more theatrical grooves, coupled with the singer's signature soft and feminine word inflections.
“I’ve done too many gigs that involve just calling standards,” said Lauren. “This one will be different, the songs will be in a cohesive story, and transitions will feel more intuitive.”
Lauren, who will be recording her album following the tour, is looking forward to debuting her new stage show at The Arts Station on Wednesday, March 26 at 8 pm. Tickets are available at The Arts Station, Freshies, Carosella, and online.