BLUES singer Melissa Bel planned on going to university after high school, but when she told her vocal coach about her plans, he had other ideas.
"I knew I wanted to pursue music to some extent and my vocal coach at the time, Ray Lyell, convinced me not to go to university," Bel says.
Since her decision to pursue a music career, Bel has gone on to reach number one on local charts and perform in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany.
Bel, 24, released her third album, Don't Forget To Breathe on June 4 with a release party for the album at Le Cheval Blanc in Montreal.
The Burlington, Ont., native says her latest recording has some newer sounds and more mature lyrics than on previous efforts.
"This is the first time I've ever used a drum loop in an album," Bel says. "I was really hesitant and kind of resistant to it at first because I never want to come off too poppy. I want to keep that organic sound that I've always loved. So I think that we struck a really cool sound."
Bel has been singing since she could talk. Her first album was released in 2009 when she was 18. Three years later she released Distance, which reached number one on the Montreal jazz and blues charts. Both albums were produced by Tom Treumuth, who has worked with Big Sugar, Gypsy Rose and Honeymoon Suite.
The Lester B. Person High School graduate cites a wide range of influences such as, The Beatles, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, Jason Mraz, Aretha Franklin, Christina Aguilera and Bob Marley.
Bel says it is typically the subject matter in songs that impact and influence her.
"When I find something that is right where I am at that time of my life that's what I latch onto," she says.
Bel's music struck a chord with listeners overseas early on in her career. In 2010 she toured across Germany, performing 14 shows in 16 days.
"It was my first tour ever," she says. "I got to Germany and I had fans there, which absolutely blew my mind because it is across the ocean from us. I couldn't believe it."
According to Bel, despite the language barrier the crowd listened very attentively to her music.
"They seemed so appreciative of the music," she says. "They still had a connection to the music despite not knowing the words, which meant a lot to me."
That same year Bel inked a record deal with Toronto-based Frostbite Media Inc. The label has a distribution agreement with Universal Music Canada and their diverse lineup includes SoShy and Mathew Good.
"It's hard to summarize all the things they help me out with," she says. "It is so nice to know I have a team behind me doing all the stuff behind the scenes. It gives me more of a chance to focus on what I need to do as an artist."
Bel has previously opened for Mathew Good and she has shared the stage with Serena Ryder, Colin James and Ron Sexsmith. She says that working alongside big names is both scary and humbling but it is also a learning experience.
"You learn so much from their confidence and how they approach the stage," Bel says.
She often performs across southern Ontario and Quebec. In July she will be performing at Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ont., as part of the city's Canada Day celebrations.
"I got to sing the anthem here in Burlington a few years ago but this year my band and I are going to be performing my music," she says. "It's an honour to be asked to perform at that in my hometown. As excited as it is to play in different places, it is always nice to come home."
In addition to her performances, Bel has sung the national anthem at Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors games. In June, she will be singing the national anthem for the Quebec Capitals, a Can-Am League baseball team.
"I am doing the Canadian anthem in French, which I've never done before in public," Bel says. "Doing the anthem even in your own language is nerve-racking because it's one of the only songs that if you screw up people are going to know."
Bel receives airplay on a handful of radio stations in B.C. including 98.3 CIFM in Kamloops. She also can be heard on Internet radio stations around the world including, i-Radio Pilipinas in the Philippines, Radio Garito de Blues in Spain, Kansas City Online Radio in Missouri and INtune Radio in Toronto.
Since the beginning of her career social media has played a vital role in expanding her fan base.
"It's so great because it allows me to keep in contact with those fans that aren't local to me," Bel says. "I think it is such a great way to interact with fans on a regular basis and give them little insights and sneak peeks into what I am doing. That's something that I find cool and interesting from my favourite artists."
Bel is already working on her next album, which will be released in 2014. She says that it is important for her to be as productive as she can.
"I put a lot of pressure on myself but that is because when you go into a career like this, especially when you're just starting, you don't want to have someone else putting that pressure on you and making it feel like another type of job," she says. "I like to make sure I am being as productive as I can."
For more information on Melissa Bel and her music visit melissa-bel.com.
