Melissa Bel

We last heard from rising pop sensation Melissa Bel just over a year ago when she released her fantastic album ‘In The Light’. Well now, she’s back with a brand new video for her single ‘Big Boys Don’t Cry’ and its guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

“Big Boys Don’t Cry’ is a feel-good infectious slice of pop goodness from start to finish. Bel combines her powerful soul vocals with 60s doo-wop melodies to create something full of fun and undeniably catchy.

The new video compliments the single perfectly, taking place in Bel’s adopted hometown of Exeter where we see sisters certainly are doin’ it for themselves. The video starts with Bel kicking out her clearly cheating ex and then moving on from him in the best way possible: dressing up, going out with your mates and having an amazing time. The perfect way to get over a break up.
Melissa Bel continues to impress with her uplifting, addictive pop music and we can’t wait to see what she does next. - Fame Magazine

From across the pond, Burlington-raised singer Melissa Bel is returning home to perform several shows in the area, including tomorrow (Saturday) at Carrigan Arms from 2-6 p.m. with the Sil Simone Band.

Now living in England, Bel will also perform in Toronto at the Cameron House on Wednesday (Oct. 25) with Jordan Alexander opening and next Saturday (Oct. 28) at the Casbah in Hamilton with Mike Todd opening.

“I used to play at the Carrigan Arms every few months,” said Bel. “The house band, the Sil Simone Band, is so great. It will be really fun to go back.”

Bel now lives in the U.K. after moving there for love a couple years ago. The relationship inspired much of her latest album, In the Light.

“I met this English guy at a wedding in Vegas in 2015 and less than four months later, I moved in with him (in the U.K.),” added Bel.

“In the Light is about falling in love. The song Real Tonight is all about what happened in Vegas.”

Her fourth album, In the Light, released late last year, has reached No. 49 on the Canadian iTunes Top 200 Pop charts.

Recently this month, Bel released her music video for the album’s single Big Boys Don’t Cry, directed by Hubert Wigier.

Bel said the song gives an upbeat spin for break-ups.

“It is kind of in reference to Fergie’s song Big Girls Don’t Cry but with our own spin. It’s a song to cheer you up after a break-up. We all have bad experiences we can draw from. It’s fun and upbeat, not too serious, but also about knowing how you deserve to be treated in a relationship and not settling for anything less.”

Bel added, the album, produced by Justin Gray (Amy Winehouse, Mariah Carey, Joss Stone), represents her creativity more so than her previous few albums.

“It’s the first album I have done since my first independent (album) without a label,” said Bel.

“I had complete creative control. There is a pop, soul feel; they’re contemporary tracks that feel fresh and poppy but throwback to a soulful vibe. It’s how I like to sing.”

When she was 18, Bel released her debut album Brave; she then released Distance in 2012, which further solidified her fanbase, especially in Montreal.

Her single Distance, the title track off the album, quickly climbed to No. 1 on Montreal’s CIBL and Jazz Blues charts, a career milestone that later led her to perform at Quebec’s Festiblues Festival in 2013.

Later that year, she followed up with her third album, Don’t Forget to Breathe.

As she’s spent the last year celebrating the release of her latest album, Bel said she’ll mark its anniversary with the release of exclusive content, such as an acoustic version and behind-the-scenes material.

Big Boys Don’t Cry is available on iTunes, Spotify, GooglePlay and Amazon. - Burlington Post

Video clip. - CP24 Toronto

Here on RAW RAMP island we are rather excited about MEL BEL and have watched her rise since the adorable hug that was “Stay Gone”. So we are pleased to announce that her new hook-filled single “Big Boys Don’t Cry” will be out 9th September 2016. It is big and flirty. Bumpy and bouncy. With booty charges and frisson found in just about every corner. - Raw Ramp

Now permanently relocated to the UK, this Canadian songstress was born in Toronto and has been singing her whole life. She grew up listening to soul and classic rock and feels inspired by the music of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Christina Aguilera. Their influence is reflected in her musical style, which is soulful, jazzy pop all covered in layers of vintage charm.

Her latest single is an exciting slice of upbeat retro pop, dipped in classic 60s doo-wop. A thrilling beat, lively sax and luscious harmonies set the stage for Melissa‘s sweet-sounding, energetic vocals. Meant to cheer you up after a breakup, this song is certainly catchy and uplifting and with its fun-filled, cheery groove, you cannot help but feel better after a broken heart. - Jansen's Jamz

Fans of the ’50s pop revival that seems to have been percolating for years but never hitting critical mass will enjoy the Meghan Trainor-esque tune here. The handclaps, hammering piano and skronking bari sax all pitch-perfect, while Bel’s vocals are thoroughly modern. - Independent Clauses

Gearing up for the release of her new album 'In The Light' later this year, Melissa Bel is hoping to break into the UK with the record, which charts the journey of how a Canadian girl met her lover in Las Vegas whilst at a friend's wedding.

Read more: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/interviews/melissa-bel-exclusive-interview-970337.html#ixzz4yyMUqhGD - Female First

After a fateful night in Vegas, Toronto-bred Melissa Bel followed her heart and took the leap to move to the UK with her new found love. Her latest album In The Light, due for release on 4th November 2016 via Belhop Records, tells the story of this journey.

Taken from the album is single Stay Gone, which you can listen you via Melissa’s Soundcloud page now.

You can also watch the powerful video for Stay Gone via Melissa’s YouTube channel.

In The Light charts the journey of how a girl from Canada met the love of her life in Las Vegas whilst attending a friend’s wedding. Little did she know, this meeting would change her life forever and she’d be relocating to the rural coasts of Devon as a result. Each track on the album showcases a different side to Bel, filled with the killer combination of infectious pop beats, powerful soul vocals and heartwarming ballads. Opening track ‘Real Tonight’ is an upbeat, funky rendition of ‘that’ night in Vegas, highlighting Melissa’s incredible ability to write an impressive pop hook akin to the likes of Meghan Trainor and Taylor Swift. Previous single Stay Gone along with tracks ‘Dirty Word’ and ‘Big Boys Don’t Cry’ captivate instantly with their contagious pop-infused melodies. Whereas title track ‘In The Light’ is a vulnerable ballad encapsulating the naked hope and fear of finding profound, visceral love.

Melissa grew up listening to soul, classic rock and draws inspiration from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Christina Aguilera amongst others. She also regularly receives creative support from producer/songwriter Justin Gray who has worked with artists such as Joss Stone, John Legend and Amy Winehouse and also produced Melissa’s album.

Melissa is certainly not afraid of hard work, having already released three albums over six years and played numerous live shows including Montreal’s Festiblues and supporting Juno Award winning Canadian artist Matthew Good. With In The Light Melissa has truly found her voice, promising her most vulnerable and electrifying album yet.

In The Light is out on Friday 4th November 2016 via Belhop Records. - Vents Magazine

Here at CelebMix, we absolutely love discovering new artists for us to fall in love with so what better way to spend a cold Thursday night than heading to 229 The Venue in London for Discovery 2’s showcase!

Featuring the likes of Melissa Bel, Hvmns and Elle Exxe this varied lineup turned into a fantastic night of captivating live music and here’s just what went down on the night.

Opening the show was Toronto-based Melissa Bel this singer-songwriter instantly caught our attention as she appeared onstage bearing the biggest smile and accompanied by just her guitar. Her soulful tone echoed around the room with such elegance during tracks including Dirty Word and Stay Gone. Rather than joining the collection of artists accompanied by a guitar who just well bore you to tears with their clichéd lyrics and lack lustring sets, Melissa did the exact opposite as we found ourselves dancing along and falling in love with her humble personality. A special mention needs to go to her mesmerizing cover of Hozier Take Me To Church, stripping it back to the bare bones each note sent a shiver down the spine highlighting the beautiful tones this soloist is specialised in. We couldn’t help but smile when she admitted ‘I’m just a Canadian in London loving every moment’, it’s fair to say all the Brits in the room were completely loving every moment too. - CelebMix

"Melissa Bel, yet another of Canada's great natural resources." — Larry Fedoruk, 610CKTB and Newstalk1010 - Newstalk 1010

WELLAND - Wailing guitars and a melodic voice are sounds most of us are used to hearing on the radio but for 22-year-old Melissa Bel the experience is a little more personal.

Bel has been aptly dubbed as an up-and-coming star, and in this case the critics are dead on.

The Burlington native has been busy over the past five years touring to promote her 2009 debut album Brave. The buzz from her first record even landed her in Germany.

“Besides the fact that my stage banter wasn’t quite as effective, the crowds were incredibly responsive. I’d had quite a lot of press for the tour so I actually had fans waiting outside for autographs.”

Now with the release of Bel’s second album, Distance, it’s only a matter of time before fans will be hounding her for pictures and autographs at home in Canada.

The title track by the same name has been causing some serious musical waves and now with the release of her first music video this past May for Distance, those who haven’t had the chance to see Bel perform live can witness what all the fuss is about.

Asked about her experience with filming her first video, Bel admitted it was a bit nerve-wracking at first.

“I wasn’t sure what it would be like looking into a camera while singing along to my own song, but once I got into the swing of things and with the help of the director ... I got right into it and it was so much fun. I can’t wait to do another one.”

Bel’s style is definitely an interesting one. She’s part soul, part blues and a lot of rock ’n’ roll infused with pop for good measure, but what’s been getting her the most fanfare is her strikingly powerful voice.

The young singer has been getting a lot of comparisons to Adele, and while both singers’ music is full of soul and emotion, Bel may have a leg up on the U.K. star. Not only does she write her own songs; she plays guitar on both of her albums as well as playing it live.

“Well any comparison to Adele is a huge compliment. It’s really important for me to play guitar to my own songs because it allows me to write and play them the way I would want to hear them. It took me a while to get comfortable playing in onstage but now I’d feel naked without it”

Bel has been making appearances across Niagara this spring, including an on air with Giant FM this past Sunday and a performance at the Niagara Food and Wine teaser in April. Bel will be in concert in Montreal at Quai des Brumes on June 26, promoting her new CD. This will kick off a mini-tour in Quebec. For more information and to view the Distance video, visit www.melissa-bel.com. - The Welland Tribune

While many of us were cleverly planning our escape from those dreadful fourth period classes at the age of 17, Burlington’s Melissa Bel was recording her first album called “Brave”. After it’s release one year later in 2009, her album received widespread radio play in Germany, and an impressive 5/5 stars in the influential magazine “Melodie & Rhythmus”. In addition, she toured Germany performing 14 shows in only 16 days! Talk about determination!

Now, we all know that with determination and hard-work we can create the foundation of a very successful future. Melissa, however, has something that not many of us are gifted with, and it is the driving force that will eventually gain her international recognition. The fresh-faced, petite 22-year-old has a dynamic voice that is saturated with soul!

Her voice will make any long-time music enthusiast nostalgic of a past when a singer’s voice was enough to capture the attention of hundreds, but it is contemporary enough to stop a novice listener on their tracks. Her recently released sophomore album, “Distance”, will undoubtedly find its way to households all around the globe. Despite the flooding of inauthentic talents in today’s mainstream media, Melissa’s natural talent will certainly shine through. If you don’t believe me, listen for yourself!

“Distance” (released under Frostbyte Media Inc.) is available through iTunes. You can also order the album through most Canadian music retail outlets and Amazon.ca.

Wave Maker Magazine also has TWO copies of “Distance” to giveaway to our wonderful readers! Click here for more details!


“With the first album, I was 17 when we started working on it and 18 when I finished. It was kind of bluesy, kind of rock, but it was really inexperienced and I had a lot of influence from the people who were working on the album. It’s great, but I dont think it sounds exactly like me. This album sounds like me – straight off my hands and mouth onto the album”







Charmaine: Many artists are always curious to know the processes of another, so what is your process like when it comes to creating music? Do the lyrics come first or the melody?

Melissa: It happens differently almost everytime, really. Sometimes songs will start with an idea for some lyric or part of a melody, or sometimes a chord progression. When I’m really lucky, they come to me at the same time like they’re meant to be together. I’ve sat down and written songs in a couple of hours, like “He’ll Never Be You”, but some require more crafting. “Joy Ride” took me about 6 months to create from start to finish.

Charmaine: What are some of the challenges that you’re facing now as you strive to break into an industry that focuses primarily on entertaining with flashing lights and loud noise?

Melissa: The challenge is simply figuring out where I do fit in. From a marketing point-of-view, it’s not obvious what should be done with a young, female singer/songwriter who plays the guitar and sings kind of bluesy, but kind of rock, and slightly folky, but the sound is mainstream enough to make it in the pop world. It’s a good challenge to have since my music is recognizeable but it can’t be pigeonholed into a single category.

Charmaine: Buddy Guy always says, “Keep the blues alive!”, because he fears that today’s youths will throw it over the edge by supporting many of today’s boneless music. However, it’s not that often that we find younger musicians opting to sing what is at times considered “traditional” or “outdated” music. Why sing the blues?

Melissa: I just saw Buddy Guy in concert a couple of months ago actually! – freakin’ amazing! Anyway, the blues is what seems to often come out of me when I go to write a song. It’s always been the type of music that really resonates with me, I think because it’s so heavily laced with emotions… and I simply love the way it sounds! I also sing/listen to/play the blues because sometimes, it’s the only thing you need to cure wh - Wave Maker Magazine

Melissa Bel proves age means nothing. At 20 she is throwing down soulful melodies that could put even the most experienced singer to shame. She’s got that girl power thing emanating from her lyrics. It’s not that lip gloss wearing, gum smacking, and platform shoe donning girl power. This is that raw stuff, borderline unhinged.

Acoustic guitar in tow, Bel doesn’t need all the bells (no pun intended) and whistles to glam out her sound. Her guitar presents her lyric’s point of view in tandem with a powerful set of pipes. She’s got the recipe for all that is good in the singer/songwriter genre. Once you turn on her album, Brave, you will find yourself entranced with its beautiful anguish.

Aside from her vocal range, her songs have a nice variety as well. “I wish you would kiss me” is poppy without giving you toothache (it’s not sugary). The only way to describe it is modern-retro-soul fusion. Albeit, modern-retro is an oxymoron, but that’s what it is. Not in that ‘why did bell bottoms ever make a comeback’ kind of way, more like the ‘vinyl LPs are making a comeback’ kind of way.

Pop sound aside, Bel has mastered the art of the soul ballad. “Better things to do” paints the portrait of one angry lady. Someone has done her wrong, and between her deep lyrics and powerful guitar strumming you find yourself feeling bad for the poor fool that has screwed her over, because you know he has it coming, bad. She’s not messing around.

Something else to point out is the non repetitive quality of her work. Her songs don’t beat you into repetitive oblivion like most songs these days, its storytelling. I suppose since her songs are about 3-4 minutes long they are technically vignettes. Semantics aside, it’s fresh.

Bel’s talent makes you forget the song/subject matter is sad, at times tragic. It’s that pretty. At the risk of sounding cliché I don’t want to say it’s beautiful but I’ll run the risk and say it anyway. It’s beautiful.

Sounds like-If Joss Stone and Sheryl Crow had a baby and Aretha Franklin was its godmother.
- Muzik Reviews

Melissa Bel is quite the sparkling star. I am intrigued, taken back and completely engaged within her smoky, sensual and hard-hitting voice. With a rare twist of rock, blues, jazz and pop, Bel mixes a flavourful blend of all the most pleasing genres that combine together to create ‘magic.’


Venturing out to 'The Pearl Company' one Saturday night, (who plays host to some of the greatest Canadian musicians I have ever heard) I had no idea what type of treat I was in for. Having never heard Melissa Bel before and having a burning curiosity to discover new Canadian talents, I was enthused to check her out.


And how lucky I was to have taken the trek down to the artistic Pearl venue.


As soon as this 20-year-old hit the stage, a powerhouse voice immediately took the presence of the floor, commanding the audiences’ attention. Wowed and shocked by her range capability, one could almost compare her to the likes of Christina Aguilera but with a more versatile and dynamic style of music.


Still, Bel proves with her Brave Album, that she bares her own rarity that can tackle any genre she attempts or already has attempted to conquer.


Bels voice is definitely one beyond her years, symbolically reminding me of a wild mustang that is controlled and tamed so perfectly within every song sung.


The Brave album reveals a sweet honesty, conviction and vulnerability to her lyrics that leads one along a beautiful story of love. As we follow her on this story of love one is able to see Bel has just as much passion behind her vocals as she does in her ability to write lyrics.


With songs like “Tear This Apart” I cant help but become wrapped in her fiery lyrics that are backed by an intense vocal melody that pairs both a killer rocker-blues tone.


The album is relatable and clearly identifiable to our loves heartaches and triumphs; it has the power to truly embark the audience on their own journeys of loves lost, found, treasured and forgotten. And I felt myself transcending back into those pockets of love reminiscence.


The real challenge for an artist lies in their ability to make an album that keeps the audience attention for more than three minutes. The Tear This Apart singer far exceeds this challenge.


Each song off her album provide lyrics that listeners can emotionally connect with paired with melodies that showcase a playful rhythm and packaged with a continuous row of songs that are far too intriguing to tune out.


With such humility and genuine love for her music, Bel performs a one women show as a triage of singer, performer and songwriter. The 20-year-old is not only a force to be reckoned with, but also an act to be taken ever so seriously. This girl is aimed, armed and ambitiously ready for the road to success, and she may very well be halfway down that road already. - QueenBeez Productions

If you live in Europe you are in for a real treat this fall when acoustic R&B / Rock singer and songwriter Melissa Bel releases her debut full length album, because despite battling a sore throat, which she used a combination of tequila and tea to treat, the twenty year old put on a dazzling display at Latitude in Burlington on Friday and Saturday July 24th and 25th.

Although Bel performed memorable renditions of songs such as, her powerful interpretation of Amanda Marshall’s “Let It Rain,” her funky version of Ben Harper’s “Steal My Kisses,” on which the audience joined her clapping to the beat, as she used the body of her acoustic guitar for percussion, and her tender cover of Jewel’s “You Were Meant For Me,” it was Bel’s original songs which provided insight into this artist's musical gifts.

Singing her own song “Tragedy In Disguise,” from her self-titled EP, Melissa Bel’s soulful, blues influenced vocals rocked the house, as she painted the heartbreak of a relationship coming to an end. Her most vivid lyrical images were brought forth in the tune, “The Ocean,” a song that was inspired by the songwriter’s recent trip to the Dominican Republic. In the song, the ocean is both the real water and also becomes a metaphor for that which keeps us from those for whom we care. With impeccable phrasing, Bel delivered a beautiful love letter.

With their vigorous applause, the audience demonstrated their appreciation for another Bel original “We All Lose Our Way,” and more than a few patrons exclaimed, ‘Wow,’ as the singer’s voice soared.

With her cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie,” Bel belied her sweet girl next door demeanor, with a growl in her voice and she turned in a sultry performance.

Bel’s R&B cover of “Some Kind Of Wonderful,” made famous by Soul Brothers Six (Atlantic Records) and later by Grand Funk Railroad, brought the house down. The song plays to the passion with which Melissa Bel serves up her music. At the other end of R&B’s emotional scale Bel’s soulful vocals recaptured the mood of Smokey Robinson’s “You Really Got A Hold On Me.”

Melissa Bel is a very gifted singer / songwriter who music fans should keep their eyes on. To get a little taste of what you are going to be hearing for many years Riveting Riffs Magazine strongly suggests you dial into her website or her myspace page to give a listen to her music.

- Riveting Riffs Magazine, www.rivetingriffs.com

"...fortunately the marvellous talent from Burlington has commited herself to her career as a singer and songwriter. So we can enjoy the awesome debut...10 greatly produced and composed songs between classic Rock and pounding Blues...one day she could be the the follow-up of Janis Joplin." - Melodie und Rhythmus

She was billed on the Canadian Music Week official schedule as “Melissa Bellm”, but this was changed soon after taking the Friday night opening stage at the Rivoli. “I’m changing my name to Melissa Bel,” she announced, carefully spelling out her new MySpace address. “Bellm was just too confusing.”

No matter which name she chooses to be remembered by, this young performer’s voice is certainly memorable. Amongst her listed influences, Aretha Franklin, Kelly Clarkson, and Mariah Carey provide much of the strong, independent inspiration that you can hear present in Melissa’s own style and emotional vocalization. Her music is varied and flows easily from pop, to rock, to tunes with a more R&B feel. Personally, I enjoyed her more bluesy songs more, setting her apart from the usual Indie/Pop/Rock offered by other performers and bands.

Melissa and her 5-piece band hail from the oh-so-far-away Burlington, Ontario. Although this show was the first gig the band has ever played together, you never would have guessed it; their sound is cohesive and well-showcases the vocal talents of Ms. Bel. Definitely worth hearing again!

Written by: Gordon Chiu
- grcphoto.ca

The title of Melissa Bel's upcoming album hints at exactly what the listener should know about this Burlington-based singer/songwriter. Brave integrates the emotional aspect of Melissa's music, her struggle through heartbreaks and the important life decision to kick the crowd and attempt to launch a music career instead of attending university. Her songs incorporate her personal coming-of-age story in hopes of reaching out to her age group with strong emotional and confessional aspects. Such thoughtful songwriting combined with powerful vocals ought to attract attention from early Christina Aguilera fans who still yearn for a little rock'n'roll. What can Melissa Bel offer your ears? Extraordinary talent, and although it may take more life experiences for this young woman to connect to an older generation, there is no doubt that within a few years she'll find the way to dig right through to your heart.

Writer - Alexandra Brown - Uncharted Sounds

Melissa Bel knew she wanted to be a singer at the age of six and her teen years have been spent taking her music to the next level. Some talent competitions and national anthem singing has offered some exposure but now barely old enough to play the clubs that might further her reputation, Bel is going into the school of rock forgoing a formal post secondary education — and her parents as well as her fans are behind her all the way. “I don't think that I could've asked for any more encouragement than what I was given from such a young age,” smiles the formally named Melissa Bellm who shortened the last name recently to ease confusion and coincide with a new label signing. “If anything, my parents encouraged me to not go to university and pursue music. I'm so lucky to have the kind of parents I have because they're so supportive and want to see me succeed in music just as much as I do.”
Bel has enlisted some local veteran names to work with including Rob Lamothe, Sean Ashby, Ray Lyell and new manager Tom Treumuth who has also produced her latest recordings. “I learned just as much during the process of recording an album as I would've if I'd been in university or college,” offers Bel. “It's feeling like a career now, instead of just a hobby.”
Late last year, Bel released a collection of songs that started piquing interest in industry types and within a few short months, she’s since signed a distribution deal with E1 Music (formally Koch Records), and released a new CDEP. With a voice that doesn’t betray her age, Bel admits taking influence from Amanda Marshall, Josh Stone or even the more veteran, Janis Joplin. While some of the song fodder displays a penchant for youthful pursuits, there are moments in Bel’s performance that are spine tingling. “I was raised on music like the Beatles, Annie Lennox, Bob Marley, and I love R&B and blues, so my influences come from more than just Brittany and Christina,” muses Bel on her influences. “I like to think of my music as mainstream, but with a little, or a lot, more personality than pop. A fan recently told me that they describe my music to others as ‘balls with silk panties’. As long as people don't take that literally I think it's kind of cool, or creative at the very least. “Two of my personal challenges right now are to write a love song that's actually kind of uplifting as opposed to about getting your heart trampled on, and write a song that's not about love at all,” adds the singer. “I know that a lot of people my age will be able to relate to many of the songs on the album, and they would agree that coming out of your youth in one piece isn't exactly effortless.”
While success will come from much more hard work, it’ll be interesting to track what happens in the next year for the young Ms. Bel. Whatever the destination, Bel is simply thrilled with her current journey’s direction.
“I've totally practiced my Grammy–acceptance speech in front of the mirror,” she laughs. “As much as I'm dying to wake up tomorrow morning and go on a world tour, if I'm not destined for superstardom, I would be totally content to continue making and playing music for anyone who will listen. I'll continue being an artist on any scale because making that kind of connection with people, even total strangers, is unique to the power of music.”

Melissa Bel performs Tuesday, March 17th at The Blue Moon Lounge with Mad Soul, Grant Taylor, Trevor Howard, and Andy Stedman.

By: Ric Taylor - View Magazine

"Melissa's incredible, smooth voice is used to great effect as she travels through blues, pop, soul, rock, and folk with ease."

-Hamilton Blues Lovers, blueshamilton.blogspot.com (Sept. 15, 2009) - Hamilton Blues Lovers

"The 20-year-old seems to fit nicely in that space generally occupied by the likes of John Mayer. Fortunately, she's got the underlying white girl funk power you hear in voices like Joss Stone's to back her up. Nothing like a little soul to kick your act up a notch." - Les Enfants Terribles