An Interview With Singer-Songwriter MELANIE FONTANA!

Meet singer-songwriter Melanie Fontana!

With a handful of hits from headlining artists under her belt, she’s on the path to becoming the next Julia Michaels.

No longer just a name scribbled in the credits of worldwide chart-topping singles from headlining artists such as BTS, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Aaron Carter and so on – Melanie Fontana is putting a picture to her penmanship. The ‘swiss army songwriter’ has written for a number of global giants in music, with the ability to bring out the most radio-friendly side of any genre thrown her way.

Listen to a few of the songs Melanie has written here: MUSIC LINK

Most recently, Melanie co–wrote BTS’ single “Euphoria”, which became the theme of their latest album “Love Yourself: Answer.” Melanie is additionally credited for reviving Aaron Carter’s music career, having co-wrote every track on his Løvë album during his grand return to music in 2017 after a 12 year hiatus. Melanie even hopped on stage with Aaron during his 2017 LA Pride performance to belt out a few of their tracks out together, and show her support as an ally to the LGBT+ community.

Melanie’s diverse slate of music credits also include co-writing Britney Spears’ “Mood Ring” with DJ Mustard, Jon Asher, Twice as Nice and JGramm (produced for Travis Scott, Kodak Black, Wiz Khalifa, Kehlani, Chance The Rapper); writing “All Right” for Daya and co-writing her single “Words” with Grammy winner Ginno Barletta and Jonas Jeberg; co-writing Juan Magan ft. DJ Topic and Lena “Solo Contigo”; and writing Krewella’s “Fortune” ft. Diskord, “Ain’t That Why” ft. DJ R3HAB and “Loves Outta Me.” .

Melanie is also the co-writer for all music included on Nick Jr’s “Shimmer and Shine,” which was the #1 preschool show in the world last year. She also shines as the singing voice of two different lead characters for the children’s show, which is currently in its fourth season.

Melanie began her music career as a child herself. Born in Newington, CT, Melanie first took the stage at age 5 with a solo at her local high school, then began singing in local dinner theater productions, and by her mid-teens was heading into the city to perform at renowned Manhattan nightclubs. At age 18, she moved to NYC to pursue a History major at NYU while working odd jobs at Sony Studios – but shortly after dropped her studies to pursue her dream of making music history.

After several years in NYC, Melanie moved to LA where she met Nasri Atweh (Magic!). Together, the pair penned Melanie’s first major pop cut “Home This Christmas” for Justin Bieber and The Band Perry (4M+ YT Views). The single was featured on Bieber’s #1 Billboard charting album “Under The Mistletoe.” From there, the snowball kept rolling after and she was eventually signed to her current label under Universal Music Publishing Group.

Connect With Melanie Fontana on Social Media Here:

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Learn more about Melanie Fontana in the following All Access interview:

1. Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you now? Is there music playing in the background?  This interview finds me sitting on one of the comfy couches in my studio, watching the rain fall in my backyard while wrapping up recording vocals on a song for the Jessica Andrea project. There’s pretty much always music on in the background. 

2. Now that we are on the back end of the year, how do you think 2018 has treated you and your career? What has been one goal that you have had this year and how close are you to reaching it? Or did you already reach it? 2018 was beyond my wildest. The goal I reached this year (for the second time in my life, since I reached this goal a few years ago with Justin Bieber!) was having a #1 on the Billboard 200. 

3. Growing up, how important was music to you? Can you recall the moment when you decided that you wanted to be a musician? Was it an easy or difficult choice to make?  Music was ALWAYS the cause & the effect. I can’t recall the exact moment I knew that my career was my destiny, but I do recall being about 5 years old, sitting in class, working on a math problem I didn’t care to figure out, knowing in my heart I wasn’t meant for a “regular life”. It wasn’t a choice. It was just like…I was a tiny leaf & music was the wind. 

4. What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all? I am oftentimes shocked by what the higher-ups in the industry find to be single-worthy for an artist. I’m always pleasantly surprised when a young artist comes into my studio with a strong energy & identity. 

5. How do you think you and your music have been influenced by your hometown and where you live today? Well, my first crush from back home, he definitely inspired ALL my first songs. If not for that innocent “first love” moment in my life, I’m not sure I’d be writing songs like I do today. He ended up marrying his high school girlfriend. Ha! 

6. You have worked with so many artists so I am curious who stands out to you as one of the most interesting sessions? Who would you drop everything for and work with again in a heartbeat? I’d drop anything to write with Icona Pop again. Those dope women & I totally vibed. We laughed, we ate & we wrote. Still waiting to see if our song will come out on their project. I also loved working 

7. What has it been like reviving Aaron Carter’s music career after a 12-year hiatus? Is this something that you knew you would be a part of eventually? Aaron & I have been in & out of each other’s lives since we were young teens. He & I happened to share a booking agent, but beyond that, we also appeared on “Say What Karaoke” on MTV together, back in the day. Not to mention, he was also managed by my best friend’s previous manager (for years!) We always wanted to work, but the timing wasn’t right until one day, it just was! I felt honored to give him the second chance he so TOTALLY deserved. 

8. Can you describe what it is like pairing up with an artist and writing a song for them or with them? Is there one process that you follow or does it change depending on who the artist and the kind of song that is needed?  What process tends to work better for you? I like to first sit down & talk. When an artist arrives to my studio, usually the talking goes on & on for a while. I love to have a coffee & really dig into the energy of the day. From there well either listen to some chords my production partner had in mind & sometimes that will inspire a title or a concept. Other days, I’ll literally write a chorus on my own while I’m in the shower & bring it into the room when it’s time to get writing. It all depends on the artist & the day. 

9. How would you say that you are contributing to changing the sound of pop music today? In your vast career so far, how do you think pop music has grown and changed over the years? What has remained the same about it all? Maybe I have helped to make “conversational pop” more widely accepted. During the lifetime of my career so far, Pop music has gone from Dr Luke’s version of Katy Perry to now XXXTentacion having a Skrillex feature. It’s ever changing. Pop music literally is whatever is popular. I tend not to bend toward what’s “cool” but rather stay true to my own feelings & melodies.

10. Since the beginning of music, people have turned to it for support and as an escape from their realities. How do you want your music received and appreciated? I want to be that diary entry you wish you couldn’t find the words to write yourself. 

11. What has it been like keeping up with your social media accounts and all of the different platforms? Is it hard to stay up to date on it all? What would you say is your favorite way to connect with your fans now? Social media is a big ol’ blessing & curse. It sets you up to peer into the perfectly decorated window of your co-writer’s lives & wonder why yours doesn’t look quite like theirs. Classic “grass is greener” BS. It’s been scientifically proven that humans aren’t built to take in all this info. I do love using Instagram as my business card. I post every few days. It’s definitely a way to share your big personality on a little screen. 

12. Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely still love to work with in the future? I still love the old Imogen Heap stuff. I’ve been super obsessed for years with Josh Ramsay, the lead singer of Mariana’s Trench. I saw James Taylor live at the Hollywood Bowl this past summer and nearly lost my mind he was so amazing.

13. If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island forever, what musical item would you take with you and why? My phone. Because it could be my MP3 player & my phone. Haha!  

14. If your music was going to be featured on any TV show that is currently on right now, which would you love it to be on? Or if you prefer, what is a movie that you love that you wish your music was featured in? I wish I could have songs in the background of all the TV shows. Haha! Actually, I’d truly love to have an artist play one of my songs on Seth Meyers or Jimmy Kimmel.

15. Do you have any tour dates you would like to tell our readers about? How will you be spending your winter? My winter will be spent hunkered down in my studio in LA making all the new summer material that will be coming out starting in 2019!

16. At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music? I’d like to know more about how you want your music to be timeless? I want fans to take away that fact that it’s sometimes ok not to be ok. It’s ok to feel uncomfortable in your own skin; that doesn’t make you mentally ill or damaged; it makes you human. 

17. Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music? Keep your eyes open for the Wengie project in 2019. We’ve been working hard af on that one. She’s a social media DIY mastermind turned singer & she’s awesome. I also have recorded a “The Christmas Song” cover. That’s coming out on iTunes, Amazon music & all other platforms on 8th of December. That all being said, I’m so grateful for where I am right now.