Coast 2 Coast Closeup – Melissa Livingstone

2018 Denim on the Diamond winner, 2019 BCCMA (British Columbia Country Music Association) nominee for the Ray Mcauley Horizon Award and Radio touring singer/songwriter, Melissa Livingstone has a beautiful ability to uplift you while listening to her melodious and distinct voice.

Growing up in the small fishing town of Ucluelet, off the coast line of Vancouver Island, Melissa had high hopes of one day leaving her small town roots and taking the country music industry on by storm. With inspiration from Artists such as Dolly Parton, Shania Twain and Randy Travis, Melissa’s influences have crafted her music into being more traditional country, though she states now that her biggest influencers are Miranda Lambert, Cam, and Kelsea Ballerini. “I want to create more traditional country music with a modern twist.  These female Artists that I look up to are 100% authentic to themselves and are kicking butt in this Industry.  I strive to be like that; unique, powerful and unmoving in their stand for equality and at the same time making killer music.”

As an Independent Artist, Melissa has gone through the ups and downs of this industry all the while trying to grasp where she has fit in. She has felt in the past that because she was a woman, she had to record a certain type of song, or sing a specific type of way to get people’s attention.  She released music that she didn’t feel connected to, and only in the last few years, realized the sound she wanted to create.

In July of 2020, Melissa released her summer single, “That Ship Has Sailed,” to Country Radio and all streaming platforms.  Since in-person interviews weren’t a reality anymore in 2020, she did a lot of  Zoom calls as a “virtual radio tour” instead.  One of those interviews was her debut appearance on CTV NEWS in Saskatoon, which was a huge highlight for her.  Melissa also released a passion project, 4 song EP, in the fall of 2020, titled “Can’t Please Everyone.”  The songs on the EP were ones left on the back burner over the years and Melissa felt it time to release them as a fun little project of her own.

Now looking ahead to the spring of 2021, Melissa is excited to announce the release of her next single, “Gypsy Heart,” to all platforms on April 16th.  Working with CCMA and BCCMA Award winning Producer, Jeff Johnson, Melissa is excited for this new endeavour and working hard in the studio on even more music.

Listen to the interview