Diamond Dust

SUEDWEST-PRESSE - ULMER KULTURSPIEGEL             2010/04/16 Author: ALBERT HEFELE         (translation: Matthias Talpa)
POWERFUL AND INTENSE SONGS
The Canadian songwriter Melanie Dekker at a charity concert for the "Kinderhospiz Grönenbach". She has the talent to write songs, a remarkable voice and is tender-hearted for critically ill children.
Therefore Melanie Dekker played at the Wiley-Club for the Kinderhospiz (hospice for children) at Groenenbach.It could have been a wonderful relaxed concert in the Neu-Ulm Wiley-Club, because everything was served to be perfect - in every respect.
The Wiley-club, provided for free by the owner Elisabeth Geiger, was completely sold out, illuminated by warm candle-light, and above all: the music of an amazing band. Everything fine, apart from the very thought of the heroes of this event: The children of St. Nikolaus-Hospice in Bad Grönenbach. So, like it or not, the atmosphere this evening was ambivalent. The perfect ambiance and the perfect band on one side. Melanie Dekker is not just somebody, but an outstanding songwriter. She has power and intensity. And she writes songs, which stay in your mind: "Lullaby", "Here and now", "Blush", "Somebodv's Baby". That's well-built, very well performed, highly professional pop music.
Substantial part of the concert's quality, as well, came from the other musicians beside Melanie Dekker: Violinist Elyse Jacobsen und Mike Bell at the keyboards. A live-act without any reason for criticism. Thanks also go to Joachim Jaitner for his empathetic and non-obtrusive sounds as the man at the mixer: perfect.
Similarly perfect Melanie Dekker with her positive charism and her perceptible affection, magnetizing the audience after quite a few songs.
On stage there is a woman, loving life and her vocation... everybody could notice... not one of those "one-way-chicks" who solely care for their looks and their bank account balance. - Sudwest Press Newspaper

by Lauren Proctor

Genuine and heartfelt, Melanie Dekker shares her own emotions and experiences with the world through song. Her easy guitar strums, natural voice, and relatable lyrics, all fuse together to create an undeniable charm.

Reminiscent of Liz Phair and Lisa Loeb, Dekker’s voice is gorgeous. She writes her lyrics with a daring courage that leaves her vulnerable but only contributes to her appeal as an artist. Simple in nature and never straying too far from catchy hooks and great pop rock, Dekker has seen the top covers of a couple magazines and the stage at many larger events. Showing a public awareness as well, Dekker has dedicated some of the proceeds from her album sales to Wounded Soldiers and Their Families.

Emmy Awarding-winning David Kershenbaum also sees promise in Dekker. Having worked with artists such as Tracy Chapman, Joe Jackson, Duran Duran, The Jacksons, Tori Amos, his investment into Dekker’s debut album, “Revealed,” ranks her on a list of elite artists in the industry.

Whether it’s Kershenbaum who has nurtured Dekker into such an infectious artist, or if Dekker just has that knack for pulling audiences in is irrelevant. One thing is sure; Dekker’s sound is friendly and fun.

“I Haven’t Even Kissed You Yet” begins with Dekker’s soft humming. Softly allowing the guitar to flow into the introduction, the artist Complimenting the guitar and Dekker’s lyrics with the addition of the piano, Dekker adds another enrapturing texture to her song. By the middle of the track, Dekker’s sound starts to build and rock, closely resembling one of Sheryl Crow’s many hits.

“Somebody’s Baby” reveals a darker side of Melanie Dekker. Transforming her often-upbeat sound into a frustrated and angry tone, Dekker reveals more of a vocal range in this track. Singing the track with unbelievable emotion and adding a more complex background sound, which includes an offbeat with the drums and a quicker guitar with angry slams, Dekker shines through as an amazing force. Suddenly ending with an emotive “to the floor” and the last stroke of the guitar strings that gets ultimately interrupted, “Somebody’s Baby” only leaves audiences wanting more.

Boasting a catchy refrain that sticks in your head like bubblegum on the sole of your shoe on a hot day, Dekker holds all the necessary components for a hit in “I Said I.” Telling the story of a lover who has taken interest in another girl, Dekker claims that she wanted to make the one she loved happy, but “guess that means, happy with me.” While many would sulk and croon a depressing tune about breaking up, Dekker takes it in stride, embraces the recent events, and allows it to turn into an anthem for the hearts of recently broken lovers.

Melanie Dekker is a guilty pleasure. She’s released an album that you can jam to alone and sing at the top of your lungs... - Northeast IN-TUNE magazine

Pop / Rock (2005-11-21)
World-renowned Record Producer David Kershenbaum Working with New Singer/Songwriter Melanie Dekker



Sonoma County, CA (PRTHATROCKS.COM) - Grammy Award-winning David Kershenbaum is producing the premier studio album release for Canadian singer/songwriter Melanie Dekker, on SME Records, a division of Sonoma Mountain Entertainment (SME). Kershenbaum, who has produced such notable artists as Tracy Chapman, Joe Jackson, Duran Duran, The Jacksons, Tori Amos and New Order, is co-producing Ms. Dekker with engineer/producer Scott Church and Bill Zabit of SME.
Kershenbaum's recording artist development and production credits read like a who's-who of three decades of contemporary music history. Among other household artist names, Kershenbaum launched Tracy Chapman with her self-titled album which sold 20 million copies and garnered six Grammy nominations, winning three including Album of the Year.

According to Kershenbaum, 'Discovering and working with Melanie Dekker matches the excitement and enthusiasm I experienced with other 'new' female artists including Tracy Chapman and Tori Amos. I strongly feel that Melanie's originality and uniqueness at writing and performing will quickly launch her into celebrity status. She is definitely a new artist to pay attention to.'

Ms. Dekker's CD titled Revealed was recorded at Sonoma Mountain Studio Estate (www.studioestate.com) in Sonoma County, California, with international composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Jason Nett of Vancouver, BC, playing a key role in the production. Revealed is scheduled for a Fall 2005 release.

The willowy blonde Ms. Dekker, who hails from Vancouver, BC, has performed throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe appearing with such notable artists as Bryan Adams, Faith Hill and Ivan Neville.

'I mostly write when I feel intense with love, distraction, attraction, sadness, confusion, frustration, pain, or just plain insanity. It feels good to be on the edge and even better to capture it musically,' states Dekker. - Top 40 charts.com

Sonoma Mountain Entertainment recording artist, singer/songwriter Melanie Dekker, recently performed with fellow Canadian singer/songwriter Diana Krall at a President William J. Clinton Foundation Charity Event in Vancouver, BC. Guests attending the event each donated $5,000.00 apiece, helping to raise over $1 million in charitable donations, which will primarily help Clinton Foundation programs combating pediatric HIV and AIDS.

The mission of the President William J. Clinton Foundation is to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. To advance this mission, the Clinton Foundation’s programs and partnerships in the following areas include Health Security, Economic Empowerment, Leadership Development and Citizen Service, and Racial, Ethnic and Religious Reconciliation.

Melanie’s appearance with Diana Krall at the President William J. Clinton Foundation Charity Event marks one of her first high profile live performances since Sonoma Mountain Entertainment announced the release of her debut CD, Revealed, produced by Grammy Award-winning producer David Kershenbaum, in November 2005. The willowy blonde Melanie Dekker, who hails from Vancouver, BC, has performed throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe appearing with such notable artists as Bryan Adams, Faith Hill and Ivan Neville.

David Kershenbaum’s recording artist development and production credits read like a who’s-who of three decades of contemporary music history. Among other household artist names, Kershenbaum launched Tracy Chapman with her self-titled album which sold 20 million copies and garnered six Grammy nominations, winning three including Album of the Year.

According to Kershenbaum, “Discovering and working with Melanie Dekker matches the excitement and enthusiasm I experienced with other ‘new’ female artists including Tracy Chapman and Tori Amos. I strongly feel that Melanie’s originality and uniqueness at writing and performing will quickly launch her into celebrity status. She is definitely a new artist to pay attention to.”

Ms. Dekker’s CD titled Revealed was recorded at Sonoma Mountain Studio Estate (www.studioestate.com) in Sonoma County, California, with international composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Jason Nett of Vancouver, BC, playing a key role in the production.
- Music Industry News Network

October 2, 2006, Sonoma County, California -
Melanie Dekker, singer/songwriter with Sonoma Mountain Entertainment and CD Baby (cdbaby.com) have announced a pledge of $2 million from the sale of Melanie's new CD, entitled Revealed, that will go to select foundations that benefit wounded soldiers and their families.

A single, titled “Fall in/Wounded Soldier,” was written by Melanie on her way to a benefit concert for The National Wounded Soldier Foundation. To further support the cause that inspired the song, Melanie with her label, Zabit Records, has pledged $1 for each copy of Revealed sold exclusively through www.cdbaby.com for the first, one million records sold. Click here and hear the song (will open and play with QuickTime).

CD Baby, an international record distributor headquartered in Portland, Oregon, through President and Founder Derek Sivers, is also matching $1 for a total of $2 million pledged to the cause.

Sonoma Mountain Entertainment artist Melanie Dekker launched her new CD called Revealed aboard the USS Hornet during this year's TROOPFEST held in Alameda, California on September 30, 2006. TROOPFEST is an annual benefit concert and festival, put on by the American Red Cross's Operation: Care and Comfort and the American Red Cross, to raise funds to send holiday packages to US Troops abroad. Melanie was on the roster with an impressive list of recording artists who performed on the aircraft carrier museum hanger deck for 3,000 service members and their families.

“The song Wounded Soldier -- she nailed it! We listen to thousands of stories from the soldiers and the wives she is singing about. And the stories they tell are exactly what this song is all about. I am truly amazed,” comments Teresa Goforth, Founder, US Wounded Soldiers Foundation.

The willowy blonde Ms. Dekker, who hails from Vancouver, BC, has performed throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe appearing with such notable artists as Diana Krall, Chaka Kahn, Bryan Adams, Faith Hill, Ivan Neville and the Neville All Star Band, Shari Ulrich, April Wine among others.

The legendary David Kershenbaum, who has produced such notable artists as Tracy Chapman, Joe Jackson, Duran Duran, The Jacksons and Tori Amos, co-produced the Revealed CD with producer/engineer Scott Church and Bill Zabit of Sonoma Mountain Entertainment.

Revealed was recorded and mixed at Sonoma Mountain Studio Estate (www.studioestate.com) in Sonoma County, California, with international composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Jason Nett of Vancouver, BC, playing a key role in the recording.

For more info, to request a review CD of ‘Revealed' or for access to Melanie Dekker, David Kershenbaum, Scott Church or Bill Zabit, please contact Christopher Buttner, details above. Also check out Melanie Dekker: www.melaniedekker.com and Sonoma Mountains Studio Estate: www.studioestate.com To purchase Melanie Dekker's CD Revealed , and benefit the cause, go to www.cdbaby.com/cd/dekker2 - PRThatRocks.com

2010/04/16 Author: ALBERT HEFELE (translation: Matthias Talpa)

The Canadian songwriter Melanie Dekker at a charity concert for the "Kinderhospiz Grönenbach". She has the talent to write songs, a remarkable voice and is tender-hearted for critically ill children.
Therefore Melanie Dekker played at the Wiley-Club for the Kinderhospiz (hospice for children) at Groenenbach. It was hoped there would be a wonderful, upbeat & relaxed concert in the Neu-Ulm Wiley-Club, because everything was served to be perfect - in every respect.
The Wiley-club, provided for free by the owner Elisabeth Geiger, was completely sold out, illuminated by warm candle-light, and above all: the music of an amazing band. Everything fine, apart from the very thought of the heroes of this event: The children of St. Nikolaus-Hospice in Bad Grönenbach. So, like it or not, the atmosphere this evening was ambivalent. The perfect ambiance and the perfect band on one side. Melanie Dekker is not just somebody, but an outstanding songwriter. She has power and intensity. And she writes songs, which stay in your mind: "Lullaby", "Here and now", "Blush", "Somebodv's Baby". That's well-built, very well performed, highly professional pop music. Substantial part of the concert's quality, as well, came from the other musicians beside Melanie Dekker: Violinist Elyse Jacobsen und Mike Bell at the keyboards. A live-act without any reason for criticism. Thanks also go to Joachim Jaitner for his empathetic and non-obtrusive sounds as the man at the mixer: perfect. Similarly perfect Melanie Dekker with her positive charism and her perceptible affection, magnetizing the audience after quite a few songs.
On stage there is a woman, loving life and her vocation... everybody could notice... not one of those "one-way-chicks" who solely care for their looks and their bank account balance.The Dutch-Canadian is a professional with visions reaching far beyond the stage corners. While in December last year she stayed in Afghanistan, performing for canadian soldiers, at the Wiley-Club she supported the hospice for children in Bad Groenenbach where terminally ill children get tender care until they die. It's difficult to enjoy the evening light- hearted, if you keep this in mind. Occupied by the thought of children facing their near death before life really has started, lead not few of the attenders into a melancholic mood. In spite of ... or perhaps even just because of the music of Melanie Dekker. She herself seems to know well how life leaves scars on heart and soul and several of her songs tell stories about this. For example the wonderful sad one "Meant to be". It's the tail of a broken heart and might be interpreted as "Perhaps it has to be this way". - SUEDWEST-PRESSE - ULMER KULTURSPIEGEL

Musician Melanie Dekker Supports Wounded Soldiers
May 2, 2007

Melanie Dekker Zabit Records, a division of Sonoma Mountain Entertainment LLC, is proud to announce recording artist Melanie Dekker will be featured in an Armed Forces Network and Pentagon Channel public service announcement campaign. The PSA will reach 16 million military households in the US, as well as military personnel in 177 countries, in recognition of her Wounded Soldier and Military Family charitable efforts.

In addition, Melanie’s efforts will also be touted in an American Forces Press Service media campaign, all of which coincide with her European 2007 Spring Tour. Melanie has recently announced that from May 1 to May 31, 2007, and in honor of Military Appreciation Month, she will pledge a portion of the proceeds generated from the sale of her new CD, Revealed, to ‘America Supports You’ Home Front Member Partner Foundations, Operation: Care and Comfort, The Military, Veteran and Family Assistance Foundation and America Supports You, a nationwide program launched by the Department of Defense, which recognizes citizens’ support for military men and women and communicates that support to members of the US Armed Forces at home and abroad.

A single on the Revealed album, titled “Fall In/Wounded Soldier,” was written by Melanie on her way to a benefit concert for The National Wounded Soldier Foundation. To support the cause that inspired the song, Melanie with her label, Zabit Records, a division of Sonoma Mountain Entertainment LLC, have pledged $1 for each copy of Revealed sold exclusively through CD Baby for the first, one million records sold. CD Baby, an international record distributor headquartered in Portland, Oregon, through President and Founder Derek Sivers, is also matching $1 for a total of $2 million pledged to the cause. Zabit Records is currently seeking other corporate and private sponsors to increase the per CD pledge to result in even greater potential contributions for this most worthy cause.

National Military Appreciation Month (May), as designated by Congress, provides a period encompassing both the history and recognition of our armed services with an in-depth look at the diversity of its individuals and achievements.

Melanie states, “I hope other artists will follow my lead in doing the same. But on stage or off, I would like to believe all of us can make a difference somehow. Make people happier. Make the world a better place.”

To support Melanie’s efforts, purchase Revealed at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/dekker2

Celebrities Melanie Dekker
Charities Military, Veteran and Family Assistance Foundation, Operation: Care and Comfort, Wounded Soldier Foundation
- Look to the Stars writer-USA

Von Claus Kohlmann
HILDESHEIM. Es gibt Momente, in denen man einfach wei§, dass man etwas ganz Besonderes erlebt. Es gibt nicht viele von diesen Momenten, das macht sie um so wertvoller. Und wenn dann aus einem vermeintlich "kleinen Konzert" etwas wirklich gro§artiges wird, ist die Wirkung umso grš§er. So geschehen am Donnerstag Abend beim Konzert von Melanie Dekker in der BischofsmŸhle.
Die kanadische Singer/Songwriterin schaute zum Abschluss ihrer diesjŠhrigen Nordeuropa-Tournee erstmals an der Innerste vorbei. DafŸr, dass sie in hiesigen Breitengraden nahezu unbekannt ist, hatten doch erstaunlich viele Menschen der Fu§ballversuchung entsagt und sich in der MŸhle eingefunden. Die offensichtliche Freude darŸber war Melanie Dekker nicht nur anzusehen, sondern auch abzunehmen. Mit ihrer NatŸrlichkeit und der aparten Mischung aus Augen- und Ohrenschmaus nahm sie das Publikum vom Fleck weg fŸr sich ein.
Mit ihrem Charisma und ihrer PrŠsenz fŸllte sie den gesamten Raum aus und transportierte so ihre persšnliche Freude am Musikmachen ganz locker ins Publikum. "Das Tollste fŸr mich wŠre, wenn ihr nach dem Konzert mit einem LŠcheln nach Hause geht", sagte sie zwischendrin irgendwann. Demnach hat sie definitiv alles erreicht, was sie wollte. Kaum einer, der nach dem Konzert kein Autogramm auf eine der CDs haben wollte oder noch das ein oder andere Wort mit ihr wechseln, kaum einer, der nicht angesteckt worden war von dieser unbŠndigen Freude und positiven Ausstrahlung, die sie an den Tag legte.
Kein wunder, sieht sie doch nicht nur hervorragend aus, sondern hat es musikalisch auch noch richtig drauf. wie es sich fŸr das Genre der Singer/Songwriter gehšrt, kann sie mit ihrer Akustik-Gitarre umgehen, das was sie ausmacht, ist aber ihre unglaubliche, fast Ÿberirdische Stimme. Das warme, dunkle Timbre schmeichelt den Ohren und ihr wahnsinniger Tonumfang von der vollen Bruststimme bis zur zarten Kopfstimme tut sein †briges.
Ihre Texte fŠchern das Seelenleben auf, viel dreht sich um erfŸllte, unerfŸllte, frische oder zu Ende gegangene Liebe, aber auch FamiliŠres verarbeitet sie ebenso wie das alltŠgliche Zwischenmenschliche. Wenn sie davon singt, leuchten ihre Augen und sie selbst bekommt das LŠcheln nicht aus dem Gesicht. Sicher spielt auch Routine eine gro§e rolle in ihrer Nicht-Show, aber davon ist nichts zu merken.
Ihr zur Seite steht der Gitarrist Jason Nett. Ebenfalls mit der Akustikgitarre, sorgt er fŸr die richtigen Tšne und Akkorde an den richtigen Stellen der Songs. Seine Linien, seine zweiten Gesangsstimmen, seine Rhythmen und Harmonien ergŠnzen Dekkers Kompositionen perfekt und machen aus einfachen Songs kleine Pop-Perlen.
Wie viel Nett, der sonst Kunstmusik und Opern komponiert, wirklich drauf hat, kann er zweimal unter Beweis stellen. Mit Hilfe eines Loop-Pedals improvisiert er, alleine auf der BŸhne sitzend, zwei stŸcke, die am Ende nach einer kompletten Band klangen. Mit diesem Pedal konnte er immer Phrasen aufnehmen, die in einer Schleife wiedergegeben wurden. So konnte er Schicht um Schicht Ÿbereinanderlegen, ohne dass es langweilig wurde. Perfekt.
Sympathischerweise Ÿberrascht wirkten beide, als das Publikum sie nach den ersten Zugaben immer noch nicht gehen lassen wollte. da wird sich wohl auch Melanie Dekker mit einem LŠcheln auf den Weg nach Hause gemacht haben
- Hildesheim, DE (Germany) Press

Konzert von MELANIE DEKKER & BAND am 26.05.05
"Sonnenschein in der Neuen Welt"
(DK) Biergarten oder Kneipe? Diese Frage stellt sich bei diesem von uns lange herbeigesehnten Sommerwetter an so manchem Abend. Die Kanadierin Melanie Dekker hat jedenfalls mit ihrem Folk-PopRock-Konzert trotz strahlendem Sonnenschein die Neue Welt gefüllt. Vielleicht weil sie selber ein richtiger Sonnenschein ist.
Die sympathische Songwriterin singt in ihren Liedern über das Leben, die Liebe. Melanie Dekker kombiniert verspielte Gitarrenriffs mit einer äußerst attraktiven lyrischen Sensibilität. Die Zuhörer fühlen sich schon nach ein paar Minuten wie zu Hause. Die Songs eignen sich zum Nebenbei-laufen-lassen ebenso wie zum genauen Zuhören – man scheint sie zu kennen und sie sind doch neu und erfrischend – eingängig und hittauglich, was Melanie Dekker schon mit dem Titel "I Said I" in den "Canada-Top-Charts" unter Beweis stellte.
Nummern wie "Can’t Stop Laughing", "Rome" oder "Clumsy Fingers" erwecken die Wunschvorstellung, mit Picknickdecke auf einer duftenden Blumenwiese der wunderbaren Stimme von Melanie Dekker zu lauschen. Die rockigen Töne stehen ihr gut, doch bei Balladen wie "Blue Blanket" oder "Speech- less" kommt ihr bezaubernder gesanglicher Charme besonders zur Geltung.
Begleitet wird der weibliche Sunnyboy von drei Jungs, die aussehen, wie direkt aus einer Schulband entsprungen – mit handfesten Melodien und gut abgemischten Drum-Grooves bilden Jason Nett (Gitarre), Patt Meldrun (Bass) und Sam Cartwright (Drums) mit einem chilligen Sound die Basis für ihre sanft-raue Stimme. Schön, wenn der Schlagzeuger mal zur Abwechslung mit einfühlsamem Beatboxen eine Nummer rhythmisch untermalt.
Melanie Dekkers Musik ist waschechte Gute-Laune-Musik, die leckere Mischung (sie nennt ihre Tour übrigens "Lekker Dekker", die holländischen Vorfahren lassen grüßen) aus Folk, Rock und Pop ist genau richtig abgeschmeckt und mit einer Prise Country und Reggae pikant verfeinert.
Letzterer wird als Zugabe in der schönsten Interpretation seit den Fugees mit "No Woman, No Cry" zelebriert, auch weil Melanie Dekker den Text "every- thing’s gonna be alright" so liebt – und das strahlt sie auch aus. Spätestens nach ihrer allerletzten Nummer, die sie gänsehautträchtig komplett solo singt, wird es wohl keiner auch nur entfernt bereuen, sich an diesem Abend gegen den Biergarten entschieden zu haben. Hoffentlich hören wir in Europa in Zukunft noch mehr von Melanie Dekker.
Sandra-Isabel Knobloch - Newspaper Press- Germany 2005

Media Contact:

Jamie Schaff
jschaffpr@gmail.com


Canadian Recording Artist Melanie Dekker Raises Funds for Disabled Athletes and Gives Performances for Transportation Minister and Soldiers in Afghanistan
Spring European tour on horizon for award-winning singer/songwriter
 
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – March 19, 2010 – Canadian recording artist Melanie Dekker, along with the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach Choir, performed on Tuesday for British Columbia Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond. The private event was held at the BC Pavilion on the fourth floor of the Vancouver Art Gallery. The Province of British Columbia is hosting the BC Pavilion through the conclusion of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games as part of the province’s signature celebration site at Vancouver’s Robson Square.
This prestigious performance opportunity came on the heels of Dekker being invited to go aboard the Canadian naval frigate, HMCS Vancouver, to witness one of the final legs of the 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay. On March 12, the flame was shuttled by Sea King helicopter to the HMCS Vancouver in Burrard Inlet. It was then carried onto a small, inflatable boat and taken to shore by the final torchbearer of the afternoon. Dekker documented her experience on the navy vessel in a short video: http://bit.ly/melparatorchrelay.
Earlier this month, Dekker participated, for the second consecutive year, in the VASS Challenge Cup held at Grouse Mountain. The event raises money for Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports, a charity that strives to make the mountain accessible to athletes with various physical challenges. As part of the VASS Challenge Cup activities, Dekker participated in a sledge hockey demonstration with paralyzed and amputee athletes. She has previously helped raise funds for the organization by performing to a capacity crowd at the Vancouver Rowing Club.
“I love to play and connect,” said Dekker. “I want people to sing, laugh and – if it feels right – cry a little as they are taken through the light and dark moments inside my songs. It is my relationships with my fans and my friends that keep me writing, singing and performing.”
This past Christmas, Dekker toured Afghanistan, where she performed 11 concerts in two days for Canadian and U.S. troops. She was accompanied by Gen. Walter Natynczyk, who surprised Dekker earlier in 2009 by awarding her the Chief of Defence Staff Medal of Excellence for her song, “Fall In/Wounded Soldier.” The medal is an honour given to those who have made great contributions, show excellence in what they do, or put their life on the line in defence of Canada. A video highlighting Dekker’s tour of Afghanistan can be viewed here: http://www.melaniedekker.com/md-video.htm.


Currently working on a new, five-song EP with videos on the Elephant Ears Entertainment label, Dekker is also preparing for an extensive, 24-city European concert tour, which begins next week. Her spring Here and Now Tour will make stops throughout Germany, Austria and The Netherlands. This girl is on the move! Visit http://www.myspace.com/melaniedekkermusic for a complete tour schedule. For music and more information go to http://www.itunes.com or visit http://www.melaniedekker.com.
###
Editors Note: Photography and video of, as well as interviews with, Ms. Dekker are available on request. For bookings in Canada, e-mail bookings@melaniedekker.com. For bookings in the U.S. and Europe, contact Kevin Kennedy of Kennedy Music Promotions at kevloraz@cox.net.
- Bizpr.ca & Free Press USA

article in pdf form on the NET:

http://mazacom.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/articlebluestage.jpg - German headline newspaper

Entire article here:
http://mazacom.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/articlebluestage.jpg


...Dass Dekker eine besonere Stimme hat, wird sofort klar. Das blonde Energiebundelerinnert ein wenig an Sheryl Crow. Mit ihrer lockeren Art und den Anekdoten zwichen den Stucken schafft sie es, den Besuchern durchgangig eie Lacheln ins Gesicht zu zaubern...

Bei dem wunderschon melancholischen stuck klingt Dekker mit wie Eva Cassidy. Ihre Stimme ungekunstelt einfach wunderbar schon... - Frankenberg paper

Melanie Dekker is a Canadian singer/songwriter who played recently at Sister Gooch's Acoustic Café, along with Jim Parker, Donny Grace and B.D. Chase. These four very talented songwriters, all of whom had different styles, definitely had something in common.

Melanie is a bright, pretty young woman who writes intelligent, emotionally evocative songs. If you like the work of Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin or Ani DiFranco, you'll feel comfortable listening to her. She just finished a recording session with Straight-Up Sound in Nashville and a gig at the Bluebird Café. According to several music professionals, she's heading for stardom on the fast track. So how did she end up playing in Madison, Alabama?

The saga began when she entered a songwriters' contest on a whim — the 2002 MOVA Arts Festival Songwriters Competition held in Lake Guntersville in September of 2002.

MOVA Arts Festival was "birthed" by a group of people who had a vision of a "Celebration of Creative Arts" and a weekend-long, family-fun festival. Their vision included new, emerging and semi-professional songwriters competing for awards and cash prizes in a variety of music genres before a panel of prominent musicians and music industry professionals. The festival would also showcase visual art and performing art.

But for Melanie, arriving in Guntersville before the festival, things were a little disconcerting. "I got to MOVA one day early and started having doubts about coming. It was hard to imagine an international competition as I stared at the empty stage and the quiet park; but within 24 hours, the place was buzzing with organizers and performers and special popcorn and artistic venders."

The girl from Vancouver had spent some idle time in her living room a few months before, completing an application and entering "a bunch of songs" to MOVA's Songwriters Competition. To her delight and amazement, 3 of the 4 songs she submitted were selected as semi-finalists. She had not read the part about semi-finalists performing their song at the festival — in Lake Guntersville, Alabama.

"When I got the letter explaining this, I thought it was absurd and I exclaimed, 'No way! Are they kidding?' A few weeks passed, and the idea of going to Alabama became more and more compelling — to the point where I just couldn't resist."

Melanie had no idea that MOVA Arts Festival was in its first year. The organizers had worked many, many long hours to bring everything together for all the songwriters that had somehow found out about the festival and wanted to come and present their songs. The first festival was so successful it surprised everyone, including the judges, one of whom was Jim Parker.

Participants came from all over the country — San Francisco, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New York, Texas, Tennessee and other states — and from Germany, England, Canada, the Republic of Belarus and Brazil. The staff at the little Arts Council was suddenly involved with writing letters to foreign embassies and frantically trying to find people in Marshall County who could speak German and Spanish.

No one had trouble understanding Melanie. She, however, experienced some culture shock:

"I had never seen such a lush and peaceful environment where it rains for only minutes — but hard enough to break the sunglasses holding my hair back — where large churches are all on one street and right next to each other, where there's a history containing struggle and prosperity, where people eat butter-soaked funny stuff called grits, and where people from all over the world come to perform in a serene park next to a pretty lake.

"The entire weekend I never felt that uncomfortable feeling that can arise in competitive atmospheres; everyone was encouraging and fun to get to know. Through the final dinner party I was teased about Canadian oddities and MY 'accent!' It was like a dream where you wake up laughing!"

Melanie had other good things to say about the first MOVA Arts Festival:

"The judges had powerful messages, and the vibes were just right. I went home to finish up my album, and my trip to MOVA inspired me with the title of my record, 'Just Because.' In Canada, people ask me, 'What in the world did you go to Alabama for?' I smile and say, 'Just because.' This impulsiveness I have may be crazy and gets me to do crazy things, but it is just because I want to!"

Donny Grace and B.D. Chase were also semi-finalists at MOVA 2002, along with many other talented songwriters. Donny took home third place in the Country Category, and B.D. won second place in the "MOVAriety" category. Which was why they, Jim Parker and Melanie performed together at "MOVA night at the Acoustic Café."

And Melanie? Well, to make a nice story perfect, we'd like to say that Melanie got a first place ribbon. But that would not be telling the whole story. Actually, Melanie Dekker from Vancouver received second place for her song "Blue Blanket." Then the - Alamaba music news

COVER STORY
• MELANIE DEKKER: Doing Well By Doing Good

What's this girl doing launching a CD on the deck of an aircraft carrier?
Canadian singer/songwriter Melanie Dekker launched her premier CD Revealed at an annual benefit concert and festival, put on by the American Red Cross’ Operation: Care and Comfort and the American Red Cross, to raise funds to send holiday packages to US troops abroad. She was on the roster with an impressive list of artists, including legendary 80’s rocker Greg Kihn and former Santana vocalist, Tony Lindsay, who performed on the USS Hornet aircraft carrier museum hanger deck for 3,000 service members, their families and the public. Her appearance was most appropriate—considering that a pledge of $2 million from her record sales is earmarked to go to wounded soldiers and their families. But that's just part of her story. Melanie is a tireless and aggressive self-promoter and has created successes through tenacity that other singer/songwriters can’t achieve even with a team of high-priced managers and promoters. She has performed throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe appearing with such notable artists as Diana Krall, Chaka Kahn, Bryan Adams, Faith Hill, Ivan Neville and the Neville All Star Band, Shari Ulrich, April Wine and others. In addition, her music has appeared in motion pictures and television, she’s won more songwriting competitions than she can recall, and her first independent single, “I Said I,” released back in 2003 and rerecorded for ‘Revealed,’ charted at #41 on the Canadian adult contemporary charts and was the #1 independent song in Australia for four weeks straight. - ilive2play-Cover Singer&Musician Magazine

by: The Tiger's eye
Colette Pilon

Melanie Dekker

part 2:
At 6:15pm, Melanie Dekker is described as a mix of Cheryl Crow, Jewel and Alanis. A young blonde-braided longhaired beautiful young woman appears on stage greeted by a fan yelling “Melanie, You Rock!”. The crowd was getting excited as she cheerfully entertained us with her strong guitar rhythmic fingers. The acoustics sounded great as she playing solo on stage. Her high energy got my feet stomping, and she was clearly “happy to be here”. I liked her mix of funky, progressive, pop sounding style. I felt a strong yet gentle singing voice in all her music songs. While the last song “Speechless” was performed, all the clouds were clearing to show a beautiful blue night sky...

part 1:
Although Melanie hasn’t been a regular face about town lately, Dekker fans will be pleased to hear the charming, giggling, storytelling singer is stepping out of the shadows of the road dog, note slinger life and is making ready to play in the big leagues, with her growing credits including a recent performance with Diana Krall for former U.S. President Bill Clinton and the recording of her premier studio album last fall with Grammy-Award-winning producer David Kershenbaum.....
The intimate show will include covers and orginals, particularily new works from "Revealed". The playful, yet intense album was recorded live off the floor in response to fans comments that Dekker's previous album did not do justice to her live performance...it took a grammy award winning producer to get even close!

- The Tiger's eye

Melanie Dekker verwandelte das Rainbow in einen „Flughafen“
Die Kanadierin Melanie Dekker überzeugte durch intelligenten New - Folk - Pop

Von Peter Morlok

Horb-Altheim: Wie schreibt man erfolgreiche „New - Folk - Pop“? „Mach` es einfach!“ heißt ein gültiges Erfolgsrezept. Ein vernünftiger Text, der etwas aussagt und den geltenden Zeitgeist tendiert, ein Instrument, solide gespielt und eine gute Stimme, gepaart mit einer eingängigen Melodie, genügen in der Regel, um in der Welt der „Folkies“ nicht unterzugehen. Wenn zu dieser „Basissaustattung“ nun auch noch das überaus attraktive Äußere einer jungen Dame, wie bei Melanie Dekker, hinzukommt, ist der Erfolg eigentlich schon in trockenen Tüchern.

Ein bisschen arbeiten, sprich Musik machen, musste die kanadische Singer / Songwriterin Melanie Dekker für ihre zahlreichen Fans, im mehr als sehr gut gefüllten Rainbow, aber doch. Die Fans waren zum Teil mehrere hundert Kilometer angereist, um die Künstlerin live auf der Bühne zu erleben.
Riesige Vorschusslorbeeren eilten der Lady voraus. Einen Vorschuss, den sie aber lässig wieder zurückgab.
Ihre selbstgeschriebenen Songs erzählen! Mal im Tiefgang, mal rockig, mal frech aber immer authentisch, direkt, kraftvoll und mit dem gewissen Extra, dass man nur durch genaues Beobachten auf den Straßen dieser Erde findet. Nicht nur zeitnahe, kritische Themen wie in ihrem Stück „Wounded Soldier“, dass sie einer US-Hilfsorganisation für verwundete Soldaten gewidmet hat, werden aufgegriffen sondern die Liebe und das Verliebtsein kommt nicht zu kurz.

Gleich mit ihrem ersten Titel „Haven´t even kissed you yet“ stellte sie Überlegungen an, wie es wäre, wenn sie auf die Bühne käme und sich spontan in einen Typen im Publikum verlieben würde. Mit strahlenden Augen stand sie auf der Bühne, lächelte, flirtete ein wenig mit den Jungs vor der Bühne, bewegte sich völlig unaffektiert und nahm das Publikum direkt für sich ein. Lächelnd sang sie „Oh Yeah“ und nur wer den Text verstand, begriff, dass Melanie sich gerade auf einer Reise zu ihrem „Ich“ befand. Tiefsinnig, poetische Verse. Vielleicht mit einem Clown zu vergleichend, der trotz seiner Trauer lächelt. Mit „Saturday Night Show“ wurden die Damen und Herren im Publikum wieder geweckt und bei „Shakespeare“ war auch Mr. Sam Cartwright, der Drummer, der sich bisher mehr im Hintergrund hielt, voll in seinem Element. Der dritte Mann auf der Bühne, der französische Bassist David Marion, der von der Klarinette über das Schlagzeug zum Bass kam, war auf seinem fünfsaitigen Fender die absolut passende Unterstützung.
„Ich sagte ich“ (I said I) ihr aktueller Hit, der in den kanadischen Charts unter den ersten zwanzig Besten zu finden ist, fehlte genauso wenig wie die wichtigsten Songs aus ihren letzten drei CDs, bei diesem Gig unter dem „Regenbogen“.

„Flughafen“, „Flughafen“, das neue „Rainbow - Wort“ für Zugabe, verstand Melanie sicher nicht, aber zur Freude der Fans spielte sie noch einen Bonustrack nach dem Anderen.

Melanie Dekker, eine freundliche junge Dame aus Vancouver, mit dem gewissen Timbre in der rauchigen Stimme und einem, leicht country lastigen Singstil, überzeugte mit grandioser Performance, ihrer Musik und ihren intelligenten, tiefsinnigen Texten. Eine Freude zuzusehen und zuzuhören.
- Althiem Horb Newspaper

Melanie Dekker live in Dunkers, Helsingborg
Storyteller With A Great Sense For Melodies....

- The Melanie Dekker Interview by Magnus Eriksson, March 2008 -
Melanie Dekker is a Canadian singer-songwriter with Dutch parents. Her grandmother used to sing lullabies to her, songs that she still remembers. When her brother Erik started to play the guitar she got jealous. She wanted to do everything her brother did. Anything you can do I can do better, whether playing soccer, baseball, or the guitar. Call it sisterly love, Melanie Dekker says concluding a distinct summary of her early years. In that she has also talked about the importance of her parents’ Elvis records, as well as about ABBA and Patsy Cline. It all ended with me wanting to be them, she says with a smile. I met Melanie Dekker together with her guitarist Jason Nett before their concert at Dunkers kulturhus in Helsingborg. Melanie Dekker has toured Europa on several occasions. Mostly Holland and Germany, this is the first time she performs in Sweden. But she enjoys the audience on our latitudes. That she shows many times during the concert to follow, where the almost sold out theatre hall at Dunkers’ applauds her enthusiastically. Although it is the first time many of them hear Melanie Dekker’s songs. In her native country she is not that well-kept a secret, however. Melanie Dekker has had quite a few hit songs. Some of her songs have also been used for the soundtracks of recent films. Canada has an overwhelming singer-songwriter tradition: Leonard Cohen, Ian Tyson, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young. The Canadian novel has played a significant role in the nation building and for shaping a Canadina national identity. The great singers have hardly played a similar role, thank Heavens one might add, but I still wonder if such a strong tradition could have a restrictive influence on younger songwriters.
- No, Melanie Dekker answers. We are influenced by the ones we are influenced by. It’s not much you could do about that. We are both criticized and applauded for being the ones we are. I’m just prous of the Canadian artists. I’m a lucky Canadian.
- Which songwriters have been important to you?
- Gordon Lightfoot, Melanie Dekker says without hesitating. He might be more or less forgotten, but he wrote fantastic songs, also pop songs. And Tom Petty, Dolly Parton, and the Beatles.
The assembly might give a disparate impression, but they are all united by their unfailing melodic sensibility and their ability to tell a story or to create a situation laden by semantic possibilities. That borderland of folk music and country on one hand and pop and rock on the other is of central importance to Melanie Dekker’s artistic profile. Also when she performs acoustically, as on her new album Acoustic Ride or on stage, she unites the story-telling and the beautiful melodies of the folk tradition with a more intense pop pulse. The covers she chooses to sing during the concert are significant. Bette Davis’ Eyes and Norwegian Wood: they more than give a hint Melanie Dekker’s position between the different traditions.
Also her lyrics merit from her being in the crossfire [actually I wrote ’draught’ which carries a similar metaphoric value in Swedish] between the traditions. They often focus on love, but love gone wrong or going wrong, or being on the verge to disaster. Melanie Dekker claims that it is easier to write about troubled love than happy love.
- In such lyrics I can explore my own feelings. But that doesn’t mean that they are auto-biographical. If they hade benne that I would have exploded in a million pieces, she says with a laugh.
When one meets Melanie Dekker it is unavoidable to ask her about the song Fall in (Wounded Soldier) from her previous album. Is it written with a purpose, or did Melanie Dekker just start with interpreting a traumatized love union after which the the significance generated itself, so to speak. I wrote it with a definite purpose, Melanie says.
- I was invited to sing at a concert for wounded soldiers in New York. My manager had told the arrangers that I could write a song for the event. So I just had to start writing it. I finished the song just before the plane landed. During the concert Melanie Dekker emphasizes the wide aims of the song. There are wounded soldiers everywhere. Their experience unites them independently of national borders, she scrupulously points out. After the song she is greeted with the biggest cheers of the evening.


- Magnus Erickson: Sweden