Northern Soul: Melanie Fiona x Rocawear x Reggae

Words by Jesse Serwer

We’ve been following our girl Melanie Fiona since back when she was voicing Supa Dups-produced one-drop riddims under the name Syren Hall. It’s been two years since the lovely, soulful Guyanese-Canadian songstress kinda sorta bruk out with the Zombies-sampling “Give It To Me Right”, and we’re starting to feel like it’s finally her time to take things to that next level. Just check the resume she compiled in the short ass month of February alone: A starring role alongside Trey Songz in Roc-A-Fella’s spring/summer ad campaign (See above and again after the jump for some highlights) here, a gig singing “Oh Canada” at the NBA All-Star Game there, and a unexpected cameo on Cee-Lo’s new single “Fool For You” outta leftfield (In its original album form The Lady Killer track featured Earth Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey). Most importantly, in our minds at least, Melly Mel’s returned to her reggae roots with a feature on “No Cigarette Smoke (In My Room),” a leak (single?) from Stephen Marley’s upcoming Revelation Part 1: The Book Of Life.

[audio:http://largeup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Stephen-Marley-Feat.-Melanie-Fiona-No-Cigarette-Smoke-In-My-Room.mp3|titles=Stephen Marley Feat. Melanie Fiona – No Cigarette Smoke (In My Room)]

All of which is meant to be an appetizer for The MF Life, the upcoming, Roc Nation-backed follow-up to her 2009 debut, The Bridge. In a recent interview with Sound-Savvy.com she described the LP’s sound as “stadium soul,” which sounds pretty good. Of course we hope the Toronto native will find some room to tap back into the Caribbean vibes that run deep in her hometown. About time this Guyanese gal tried her hand at some soca, no?