Melonie Gillett launches debut album Rush

But there will be some excitement tonight at Jambels Jerk Pit Too located on Newtown Barracks where Melonie Gillett is launching her first album attempting to break in to a male dominated industry. The album entitled ‘Rush’ is a mix of different genres of music including pop, reggae, soul and dance hall and if the name of the album rings a bell, it is because Gillett has released a highly successful song with the same name. Duane Moody caught up with Gillett at Jambels to have a one on one with the rising star.

Duane Moody, Reporting
Belizeans grew to love her from her days as a contender on Channel Five’s KTV… and now Melonie Gillett is ready to take her singing to another level to and become one of the country’s most prominent female artists.

Melonie Gillett, Artist
“I grew up in a family, a singing family, so since I was born I’ve been singing. I’ve been listening to my grandfather play the guitar and my mom and my aunt singing in church and from there it just progressed. I was very shy about it when I was younger, but slowly as I got older I got a little more confidence and then I came out and when I sang people motivate it and that’s what motivated me to go on. It takes a lot of dedication and perseverance definitely. You definitely you have to push yourself a lot of times. It’s a lot of hard work, yoh have to deh out there all the time di push. Even when you feel sick and you no want do it but you have to do it, you know?”

The motivation of family and friends is what Melonie says gave her the strength to take this bold step into a challenging profession.

Melonie Gillett
“There will be people who don’t appreciate it and there will be people who have a lot to say but my task is to show them that singing is a natural talent to me and that’s the reason why I do; because I love and because God gave me this talent and its something I need to do. When I went on Karaoke for the first time I had that experience of being in front of such a large audience and being critiques and everything. That was the first time and from there I guess I knew after that, no matter what that this is what I have to do.”

And now Melonie is launching her first album entitled Rush. Earlier this year the single of the same name dominated the Belizean airwaves and gave her an even bigger fan base.

Melonie Gillett
“The Album Rush is entitled ‘Rush’ because Rush is the song that really made people recognize me as an artist and since a lot of people were asking for it and the main one Rush. They haven’t really heard any of the other songs. Rush was the song so I said I could just entitle it Rush. But it also has Tek Yuh Time, dancehall, Love Me, reggae and it has an extra song which when you purchase the CD, you will find out.”

Duane Moody
“What would you say is your best track and why?”

Melonie Gillett
“it’s a hard question because when I write my songs I put a lot of effort into it, a lot of thought. I try to put myself in the position so that I can give a good realistic song and so I’ve fallen in love with each and every one of them in a different way, from a different angle because they’re all different genres. So I would have to say that I can’t really choose one.”

Rush is just a prelude to the full album Melonie intends to release next year. In the meantime, she has been performing in concerts around the country.”

Melonie Gillett, Artist
“I cannot be thankful enough for the opportunities that I have had so far. I think that a lot of people have supported me and a lot of people have helped me to be where I am now. That was a very good opportunity to be on Costa Maya as well as all the other things that I have been on. Performing with international artists has been phenomenal—getting a chance to talk to them and to find out what they’ve been through and how they’ve endured and stayed in it until now. I’d like to say thanks to my family and my friends and of course my fans cause without you I couldn’t be where I am right now.”

Duane Moody for News Five.

The album was produced by Kendoyle Simpson and according to Gillett, the album is all Belizean.