FULL-HEARTED FOLK SONGS

Singer-songwriter Melanie Marshall draws inspiration from the landscapes, legends, sounds and spirit of her home state of California, as well as from precious moments shared with loved ones.

Melanie’s debut single, Bottle This Moment, was described as “a peaceful and restorative gem” by Kara Cutruzzula of Brass Ring Daily. Her single Joshua Tree was featured in an episode of 90 Miles from Needles: the Desert Protection Podcast, with host Chris Clarke noting the song “thematically underscores the significance of preserving this desert species.”

Melanie began playing music to keep up with her older brother. When he took up the guitar, she picked up a violin. She studied with a Juilliard-trained virtuoso who introduced her to the discipline of practice and the art of performance. Melanie later discovered her passion for singing and majored in music at UC Berkeley, where she performed the arias of Mozart and Puccini and choral masterpieces of Bach, Handel and Beethoven.

Melanie began writing songs after moving to Los Angeles, inspired by the region’s energy, ambition and creative spirit. She developed her craft through UCLA Extension classes, NSAI Malibu Chapter meetings and a long-running Wednesday night peer feedback group. Prior to the pandemic, she could often be found busking on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. She lives in San Diego.