Reggae sensations Munga, Duane Stephenson, and Pressure are scheduled to arrive in Belize tomorrow for Saturday’s Reggae Fest. But one of the concert’s stars is already here – and that’s because she lives here! She is Melonie Gillett, a Belizean R&B styled singer who will take the stage at the MCC grounds at midnight to usher in Independence Day. Gillett will perform her song “Rush” – a monster hit on radio. It is a big break for the 24 year old rising star who grew up in Burrell Boom and for whom the sky now seems to be the limit.
Melonie Gillett, R&B Singer
“I actually started maybe in my early teens when I started at my choir in my church in Boom, Burrell Boom, the Sacred Heart Church and we just kind of had a little group of people, maybe five people, and we would just sing every week and try to uplift the congregation.”
Melonie Gillett has come a long way from that church in Boom. She will be one of the headline performers at Saturday’s reggae fest.
Melonie Gillett,
“I couldn’t believe that I was on the front, in the middle of these two major international artists and I said maybe I would get a little corner slot or something but I was very excited, very appreciative.”
Two years ago she quit her job at a beauty salon and turned to music full time.
Melonie Gillett,
“I had a hair salon and I left to do this, yes. I was trying to do the two things and I decided I have to just focus on one and I chose my music and that was when I really started recording and since then I haven’t stopped recording.”
It was a gamble that paid off. Melonie hit it big on radio this summer with
her song – “Rush” – an r and b song that became an instant hit.
Melonie Gillett,
“I have heard people say they are around discussing the song and they would say who sings the song and someone would say Melonie Gillett a Belizean and they would be like never, I neva know she sings that. So I guess the reaction, like I said it is great. I still don’t realize how much of a hit it is but the things that people are saying about it and the comments on the radio station. I think I started to feel good about it when it made the top ten countdown.”
Rrush” propelled the 24 year old to the front of the stage at the Costa Maya Festival in August and now as one of the headliners at Saturday’s reggae fest.
Melonie Gillett,
“I know now that this is definitely what I want to do and I have it on the internet, myspace.com/melaniegillett, just trying to get out there more because I think that when your country loves you, that is the major thing and then you can move on because I guess they are the harshest critics, the people you have around you, most important as well.”
Keith Swift,
In the future where do you want to go?
Melonie Gillett,
“The sky is the limit, as far as I can go. I guess to the end of the road.”
Melonie Gillett is currently working on a video for “rush.” That should be out within the next month – which is when the song should also be available in stores. Gillett is in the studio working on a full album with her producer Kendoyll Simpson. For more on Melonie visit her myspace Page at http://www.myspace.com/meloniegillett.
