Interview Bits: 12 Random Questions With Melanie Fiona

Before we decided Toronto singer/songwriter Melanie Fiona just had to be one of our Limelight Spotlight artists, we were head over heels with her. Her music is a refreshing blend of pop, classic R&B and soul that hasn’t been seen for years. Our admiration for MF grew more with every amazing live performance posted to YouTube and mixtape released until finally it reached a fever pitch when we witnessed her excellence live at SOBs in New York City.

To know MF is to love her, but what do you really know? Do you know if she was bullied as a kid or did the bullying? Who she’d pick to be in her supergroup? If she loves a guy in skinny jeans?

The answers to these questions and more can be found in Neon Limelight’s 12 random questions with Melanie Fiona — but don’t expect to find out how old she is. She’ll tell you why.

1. As a kid, were you bullied or were you the bully?

I was more bullied than I was the bully. I was the nicest kid. I was so sweet. I was a little too sweet, a little too nice. But yeah, if it’s between me being a bully and being bullied, I was totally bullied.

Were you a nerd? Did you have glasses…

No, I had bushy hair and I was really small with jacked up teeth. Yeah…it wasn’t always cute. No…

2. What’s the best meal you can cook?

I make really great mashed potatoes. They’re fantastic, I promise you. I know it sounds basic, but they’re really good.

Do you do anything special with them?

Yes. They’re made with love.

3. What’s the most romantic thing a boyfriend has ever done for you?

Sent me a video ‘I Love You’ message to music — he made, like, a music video, with like… It was funny, but it was really, really sweet. I was away and we were apart and he sent me a video that he made of him singing an Al Green song.

4. What is your least favorite question to be asked in an interview?

How old am I. Hate it. I hate that question because I feel like it’s the question that people ask to try to put you in a box. I’ve proven that that’s not something that I want to do at all. It’s clear in the music that I do. It’s clear in the genres of music that I explore. I traveled the world. I made an international album, and I feel like when people ask that question they’re trying to put you in a box to limit you to what you’re capable of doing. You’re either too young or you’re too old, and I’m neither, so I’m good.

5. Is it OK for men to wear skinny jeans?

[Large sigh] For now. [laughs] Not particularly my style of dude, but it’s OK for now. There’s gonna come a time where that’s not gonna be too cute anymore.

There should be an age limit.

And there is definitely an age limit! And there’s definitely a skinny limit because I don’t need to see your package. That’s too skinny. I don’t need to see what your ass looks like and all that. Not everyone can be skateboard people. No. No. We’re over it.

6. Asking your Twitter followers to help you get your followers up: annoying or necessary promotion?

I have actually never asked anyone to do that for me, but, I don’t know. I think it’s cool. I think it kind of comes with the territory. I think that’s like the standard even though I’ve never done it. People are so obsessed with this online stuff. It’s crazy. It’s such a popularity contest. I’ve never asked anyone to follow me and in the last few months I’ve gone up because before I never used to twitter a lot. I was like eh, this just seems so…then of course I got addicted to it and realized how helpful and useful it is. I love hearing from people. A little bit goes a long way. In that time, I’ve almost doubled.

7. We learned through the grapevine that you used to be in a group with Drake–

Ooooh goodness! Yes…

We’re not going to ask you to talk about the group but if you could form a new supergroup, who would be in it?

Me and…. that’s a good one. Hmmm…

May we suggest Kid Cudi?

You may suggest Kid Cudi! That’s my homeboy. If I were to form a supergroup, this would be my supergroup: it would be me, Drake, Colin Munroe, and Kardinal Offishall and we’d be the Toronto Crew. That would be us. We would take over the world.

8: What’s the best thing you bought overseas and in what country?

The best thing I bought overseas were the $2 shoes I’m wearing now! They were two pounds in London and when I tell you they are the most comfortable, run around, little papa don’t preach, gray, Saved By The Bell, throwback kicks…they were the best and they were only two pounds. It’s one of my favorite things I bought. I promise you. I’m all about a bargain and I’m all about comfort.

9. Who is your favorite new artist that came out this year?

Hmm. New artists… I’m always listening to old music so I gotta jog my memory about who’s new. Even though to me he’s not new because we’ve known each other, I gotta give it up to my homie Drake. I do. He’s really done his thing and I’m really, really proud of him because I know where he’s coming from. I know where it all began. We saw each other really grow. I’m really proud of him, so I gotta give it to him.

10. Do you think you would have made it to Hollywood week on American idol?

HELL YEAH! Hell yeah! Heeeell yeah! And then I probably would have gotten kicked out cus I’m not Hollywood.

11: Do you like any of the new dances people are creating lately? Can you Jerk?

No! I hate them all. I hate the stanky leg. I hate the jerk. I hate the reject. I hate all of these dances. I don’t know how to do them. I don’t wanna learn.

What about the booty dew?

I don’t even know what the booty dew is! Never knew what it was when I heard it and I don’t want to know. EVER! I never learned how to Soulja Boy. I never learned how to do any of that stuff. I’m so good on that. However! If you put on an old school reggae song, you will see me do a bogle. I will bust an old school reggae dance.

12: Last but definitely not least: Where were you when you found out Michael Jackson had died?

I was in Toronto. I just got off a flight and I was driving downtown about to film… I have this really cool viral video that we’re about to do to introduce people to the album where I’ve done live performances with people, different street musicians in different cities and countries around the world and I was actually on my way to film one of the songs. I was driving in downtown Toronto when I got the news. I was just really devastated. It just added a different energy for me to love what I do more and love music, so when I did that performance I was in a good — I was in a sad, but good state of mind to celebrate the joy in the music and the time I have here to do it.

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More on Melanie: www.myspace.com/melaniefiona www.twitter.com/melaniefiona

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