Melanie Horsnell
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Melanie Horsnell is a singer-songwriter from New South Wales, Australia.
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[edit] Early lifestyle
Melanie first picked up a guitar at the age of five, learning the classical and flamenco styles of play. At just 10 years of age she began busking at Manly Beach where passersby were intrigued by the little flaxen haired doll with the oversized cowboy hat. By her late teens, she still hadn’t really thought of continuing her music career – she had her heart set on managing Woolworths – until she won a spot on The Northern Composure CD and national songwriting competitions. From there she headed to London for a year, and the songs really started to flow. Melanie spent the year busking on a daily basis and working on her songwriting skills.
Back home, Melanie began her residency at the Excelsior Hotel in Glebe in 2000 and became regarded as one driving forces behind Sydney’s blossoming “NuFolk” movement. Over the years at the Excelsior, Melanie performed with some remarkable artists including Paul Greene, Andy Clockwise, Bertie Blackman, peregrine, Tim Ireland and Wesley Carr. Her residency continued for 4 years, but there were larger things afoot for the young songstress.
[edit] Biography
In 2001, Melanie independently released her first EP, Don’t Know What to Say, followed the next year her second EP Magic Mirror (produced by Garth Porter). A brilliant release, Magic Mirror was soon picked up by radio across the country and led to Melanie signing with Shock Publishing worldwide. Soon after, Melanie was approached to write songs for popular children’s show The Saddle Club and to score the soundtrack for the film Love in the First Degree.
In 2003, Melanie began work on her debut album, again with Garth Porter behind the desk. The first single “Birds” earned Melanie high rotation on the Triple J network and saw her embark on countless adventures across the country.
A demo of her debut album The Adventures of... found its way into the hands of Bert Pijpers of Rounder Records in Europe and he was immediately taken with Melanie’s angelic voice and superb songwriting. Soon after, she signed to Rounder records in Europe in 2004 and her debut album The Adventures Of... was released in The Netherlands, Germany and the UK - in February 2005, the album was released in rest of Europe.
Melanie even did a crash course in French to record the French version of the beatlesque pop gem “I Just Want Some Love” which helped The Adventures Of… wind up as feature album on national radio in France this year. Melanie has recently returned from her third tour of Europe, with each trip seeing her audience expand markedly. The most recent tour saw Melanie headlining her own shows in The Netherlands and Paris. Melanie also played to a packed house at The Esplanade in Singapore in early 2005.
Somehow crammed in between her European tours, Melanie has managed two Australian tours, one as support for Irish super group The Frames and has now set up her very own Independent label in Australia, Inflatable Girlfriend Records.
Horsnell has supplied vocals for several songs used in television commercials, including McDonald's, Johnnie Walker, and Bonds (company).
Her Australian fans were satisfied when they finally saw the release of her album "The Adventures of..." in September 2005 through Inflatable Girlfriend Records/MGM.
Horsnell, with the group Forever Thursday, is the lead singer on the song "How Can It Be", music for a J.C. Penney advertisement shown during the 2007 Oscars.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- The Adventures of...[UK] - 2004
- The Adventures of...[AUS] - 2005
[edit] EP's
- Don’t Know What to Say - (2001)
- Magic Mirror - (2002)
- Birds - (2003)
[edit] Music videos
- Birds - (2004)
- I Just Want Some Love - (2005)
