I am so excited to announce that my EP Little Girl is officially out into the world.  You can listen, stream and buy >>>here <<<

It's on most major platforms where you find music.  

You can also buy it directly from my store >>>here <<<

I had a small run of physical CD's made up so those are also available at my store under the merch tab. 

To celebrate the occasion I had some "Little Girl" journals made up and they are now available and they come with a free download of the EP.  These came out really cool! They are perfect for capturing your daily thoughts, gratitude list making or just jotting down things to remember. 

Thank you so much for your support. I can't wait for you to hear it!

Sending peace and light.

Melissa D 

***Music for the Slower Parts of Your Journey***

The text below was taken from a post shared on Facebook.  I think it needs to be shared right now as much as possible. I am committed to being an ally and have been taking the last few weeks to examine my blind spots(and will continue to do so) as a white person of privilege and how I have contributed to the systemic racism that is rampant in our culture. Much needs to be done to dismantle our systems that perpetuate the oppression of black and brown people in the USA.      

"Your Black friend is trying to be ok. 

Your Black friend, in the past 60 days, has watched a Black man get shot dead while jogging (Ahmaud Arbery), a Black woman get shot dead while sleeping (Breonna Taylor), and the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Your Black friend has listened to the President of the United States use segregationist words as a veiled threat. 

Your Black friend is trying to be ok. Her light skin doesn’t make this any less real. 

Please don't ask us about the looting. 

Please don't chastise us about the rioting. 

Please don't tell us that all lives matter and blue lives matter- we know they do - they always have. 

Please don't minimize our fear. 

Please don't bring up Black on Black crime. 

Please don't say "the narrative is one-sided" ~ It has always been one-sided and this is the first time you’re actually hearing our side. 

Please don't judge our pain. 

Your Black friend is trying to be ok. 

Listen to your Black friend. 

HEAR your Black friend 

Believe your Black friend when she tells you what this feels like. 

Empathize with your Black friend. 

Support your Black friend. 

Pray for your Black friend. 

Pray with your Black friend. 

Let your Black friend know you care. 

Your Black friend will remember who had her back during this difficult time. 

She will remember who was more concerned about a looted Target or a burger at Wendy's. 

She will remember you posting a thinly veiled and racially offensive meme. 

She will remember you calling looters "Savages" 

She will remember your silence about HER Black life and the Black Lives of others. 

She will remember what you said when she tried to talk about Tulsa. 

And Juneteenth. 

It is really easy. There are only 2 sides - right and wrong... Where will you land? 

Guess who DOESN’T get to decide what’s racist anymore?? 

Do whatever you can to help your Black friend because your Black friend is trying to be ok..... "

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Here are some ideas around action steps you can take. Never underestimate the impact that you can make.

1. Make sure to vote and vote for candidates that support making changes that are supportive of people of color. Make sure you are all set to vote in your community by going here. 

2. Pick up the book How to be an antiractist by Ibram X. Kendi on Amazon or better yet, look for it at a bookstore that is owned by a POC in your local or online community. 

3. Donate to your local Black Lives Matter chapter and get on their email list so that you can get updates on the latest community action event or activism steps. 

Sending peace and light from my little corner of the world here in Vermont. 

Melissa D

I did it! 

I pushed the publish button in my store and streaming of my NEW EP, Little Girl is now available early for folks that are Kindred Top Dog supporters. If you are a member then you should have it in your music collection now. 

If you're like, "what the heck is Kindred Top Dog?" Excellent question! ;-) 

It is my patron community on Bandcamp where folks get all my releases early and discounts off cool merch and lots of other goodies plus 10% of the proceeds go to help homeless dogs and cats. Go here to check it out and hear the EP a month early before the official release date of June 26th. 

Sending peace and light 
Melissa D 

***Music for the Slower Parts of Your Journey***

Big Update: You all voted unanimously after getting my community email that you would like to see my songs that are completed get out into the world, especially now! If you didn't receive the email you can join my free email community called Kindred by clicking here. 

Based on your support and me spending some time meditating on this, I have decided to release my songs, completed so far, in an EP format instead of waiting post pandemic and releasing a full album. When it is safe to get into the studio again, I will release the other songs as singles.  

My release date will be June 26th!  

If you are part of my Kindred Top Dog community you will get this release waaaayyy before June 26th.(end of May,June 1st at the latest) If you would like to be among the first to hear it, you can join my patron KTD community by visiting here. 10% of proceeds go to help homeless dogs and cats.   

I just added a few cool merch items to my store as well that I think you will enjoy!  

I know a lot of people have been hit with tough financial times due to pandemic so please only support/purchase if you are able to.    

Sending peace and light 
Melissa D 

***Music for the Slower Parts of Your Journey*** 

Hey there! 

I hope that you are hanging in there during these tough times. I wanted to share a soothing YouTube playlist that a colleague of mine created that will help you relax and escape from the anxiety provoking news feeds and 24 hour news cycles. 

My song "End of the Day" is on there.  Its the one with the Spring peepers/river and campfire clips that were recorded in my backyard here in Vermont.  My cover version of Fire & Rain is also on there. Plus you will find lots of sweet and mellow songs that are calming and peaceful. You can check it out here. 

Sending you a huge virtual hug.

Melissa D

 ***Music for the Slower Parts of Your Journey***

Hello from the future! It feels that way, right?  I can't believe its 2020. 

In case you missed it, I wanted to let you know that I have a new series on You Tube called Crooning & Coffee. It is a bi-weekly show where I share originals and covers songs with you! I'll bring the crooning and you bring the coffee! :-)  To check it out go here

I also wanted to let you know that I am 3 songs away from my album release! I apologize for the delays. I know some of you have messaged me asking on the status of this so wanted to send out a community update. I was hoping to have it out this winter but have been hit TWICE with a nasty cold/flu that made it difficult to sing! I have been making my health a priority and am doing much better. 

I am looking at a Spring release and will be in the studio over the next 2 months wrapping up my vocals. 

If you would like to be the first to receive this album before the general public, I want to invite you to become a Kindred Top Dog Member. Its a chance to support Independent music and 10% of the proceeds go to help homeless dogs and cats plus there are lots of other goodies (such as access to my back catalog of releases) and too much to put in this blog.  If you want to learn more you can check it out here.

I appreciate your support whether you become a member or not. I'm so happy to have you in this community and am grateful that I get to live my dreams of recording and releasing music! 

Peace, 
Melissa D

Everyone warned me! When you put yourself out there in a big way, especially online, you will get haters. I have been hit on and had people say jerky things but have not experienced any real hate online....until today.  I knew this day would come and was worried about it because I am sensitive and have a history of people pleasing/wanting people to like me etc. However, I was bullied in school so I am no stranger to hate so I think this has helped me around unpacking this first negative online experience. 

To be honest, I have also been holding back my true self in some ways and not embracing the real me but I have been doing a lot of inner work the last year or so and am learning that I am not responsible for other people's feelings and when people are triggered and hateful when you are being yourself and living your true life, it says more about them than it does about you.  I have also been more open with my opinions and feelings about things instead of worrying about what other people think!  You see, I grew up believing that I had to be a "nice" girl and to not rock the boat or say things that might upset people and have learned to censor myself. I have been a "careful good girl" with others for most of my life, quietly rebelling behind the scenes and doing my own thing and getting my feelings out thru journaling or music. 

This does not mean that I endorse being unkind or mean.  It just means that if I have an opinion on something, I am more likely to be out there with it.  If I disagree with someone, I will state my opinion. I will still be respectful if people don't agree with me.  I am also going to have 0 tolerence for people that are bullying or attacking me online or in person.  I can still have love in my heart for them as I am a strong proponent of the expression "Those that are hardest to love, need it the most."  However, this does not mean that I will not stand my ground and I will block people who are disrespectful towards me.  I can block, but I can block with love and hope that they will resolve and heal from whatever issues are going on in their life that would  make them spew so much hate. I choose not to take it personally and I will go on living my life, creating my music and living my truth! 

Its been awhile since I have written.  I always have good intentions of keeping up with this blog but get caught up in the whirlwind that we call life!

Lots going on this fall!  I released "I'll Remember You" a couple of weeks ago in memory of my dog, Jasmine who I lost on February 14th this past year.  To have a listen go here  This song will be on my full album release which will come out next year!

It has been a long road with getting this album together and I have had some delays due to some health and logistic challenges but am finally on the right track.(knock on wood....lol) I am working with a fantastic producer named Phil Henry who is also an extremely talented songwriter.  I wanted to finish my album with Kristina Stykos in the offgrid studio in Chelsea, VT but was finding the commute to be too far and the roads to that studio are really a tough drive in the winter and mud season. I really enjoyed our work together but needed a studio closer to my home base.  My connection with Phil came as a gift in the spring.  He is 25 minutes away from my house!  "I'll Remember You" was recorded there over the summer and we have laid down the tracks to one other song and I am sending him a rough sketch of the next one this week-end.  

Did some live shows this summer/fall, performed at the town hall in Brandon, VT and played a pub/tavern in Rutland, VT and a Masquerade Gala for a local college that supports scholarships for low income students.  

My facebook group "Innies Who Love Music and Stories" is growing and it has been wonderful to connect with people from all over the world!  If you are an introvert or an empath and want to connect with like minded people then this could be your new home!  To learn more go here.

If you would like to join my Kindred community and receive updates in your inbox plus a care package of 4 songs from me go to vermontmadesongs.net  

Thank you for your ongoing support as I continue on my musical journey!  Sending love from my little corner of the world here in Vermont. 

Peace

Melissa D

Hey there! 
Holy Moly....Its been a long winter here in Vermont.  We still have snow on the ground and it is April. The river behind our house is gushing with excitement from the melting snow. 

We have seen some glimmers of hope with the warm spring sun that has been breaking thru the clouds reminding us that there will be flowers and green grass soon.  The trees have been shedding their winter fur coats as the sun hits them. 

This winter was a tough one for me and my husband. Most of you who follow me on social media and are in my Kindred know that I am an avid animal lover and that the animals that I adopt are a HUGE part of my life. 

We had to say goodbye to our sweet dog Jasmine on Valentines day.  She was sick with cancer.  She was my soulmate dog and we had a strong connection which made it super hard to say goodbye to her.  I believe that her sweet spirit is still with me and that she has now become my guardian angel.  I don't think that you can have such a strong connection with an animal/person and that it just all ends when they transition into the afterlife. 

I have started writing a song for her and I have put all my other projects on hold for the moment so that I can finish it and get in the studio and record it and release it as a single. I will keep you posted on the developments. 

Looking forward to health and healing and Spring flowers soon! Sending love from my little corner of the world in Vermont. 

Peace, 

Melissa D

Been thinking lately about how much my life has changed in the past 15 to 20 years.     

I was a super busy performing singer quite a few years back with my ex husband.(the ex husband part is a story for another time...lol)  He was a lifetime/full-time musician.  When we were together we did a tons of gigs.  I was the lead singer in a rock band called the Alley Katz and also a group called Mel and the Mojos plus another band called "The Celebration Band."  Although we never toured in a big way, we traveled around quite a bit doing lots of shows and counting on the next gig to pay the bills. 

Even though we had lots of good moments at times it was tough because we were always broke and didn't have steady income or a sense of stability. There is a lot of alcoholism and drug use in this business and a type of lifestyle that often goes along with it that can be disheartening and wear you down. Lots of late nights/ greasy food, hangovers and driving all over the place. I have so many memorable and quirky stories and have seen a lot of crazy things!  

I eventually went back to school and finished a Master's degree and soon after got a day job working in the human services field(my other calling!)  I enjoyed the stability of the work, awesome colleagues and helping people. But for quite a few years my music took the back burner.......

So in 2013 I found myself missing the music in a BIG way!  It was calling me and I was longing to go after my dreams again of singing,songwriting and recording. It just makes me feel alive!  There is a cathartic and healing process that occurs when I sing and write whether its about stuff Iv'e been thru or stuff I have seen other people go thru or just my experiences in general. But I didn't want to deal with the crazy making lifestyle that I had found myself caught up in before.  

I reached a crossroads in my life and made a huge decision in 2014 and leap of faith and decided to go part time with my day job and focus the rest of my time on my music. I started doing gigs that were more family orientated and less "party" focused so that seems a much better fit for me.  I knew with the internet that there were a lot of possibilities/opportunities that we didn't have as musicians even just a few years ago!   

There has been some challenges for me as people have not always been encouraging about my music and life goals in general for most of my life and making such a big decision started to trigger some old negative thoughts for me.  

When I was in high school I was bullied a lot by my classmates and sometimes even my teachers!  I had a learning disability and was painfully shy so that made me kind of a target for "mean" people.   

My teachers told me that I was not smart enough to go to college and I eventually quit chorus class because my teacher gave me an "F" and treated me like I had a contagious disease because I was not outgoing and polished like some of the other popular girls who had lots of support from her.  

In my early years,I used music to escape and would spend hours locked up in my room listening to records and singing the vocal parts of all the songs, mesmerized and memorizing all the parts and nuances of the music.  To this day I can pretty much tell you all the changes/arrangement/words and parts in tons of songs. (especially 80's songs!) I am a total music nerd! Music has pretty much saved my life in so many ways!  

Its funny in life because when I was younger I was always told that I could not do something because I was not experienced or old enough and now that I am older I feel like I am often told in subtle and not so subtle ways that I cannot do stuff because I am now too old. 

As a woman, there is an added layer of pressure to "look good" and I I have been told that I am not "pretty enough" so that and the ageism thing is so prevalent in our culture and the idea that once we get past the age of 40 that it is too late, especially in the music industry.   

I am a woman, in my forties living in a rural area, yet I am going after my dreams and although I cannot do it in the conventional way(big tours and major record deals), I am finding different avenues and am doing this as an independent artist, on my own terms and that feels so empowering and amazing! 

Part of the reason I do this is because I want other people that are like me to see that the dream belongs to everyone and that we all have great stuff we can offer the world! For example, Susan Boyle has really inspired me because she is an older woman who has managed to find her niche and way in the music industry. 

Thank you for taking the time to check out my story! I hope that this inspires you to dust off any old dreams that you have kicking around!  NEVER let someone tell you that you can't go after a dream or do something that you want to do!  If I had listened to my chorus teacher you would have never heard my music and you would not be reading this!  

Peace, 
Melissa D