Biography
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Born
25 March 1975 (age 49)
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Born In
Camden, London, England, United Kingdom
Melanie Blatt made her name as part of top UK girl group All Saints, but following their split she launched a moderately successful solo career. Her musical style is influenced by Blackstreet, Stevie Wonder, R'n'B and hip-hop. Her outlook is also influenced by being the daughter of hippy parents who - when Melanie was six - camped out at the Glastonbury Festival for three days.
Melanie went to Fitzjohn's Primary School where her musical talent was immediately noticed by the head teacher, David Joyne, who encouraged her parents to send her to a stage school. In 1986, Melanie went to the Sylvia Young Theatre School where she met Nicole Appleton and the two ladies became best friends. During this period, Melanie also played Ebony in Les Misérables for six months.
In 1986, Melanie was diagnosed having scoliosis. Since her parents weren't satisfied with the treatment methods in the United Kingdom, they decided to move back to France where a specialist decided that the best way to treat it was to put three metal rods in her back.
In 1993, Melanie started out singing in the band Drive and they recorded "Curfew" together. She perfomed this song on the TV programme Access All Areas. She also performed backing vocals with Dreadzone, along with Denise van Outen.
Later that year, Melanie met Shaznay Lewis at the Metamorphisis recording studio on All Saints Road, London, and they proceeded to record together. Along with Simone Rainford they formed the band All Saints 1.9.7.5., which was later shortened to All Saints when Simone left and Nicole and Natalie Appleton joined the group.
Her solo releases have been of variable success; with her most successful effort, "TwentyFourSeven", a collaboration with The Artful Dodger, peaking at #6 in September 2001. At this time, her debut album was being written and recorded with Matt Hale from Aqualung, and was planned to include "See Me", a track which featured on the soundtrack to the 2005 film Robots, and was also released as a single complete with matching video featuring footage from the movie and Melanie with her face covered in diamonds.
On 24 January 2006, it was announced that All Saints had reformed with a new record contract and would be releasing a new album at the end of 2006. In November 2008, her unreleased debut solo album, Shine, leaked on the internet via the All Saints Fundamental fan forum (Link).
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