Melissa Williams   |   Stockholm   |   Mail: melissa@melissawilliams.se   |   Copyright © 2010 JEWEBdesign

About me

My name is Melissa Williams and this is a little bit about how I ended up here in Sweden, (of all places!), singing and enjoying my life. 
  Me at the age of 3.
 
I was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee to a red-headed southern belle May 8th, 1972.  My father, who is persian, left my mother early in her pregnancy, so it was just the two of us and my grandmother for a little while.  My mother quickly moved to a suburb of Atlanta, GA (Smyrna, GA) when I was only two weeks old and due to the fact that she had to drop out of college to take responsibility for me, our lives were simple and money was scarce. 
I was, however, very much loved and was never really aware of any hardships my mother endured, though I now know that she endured alot.  She married another man who had been close to the family who was of Cherokee indian descent and on my 3rd birthday, I received a brother.  My mother has always been very well-organised, so it has been a joke in the family that her organisational skills reached so far as to plan my brother's arrival on the very same day as I was born.
 
When I was 5 years old, I (and I know it sounds crazy) heard a voice tell me that I was a singer..."His Singer".  I didn't know what to make of it at the time, but all I do know is that I developed over night a ferocious desire to sing, which led me to practise for hours every day until I was an adult.  When I was 14, I auditioned for Northside School of the Performing Arts, just to find out if I was good enough to get in.  It was one of the best music-centered high schools in the country and I was not only priviledged enough to get in, but was also invited to join their elite group known as The Atlanta Show Biz Kids or The Coke Is It Kids because we were sponsered by The Coca-Cola Company.  I studied and trained very hard, while financing my education through modelling, gigs and working part time at the nearby mall.  I have never worked so hard for anything in my whole life as I did those 4 years and I learned tons about myself and about having a healthy work ethic.  During those 4 years, I toured Europe 3 times, toured a month in Russia, the southern United States, Bermuda and worked with International stars and politicians.
  Me as Liza Minelli.
 
At the age of 23, I met a wonderful man and within 6 months was married (in Vegas, of course) and pregnant.  Nothing was planned, but we rolled with it and had a ball.  I put my singing career on ice and focused on my family and when I was pregnant again at 25 (it must have been the water).  We had the nice house, a fat Infinity in the driveway and my husband's career was climbing new heights every day. 
Then came the dreams...
 
Every night for 3 months I dreamed that we swam to Europe, drove to Europe, flew to Europe.  I saw myself singing in Europe, working with top artists in Europe and that I became famous.  I enjoyed the dreams but was perplexed because I put that part of my life on the shelf for good and thought that it was just a part of my ancient history, but then one day my husband had the same dream and THAT DAY he met the Swedes who offered him a job and 6 months later, we moved to Stockhlom with our 2 year old and 2 months old sons.  Crazy, huh?
 
We sadly divorced a short time after, but somehow I ended up singing again with a 11 piece soul band called Live Divine. We backed such artists as Magnus Carlsson, Nanne Grönvall, Charlotte Perelli, Jan Åström, Sharon Dyall among others and I loved every second of it!!  It was on a part time level and I never dreamed of working full time with music until one day, when I was frustrated and feeling like putting music on the shelf forever again, I saw an ad in the newpaper: "Band seeks female singer to sing pop, country rock songs.  120 gigs per year."  I though, OK, I'll give it a shot.  If I get the job, I'll keep on with music.  Otherwise, I will put it on the shelf and never look back.  I got the job, not knowing a lick about "Dansband", but open to the modern sound that I heard on their records and you can say that the rest is history.  That band was Zlips and I fell in love with the guys first, the potential I saw within the industry and then finally and most devotedly, with the dancers.  Strange the directions life sometimes takes you in, isn't it?  I started in May 2005, won a Guldklav for Female Vocalist of the Year in 2007, was nominated again in 2009 and was invited to be on one of Swedish Televisions most seen television shows Dansbandskampen, first as a competitor in 2008 and then as a member of the jury in 2009.
My wonderful boys.
 
Who could have guessed that my life would take such crazy twists and turns?  My life has been filled with high highs and low lows, but has never EVER been boring!  Who knows what new challenges lie ahead?  I have no idea, but I do know that I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity to live and love in Sweden, as well as experiencing the joy of seeing the world as I have.  I love Sweden and it's people as though you are my family and I am humbled that you have taken me in and shown me and my family so much love.
I look forward to the journey ahead...
 
Melissa Williams