MUSIC CITY MEMORIES

January 23, 2011 -- Melissa returned yesterday from seven very full days in Nashville, and all signs seem to point to her being back there again at some point in 2011.

Although she played four times in five nights, live shows certainly weren’t the only point to the trip.

Melissa’s songwriting was the focus during sessions she had with two other songwriters.

She was also a guest of international recording artist Crystal Shawanda at Quad Studios, where Melissa witnessed a couple of the artist’s newest songs in progress.  (Quad Studios is where, among others, Taylor Swift records.)

There were also meetings and appointments, including a visit to the offices of ASCAP and NSAI, both of which Melissa is in the process of becoming a member of.

“It was really a great trip,” Melissa said.  “Between playing shows, collaborating with other songwriters, getting back together with some contacts from the last two festivals, and even the more business-oriented tasks, they were a very productive seven days.”

Invitations from songwriters and others in the music industry at the 2nd Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival and the 26th Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival are what brought Melissa to Music City and, like those two events, the bulk of her performances in Nashville consisted of her original music – both from her “Waiting” CD as well as new material written since then.  Cover songs were most in order at her closing show, two nights ago at “Nashville Live” at Buck Wild Saloon.  That venue is well known for some of the biggest names in the business stopping by, and Melissa’s show was no different.  None other than John Legend and John Rich (from Big & Rich) were stage-side, taking in a portion of Melissa’s performance.

“There is certainly an abundance of opportunity there,” Melissa said.  “It’s very likely that a return trip will take place this calendar year.”

Nashville is another point to plot on the map of where Melissa and her music are reaching.