A new single from Melissa Farrior oozes with character in a sultry and alluring delivery packed with soul and this smooth and enticing atmosphere that she creates with her character which is impactful as it draws you in and keeps you right where it wants you.
"Leave The Light On" is Lush and full-bodied with beautiful soundscapes that swim around through the air that surrounds you so that you can float along with it and get washed away with everything.
A gorgeous single that keeps to this contemporary soul-pop vibe but also touches on several other undertones and also has this little hint of edginess to it that is just undeniable.
There's something about this song that you can tell a certain kind of meaning to the artist like it came from personal life experience.
Listening to this song is like waking up from a dream and when it's over you have to sort of shake it off to come back to reality.
This aspect alone is incredibly awesome because you just don't get that a lot and to have a song engulf you in such a way feels great.
The single has floating guitars and this percussion that's almost hypnotic but there's also this building intensity that happens at certain points.
This is a very well-arranged and especially delivered single.
And that's the thing with songs like this. That performance has to be spot on for it to really come through the way it was meant to, and Melissa does this with such ease it seems, that it's incredibly charming even.
I love music like this, and I miss music like this.
Songs that pick you up and take you to different places as someone tells their story and does it in such a way that it entices you to keep listening on.
This track also comes with an accompanying music video that really displays the artist's beautiful presence and showcases her in such a wonderful way that it makes you want to see her live in person.
Another thing about the single is it does have a very cinematic tonality to it which is another reason why the creation of a music video for the single was an absolute must.
It all falls together like pieces of a puzzle, and you come out of it immediately searching for more from the artist.
On Spotify, this single seems to be a debut that blew my mind because you can obviously tell that she's been singing since she was a little kid.
So, we get to kind of see Melissa Farrior at the beginning of her music career in a way that is super fun because then we also get to see how she evolves and changes.
With the release of such a wonderfully woven single, we wanted to have a sit-down with Melissa to see where this actually came from and what's coming up next for her.
Here's what happened.
Buzz Slayers: Okay Melissa, let's start with "Leave the Light On". This single has an amazingly pop soul feel to it! How did this track come about?
At the time the song was written, I was newly single yet still in contact with my ex. It felt like there was a revolving door for either of us to use, whenever we needed to, and I was okay with that. The co-writer, Galo Pacheco and I met up for a writing session later that week and the lyrics flowed out quite easily. He played a swampy guitar riff over the lyrics which gave it a haunting feel and then this sensual and soulful tone emerged. I wanted the song to empower the sensuality of women in a tasteful way. It took plenty of time to find the right players and recording engineer but finally, here we are.
Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you musically? When did you fall in love with music?
I fell in love with music at a young age. By the time I was 5, I was singing and dancing every chance I got. My mother was an Opera singer, and she inspired the crap out of me, every time she sang. My sisters and I grew up singing in church and school choirs and that gave me a taste for the stage. Being on a stage felt like home so when my parents realized this, they signed me up for piano lessons and guitar lessons at 8 years old. I quit them within 6 months but found my way back to both after high school.
Buzz Slayers: What kind of things really inspire songs for you?
Personal experiences are where most of my inspiration comes from, but I also find it interesting to write about current events or friends/strangers experiences that catch my attention. When inspiration strikes, I try to not waste it.
Buzz Slayers: This single has some great styles combinations on it! Can you give us some of your biggest influences musically?
Thank you. One of the reasons I’m proud of this song is the fact that it doesn’t necessarily fit into any, one genre. I have been influenced by many artists over the years for different reasons but here are a few: Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Susan Tedeschi, Alabama Shakes (Brittney Howard), Honey Honey (Suzanne Santo), Brandi Carlile, The Chicks, Sheryl Crow, Chris Stapleton, Civil Wars (Joy Williams) and so many more.
Buzz Slayers: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
Most of the time, I’m working to fund all of my music endeavors but when I get a little free time, I love to go hiking and camping. If it’s possible to add some paddle boarding and/or kayaking into the mix, I’m a happy girl.
Buzz Slayers: Who's in your headphones right now?
So many incredible artists. Marcus King is playing at this moment, but this week has been full of Otis Redding, Dr.Dog, Caamp, Suzanne Santo, Nikki Lane, Brandi Carlile, Miley Cyrus, Tedeschi Trucks Band, BB King, Highway Women, Margo Price, Allman Brothers, The Cranberries and Chris Stapleton.
Buzz Slayers: Are you doing any live performances right now?
Yes, you can find me performing at The Tin Roof (Nashville, TN) most Saturday nights. I’ll be at Acme Feed and Seed (Nashville TN) March 25th and The Listening Room (Pigeon Forge) April 8th.
More shows will be finalized in the upcoming weeks so stay tuned.
Buzz Slayers: Did you record yourself or hit a big studio for this?
I recorded this single and the next two releases at The Bomb Shelter recording studio, in Nashville, TN. Jack Tallmann was the recording engineer, Bill Reynolds was the mixing engineer and Raelynn Janicke, from Infrasonic was the mastering engineer.
I also had a wonderful band accompanying me in the studio: Shane Mulhall on electric guitar, Thomas Banks on bass guitar and keys, Brad Dawson on Drums and auxiliary and I played acoustic guitar for each track.
Buzz Slayers: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
I will be releasing two new singles over the next few months; new merch is in the works, and I will be touring this summer!
Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
Thank you for listening, commenting on and sharing my music. It means the world to me and I’m excited to get back in the studio, later this year to record the rest of the album. Stayed tuned for tour dates and upcoming single releases!