Long after midnight when the city sleeps
I breathe the silence night sounds carry across
and watch the work-worn silhouettes
glide like midnight-whispers
between the walls of steel and glass.
Down alleyways and dirt-drawn mazes
bodies sail home into the night;
over rivers of lamplight,
beneath the gaze of morning stars
footsteps dissolve into the dark.
Even though it has no name,
still I feel it; it comes to me in waves,
like sound across the wire, like memory,
like fragments of a secret we've been told.
In daylight it can be so hard to hold to.
Something like a thread we've all belonged to
spins inside me, higher than the borders that divide,
deeper than language,
wider than the winds that lift the air,
beautiful beyond belief.
MG
A North-Londoner with Liverpudlian and Middle-Eastern roots, Melinda began honing her songs on the live scene not far from where she was raised on the outskirts of Camden. Many of her favourite gigs sat just beneath the radar on the local circuit, from the open mic nights at The Royal Exchange to acoustic sets at the Caernarvon Castle. It was there that she began selling home-made CDs and peddling her own tricksy brew of musical fusion.
On the back of her solo adventures as a singer-songwriter she has been invited to work with numerous artists, from UK producers UNKLE (on albums More Stories and End Titles…) to former Transglobal Underground members Temple of Sound, with whom she toured across Europe and Asia as a lead vocalist, culminating in headlining the W.O.M.A.D. festival in Singapore. She can also be heard on their album Globalhead, having co-written the track Wings of Desire.
Her journey into EDM began when producers Mark Pledger and Oli Smith invited her to feature in their collaboration with Gatecrasher DJ Matt Hardwick. The resulting track Connected was championed by Radio One and described by DJ Mag as "perfected brilliance... Melinda Gareh's vocal haunts, enchants and bewitches in precise measures... her lyrics and delivery are faultless.” The Unknown, her follow-up release with White Water, was reviewed by veteran DJ Graham Gold as "Musically and vocally a real winner," received five stars from DJ Mag... "Melinda Gareh's vocals are stunning," and was remixed later that year by the world’s No.1 DJ Paul Van Dyk for inclusion on his Politics of Dancing Vol.2 album. Her next collaboration with Mark Pledger entitled Fallen Tides received a five star review from DJ Mag and was voted record of the week by both Above and Beyond and TATW listeners before being picked up for The Thrillseekers' Nightmusic Vol.3. compilation and the Ministry of Sound 2008 Annual. Supernal, her follow-up collaboration with Matt Hardwick, was the debut release for his label Kill the Lights (a Radio One airing can be heard on her myspace music player), and her upcoming single with Mark Pledger, entitled Time Stands Still, was DJ Mag's trance single of the month, reviewed as having "vocals and lyrics virtually without peer in the past twelve months... a magical track."
Whilst her inspirations run from Tori Amos to Patty Griffin via The Stone Roses, she occasionally feels most at home listening to Sufjan Stevens or old Prince records. Still based in London she is currently working on material for her debut solo album. Two of the album's tracks, Violet and Surrender, can be heard on her myspace music player.
For Mel's poetry or more about Mel click on the blog links above
Thanx a lot for the friendship! Keep up the good work! And let your soul be your pilot - today, tommorow, always! From Russia with love... MAX DMITRIEFF, singer & songwriter www.myspace.com/KatherinesFavorites
Heya Mel Just dropped by your page and have to say I'm really digging your tunes. I think some of these are new, no? Fab stuff. :-) Keep on keepin on Steve xox
Hi Melinda, just stop say hello and leave a greeting ;) if you want a little time check it out my space, I post some of my work art pics - paintings ;)
your brand new track "supernal" with matt hardwick is great! it's always great to hear new music with your vocals in it, like a breath of fresh air! cheers!
Hey Mel, I'm just listening to Breathless and it is absolutely enchanting. So when are you releasing your EP? How's life, the world, etc. I loved the J K Rowling quote you emailed. k x
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