Music Video
Melanie Dekker – Biography
Canadian born Dekker’s got a ‘voice like chocolate’, and that could indeed be from the concerts she’s been singing since she was a teenager. She grew up in the artsy and musical community of Deep Cove, BC and she was especially drawn to live performers. Musically her favourites then were The Police and Joni Mitchell. She was influenced by her parents music as well, which is likely what gives her that hint of a country sound; they would blast Leon Redbone, Emmylou Harris, & Willy Nelson on route to ski trips & road trips. Now she pens her own hits, accompanied by her world-class strumming style, and she hits the road often.
She’s performed for President William J. Clinton and opened for Diana Krall, Faith Hill & Chaka Khan. Notably Dekker was up for humanitarian artist & video of the year at the LA Music Awards as has worked with Tracy Chapman’s producer, David Kershenbaum. Over Christmas 2009 Dekker sang in Afghanistan for troops and her fast pace extensive tours also have her playing concerts in Finland, USA, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Estonia, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Poland, The Czech Republic and Canada. She’s inspired by writers such as Gordon Lightfoot and John Mayer and she likes to undress the obvious with a mischievous smile and a song. She’s moved to make music because people’s lives ‘move her’.
“It feels great to be on the edge of wonder and even better to capture it…I’m so lucky you’re all listening!” Melanie
Where have you seen her?
* Performances with :
– Diana Krall
– Bryan Adams
– Faith Hill
– Ivan Neville and the Neville All Star Band
– Barney Bentall
– Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo)
– Terry Jacks
– Jan Akkerman
– Russell Peters
– Jeremy Fisher
– John Mann (Spirit of the West)
– Robbin Thompson
– Chaka Khan
– Shari Ulrich
– Bob Newhart
– Bif Naked
– David Gogo
– Bill Henderson
– Ryan Dahl (Limblifter)
– Steps
– April Wine
– Powder Blues
– John Bottomley
– SØS Fenger
– Lars H.U.G.
– San Fran Tech Awards with Les Paul & Steve Miller
– Making it Big TV series
– Edwin McCain
– She Stole My Beer
* Charity Performances for :
– BC Cancer Foundation
– Synergy Collective
– Porsche Show & Ride for Cystic Fibrosis
– Looking Glass Foundation
– Doctors Without Borders
– Operation Care & Comfort
– Comox Military Family Resource Centre
– Hospice Children’s Hospital
– VASS-Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports
– Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
– Canadian Mental Health Association
– Shooting Star Foundation
– Shriners Campaign for Children Texas Album!
– Heart & Stroke Foundation
– Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
– Ride for Heart events
– Lions Gate Hospital Foundation
– Stroke recovery programs
– BC Children’s Hospital
– MS Dystrophy Association
– Variety Club Telethon
– The Weber / Franson Sicamous Shootout
– Oppenheimer Christmas Dinner Concert
– www.paalh.com
* Canadian national radio play for hit singles, “When I Think of You” “I Said I” & “Blue Blanket”.
Personal
Sign: Gemini
Favourite Films: Across the Universe, Moulin Rouge, Million Dollar Baby, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, Forrest Gump, Life is Beautiful
Spare time: Mostly spent outdoors
Sports: Tennis, In-line skating, running
Hates it when: Things that are built to last, don’t.
Loves it when: There is a strong wind
Favourite Books: Desert Flower, City of Thieves, The Kite Runner, The Power of Now, Anti-Cancer, The Last Lecture, Conversations with God
Loves: To surprise someone & be surprised
Hates: The word ‘should’
Favourite foods: Sushi, Lattes, Red Wine
Favourite comedians: George Carlin, Louis C.K., Russel Peters
Favourite things to do in Vancouver: Run the Seawall, Go to Theatre Sports, Be on a boat in Indian Arm
History: In the 1990’s Dekker went to a Jazz Pop Music College and studied guitar and voice. She also toured bars and clubs in Canada with her rock and country bands. (Goldrush, Palomino, DoubleTake). In 1996 Dekker had voice damage and moved to Whistler BC where she built her solo acoustic repertoire, went through voice rehab, started writing her own music, and took on DJ-ing in clubs as well. Her first recordings were in 1997 & 1999 with the albums “Impulsive” and “Uh-Huh” which were recorded with John Ellis, John Roles, Eric Reed, Russell Marsland, Doug Edwards, Billy Mendoza, Mani Nassefat, Shawn Soucy & Steve Soucy.