Melanie Fiona facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melanie Fiona
Hallim performing live at Luminato in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Melanie Fiona Hallim
Also known as	Syren Hall
Born	(1983-07-04) July 4, 1983 (age 42) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	R&B pop soul reggae
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Roc Nation SRC Universal Motown Universal Republic

Melanie Fiona Hallim, born on July 4, 1983, is a talented singer and songwriter from Canada. She grew up in Toronto, Ontario. Melanie started her music journey in 2002. She was part of an R&B group called X-Quisite. Their album was even nominated for a Juno Award in 2004! Later, she formed a duo called The Renaissance with fellow Toronto artist Drake. However, they did not release any albums together.

Melanie Fiona's first solo album, The Bridge, came out in 2009. Her first song from the album was "Give It to Me Right". It reached number 20 on the Canadian charts. Her next song, "It Kills Me", became a big hit in the US. It climbed into the top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This song also earned her a Grammy Award nomination! Her song "Monday Morning" became very popular in Europe. The Bridge also got her nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

Her second album, The MF Life, was released in 2012. It reached number 7 on the US Billboard 200 chart. In 2012, Melanie Fiona won two Grammy Awards. She won for Best Traditional R&B Performance and Best R&B Song. These awards were for her song "Fool for You" with CeeLo Green.

Melanie Fiona's Early Life and Music Journey

Growing Up in Toronto

Melanie Fiona Hallim, known professionally as Melanie Fiona, was born on July 4, 1983. Her birthplace was Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her parents moved to Canada from Guyana in the late 1970s. Her family background includes Afro-Guyanese, Indo-Guyanese, and Portuguese roots.

Melanie's father was a guitarist in a band. Her mother worked in banking. Melanie grew up in a home filled with music. She started writing songs when she was just 16 years old. She always knew music was her true passion.

Starting Her Career with Groups

In 2002, Melanie Fiona joined a girl group called X-Quisite. The other members were Nicole Holness and Nirvana Savoury. They signed with Warner Music Canada. Their first album, X-Quisite, came out in 2003.

At the Juno Awards of 2004, the group was nominated. They were recognized for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. The group released popular songs like "Bad Girl" and "No Regrets". X-Quisite later broke up in 2005.

Melanie also formed a group called The Renaissance with rapper Drake. Early in her career, she often performed in nightclubs in Toronto.

Moving to Los Angeles

In 2005, Melanie Fiona traveled to Los Angeles. She was looking for a recording contract. Record labels liked her look and her singing. However, Melanie felt they would try to change her style. She wanted to stay true to herself.

She then started writing songs for other artists. These included Rihanna and Kardinal Offishall. She worked with famous producers like Mike City. Melanie also recorded a reggae song called "Somebody Come Get Me". She used the name Syren Hall for this song. It was featured on the Reggae Gold 2008 album.

Making Her Mark with The Bridge

Melanie Fiona performing in Bern, Switzerland in 2009.

In 2007, music executive Steve Rifkind discovered Melanie Fiona. He signed her to SRC Records and Universal Motown. She then went on tour with Kanye West on his Glow in the Dark Tour. Before finishing her first album, Melanie met with Jay-Z. She played some of her music for him. Soon after, she was signed to be managed by Roc Nation.

Her first album, The Bridge, was released in June 2009. It sold many copies in the United States. Beyond Race Magazine named her one of the "50 Emerging Artists" of 2009.

Popular Songs from The Bridge

Several songs from The Bridge became singles. "It Kills Me" was a huge success. It stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for 10 weeks! This song also earned her a Grammy Award nomination in 2010.

"Give It to Me Right" was the first official single. It reached number 41 in the UK. "Monday Morning" became a number 1 hit in Switzerland and Poland. It also reached number 5 in Austria. Melanie Fiona also joined "We Are the World 25 for Haiti". This song helped raise money after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. She also toured with Alicia Keys in 2010.

New Albums and Projects

The MF Life Album

In 2011, Melanie Fiona started working on her second album. The first song released was "Gone and Never Coming Back." It became her second highest-charting song on the US R&B chart. Later that year, she released "4 AM". This song is about a partner who is cheating. It reached number 8 on the US R&B chart. Melanie Fiona's album, The MF Life, was released on March 20, 2012.

On January 2, 2012, she sang "O Canada" at the 2012 NHL Winter Classic. This was a big hockey game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers.

Working on Awake and Say Yes

As an independent artist, Melanie Fiona announced her third album, Awake, in October 2013. She released the song "Cold Piece" during this time. In May 2015, she shared a new song called "Bite the Bullet." This song was planned for her new album. Melanie told VIBE magazine that she wanted people to know her better through her music. She wanted her songs to make people feel good and less alone.

In September 2015, she announced two more songs for the album: "I Tried" and "Killing Time." "Killing Time" was written after a breakup. However, in 2019, Melanie Fiona announced that the Awake album would not be released.

On October 25, 2024, Melanie Fiona released two new songs. They were "Say Yes" and "I Choose You." These songs are the main singles for her new album, also called Say Yes. This album is set to be released in April 2025. The song "Say Yes" was produced by Andre Harris. It was co-written with singer-songwriter SiR.

Melanie Fiona's Personal Life

Melanie Fiona has a son with songwriter Jared Cotter. Their son was born on March 14, 2016. Melanie and Jared got engaged on February 14, 2018. They originally planned to get married in Amalfi Coast, Italy. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused them to postpone their wedding three times. The couple finally married privately in Los Angeles on December 12, 2020. They welcomed a daughter in December 2021.

Melanie Fiona's Musical Style

Her Voice

Melanie Fiona has a powerful singing voice. Her voice is often described as "soulful" and "sassy." People praise her vocals for being "very passionate." They also note that her singing is "clean and controlled."

Musical Inspirations

Melanie Fiona has many musical influences. She looks up to artists like The Ronettes, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Mariah Carey. Other inspirations include Sam Cooke, Sade, The Supremes, and Amy Winehouse. She also mentioned Brandy as a major inspiration. Melanie called Janet Jackson an "icon" and found her career inspiring.

She said Lauryn Hill's album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill changed her perspective on music. Melanie credits her parents for her unique, vintage sound. Her father played guitar in a band. Her mother often sang around the house. She explained that her parents loved music. They played soul music all the time. They also played Caribbean music like soca, calypso, and reggae.

Melanie Fiona's songwriting often comes from her own experiences. She tries to make her songs relatable to everyone. Even when she writes about personal things, the themes are often universal. Her music has been compared to artists like Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill.

Melanie Fiona's Albums

• The Bridge (2009)
• The MF Life (2012)

Awards and Nominations

BET Awards

The BET Awards celebrate achievements by African Americans and other minority groups. These awards are given in music, acting, sports, and entertainment.

Eska Music Awards

The Eska Music Awards are a big Polish awards ceremony. They honor national and international music.

Grammy Awards

A Grammy Award is a special honor given by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. It recognizes amazing achievements in the music industry.

Juno Awards

The Juno Awards are given every year to Canadian musical artists and bands. They celebrate their artistic and technical achievements in music.

NAACP Image Awards

An NAACP Image Award is an honor given by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. It celebrates outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature.

Soul Train Music Awards

The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual show. It honors the best in Black music and entertainment.

See also

In Spanish: Melanie Fiona para niños