Melissa Brown
Interview conducted on November 27, 2020
by Dan Locke
OXYGEN is a ROCK band out of New York. We write, produce and record all our own music. FLOWER POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!
What is your upbringing?
Melissa Brown: I come from a working-class family from Massapequa, New York, USA. My parents were amazing people who encouraged my interest in music at a young age. We were not rich in money but we were rich in life. So, you see, I had a magical childhood.
How did you discover music?
Melissa Brown: From listening to my parent’s old cassettes. The first album I learned to sing was The Phil Spector Christmas album. My father turned me on to the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and old Blues when I was four years old. I was a lucky kid.
How did you start to write music?
Melissa Brown: Just to express myself in the beginning. The first song I wrote was called “I hate my Mommy” after a punishment when I was five years old. As a teenager, my songwriting improved. Now I just try my best to keep learning and grow as an artist.
Describe your music
Melissa Brown: My music is blues-based Rock but I have lots of other influences and styles. Folk music, Hard Rock, Soul, Heavy Metal, etc.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
Melissa Brown: I got my first guitar as a Birthday gift from my father and still have it. A black Ibanez Roadstar 2 from the mid-eighties. Very similar to a Fender Strat.
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model and does it have a name?
Melissa Brown: The guitar I use now is a silver Burns Of London custom elite. This model was the first ‘Burns’ made in Korea. Its name is ‘Silver Machine” after the Hawkwind song.
What was your first performance at like?
Melissa Brown: My first performance was awesome but scary until I got onstage. I sang and acted as Bam Bam from The Flintstones in a talent competition when I was five years old. I LOVED the stage and won first place. After that, I sang in Blues and Rock clubs all over New York.
What makes a good songwriter?
Melissa Brown: That is a hard question. In my opinion, the best songwriters are born with a rare ability to relate and connect to the listener in ways others can’t. They also have the ability to bring out strong feelings of both love and hate for their art. Never indifference.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association?
Melissa Brown: No I don’t.
What was the title of your first original song?
Melissa Brown: “A lot on my mind” was my first real original song.
Did you record it?
Melissa Brown: Yes. I wrote it when I was a teenager and recorded it years later with my band Oxygen.
How did you get together with Andrei Cerbu. We did a interview with Victoria K, who also worked with Andrei?
Melissa Brown: I have been a big fan of Andrei for many years. My friend showed me a video of him playing ‘Stand by me” when he was only six years old. When he asked me to record a Twisted Sister song with him I couldn’t say no. It was a lot of fun. Andrei Cerbu is a GREAT talent.
Tell me about your band Oxygen?
Melissa Brown: My band, Oxygen is a Rock band out of New York, USA. The current members are me, Jack Difiore – Bass and Clayton Zeno Johnson – keyboards. We use outside musicians for recordings and live shows and have been lucky to have played with some amazing people from both New York and all over the world.
How did you get the bands name?
Melissa Brown: From the song “Love is like ‘Oxygen” by The Sweet.
What do you feel is your top song?
Melissa Brown: “A case of the blues”. The lineup is: Yours Truly on vocals. Stevie Cochran – guitar. Jack Difiore – Bass. Bobby Rondinelli – Drums. Mark Mancini – Keyboards. Jason Alburez – Additional background vocals.
What is Flower Power with an Attitude?
Melissa Brown: “Flower Power with an Attitude” is the lifestyle and music of the modern-day hippie from New York, USA.
How do you stay healthy while performing?
Melissa Brown: I don’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes and try to get as much sleep as possible.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Melissa Brown: I think it’s great! Years ago, musicians did not have the opportunities to be heard all over the world via streaming.
How can people forget about the origin hashtag # Sharp in a musical score?
Melissa Brown: I don’t read music…I play by ear so I’m not sure what you mean by hashtag Sharp. Sorry.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Melissa Brown: Digital because it’s convenient.
What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?
Melissa Brown: Feelings of sadness and disgust for many of my fellow Americans. Under the weak leadership of President Donald Trump, the people here are turning on each other in times of crisis. Some are helping but some are making life worse. I hope for change…I hope for peace.
What song from the past is in your mind right now?
Melissa Brown: “Dancing in the moonlight” by King Harvest.
Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Melissa Brown: My father taught me to dance to that song. It was playing on an old radio he had restored and set to the oldies station.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Melissa Brown: it’s Hard to predict but I think there will be a lot more virtual, live concerts on TV, Netflix,YouTube etc.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Melissa Brown: I’ve been hiding out in my studio making music. I lost my home during the pandemic like a lot of other Americans.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Melissa Brown: Yes. I’m working on some wall art in my music studio.
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
Melissa Brown: My favorite is YouTube. It’s free and has any kind of music you want.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
Melissa Brown: I think more entertainment on Facebook and other social media is better due to the pandemic. Virtual concerts are the only safe way to see live music now so I think Facebook is really wrong to do this.
How can bands keep their fans if they can not play live in front of the fans and sell merch to them at the show?
Melissa Brown: By making music and videos to post on social media and setting up merch stores online.
Is pay to play still a thing?
Melissa Brown: It should be but some venues do not pay fairly. Best avoid them.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Melissa Brown: Sounds cool but I don’t have a living room.
If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
Melissa Brown: If I couldn’t play music I would like to be an interior painter.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Melissa Brown: Thank you so much for the interview and STAY SAFE!!!
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