DULCET TONES
AT THE WHEEL
May 27, 2020
QUICK FIXES
May 27, 2020
SINGING FROM THE SOUL
Melissa Pereira
PROFILED BY Savithri Rodrigo
Even in the busiest lounge bar or noisiest theatre, there’s pin-drop silence as Melissa Pereira prepares to perform. The vibes are pregnant with expectation because everyone knows that her voice will transport them to diverse places.
Whether she’s singing or letting her fingers dance over the ivories, there’s an explosive resonance overlaid by a quiet confidence that embraces Melissa. She lays her heart bare… and lets her love for soul shine through!
These nuances echo through every song she sings – whether it’s a cover, one of her many originals as a soloist or with a choir. She’s sung with Soul Sounds and Camerati. And even as a musician and singer in the A-Team, Phatgroove, Echostix and Unscripted, or in theatre – the most recent being The Workshop Players’ production of The Greatest Shows – she simply owns that space unconditionally.
An Associate of Trinity College London, as well as a singer, songwriter and musician, Melissa has held fast to her classical roots. She branched out into contemporary music only to collect an armful of accolades at TNL Onstage; Colombo Music Festival; Sri Lanka Festival of Music, Dance and Speech; the 1st Lanna International Choir Competition in Thailand; and the 4th World Choir Games in China.
As Melissa exudes that quiet confidence, it’s hard to imagine that she suffers from stage fright and doesn’t like confined spaces or large crowds. She’s not flashy or flamboyant and is quite the minimalist – she’ll find herself a quiet space and sit unobtrusively until it’s time to step into the limelight. Melissa describes herself as “awkward and quirky” but also “headstrong and stubborn.”
Though her day job is in real estate coordination and marketing, she’s also a tenacious activist for equal opportunity and backs #HeForShe unconditionally. Someday, she intends to roam the planet to experience unique cultures, perform with inspirational artistes and engage in adrenaline charged experiences. And skydiving is a priority!
"My first local music cover was Unmadini, which I enjoyed making – there’s a lot to learn from local music"
QUICK-FIRE ROUND
Piano or keyboard
Piano
Miked or unplugged
Unplugged
Live or recorded
Live
Covers or originals
Originals
Lounge bar or stage
Stage
Classical or pop
Soul
Jazz or country
Jazz
Facebook or Instagram
Instagram
Aeroplane or train
Aeroplane
Gym or trek
Trek
Puppy or kitten
Both
Dress or pants
Dress
Earrings or bracelet
Earrings
Lipstick or mascara
Lipstick
Sandals or high heels
Both
Roses or chocolates
Chocolates
Rice or pasta
Rice
Coffee or tea
Coffee
Cocktail or mocktail
Both
Water or juice
Juice
Film or TV
Film
Book or magazine
Book
MELISSA’S
FAVOURITES
CLOTHES
Linen dresses
Shorts
Halter-tops
ACCESSORIES
Hoop earrings
Shades
Shawls
CAN’T DO WITHOUT
Hoop earrings
Scrunchies
Backpack
Red lipstick
FOOD
Dark chocolate
Baked cheesecake
Chicken pie
SINGERS
H.E.R.
Natalia Lafourcade
Alicia Keys
ENTERTAINERS
Gabriel Iglesias
Lilly Singh
Trevor Noah
MUSICIANS
PJ Morton
H.E.R.
Jacob Collier
BANDS
Queen
Toto
INSTRUMENTS
Piano
Cello
Violin
ENTERTAINMENT CAPITALS
New York
Vienna
LOCAL HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS
Ella
Habarana
Kandy
OVERSEAS HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS
Santorini
Japan
Rio de Janeiro
YOUNG LEADERS
Emma Watson
Malala Yousafzai
Greta Thunberg
WOMEN INFLUENCERS
Alicia Keys
Lady Gaga
Emma Stone
GLOBAL MENTORS
Oprah Winfrey
Brené Brown
Vishen Lakhiani
ABOUT
MELISSA
BIRTHDAY
24 October 1991
FAMILY
Lucille (Mother)
Delvin (Father)
Lozaine (Sister)
ALMA MATERS
Our Lady of Victories Convent
Holy Family Convent
HOBBIES
Listening to music
Audiobooks
Watching stand-up comedy
LOVES
Roses
Warm blankets
Dark chocolate ice cream
PET PEEVES
People who don’t respect another’s privacy or space
Slow internet
ALWAYS WANTED TO BE
A singer and songwriter
ADMIRES
Brave people who speak the truth when they are in the minority
Single parents
Artistes
ROLE MODELS
Her parents
Alicia Keys
"My favourite way to relax is in a cold environment with a cup of hot coffee or cocoa and light music in the background"
Q: What’s keeping you busy these days?
A: A couple of projects involving local music, upcoming concerts, new compositions and fresh collaborations.
Q: From classical and choral, to pop and jazz… what made you try them out?
A: When I was a child, my mum exposed me to classical music; my parents and school to choral; and my dad, as well as some amazing musicians and mentors I met, to pop and jazz.
Q: What’s your favourite genre?
A: It has to be soul, which I discovered at 13. I was experimenting with different genres for a competition and the connection was immediate.
Q: Are there changes you have to make when singing with bands and choirs?
A: With a choir, it’s about singing your part and syncing with others. And while it’s similar to a band, there’s more room for improvisation.
Q: How has it been with the A-Team?
A: It’s been amazing, musically inspiring and a great space to learn.
Q: What’s hot and what’s not about Sri Lanka’s entertainment industry?
A: What’s hot is the explosion of local creative talent; and what’s not is that visual appeal and upbeat rhythms take priority.
Q: Why aren’t you delving into local music?
A: My first local music cover was Unmadini, which I enjoyed making – there’s a lot to learn from local music.
Q: Did the pianist or the singer come first?
A: The pianist came first. I was eight years old when I started playing the piano – and I only began to love singing at 13.
Q: What’s been your biggest break?
A: In 2012, winning the solo category when I competed in TNL Onstage and performed an original for the first time to an audience. And right after that, I sang and won at Spirit – the Music Competition of Senses and Soul organised by the Colombo Music Festival – with the worst case of nerves ever!
Such experiences gave me the confidence to perform my originals to the public.
Q: Tell us about the challenges you face when performing...
A: Overcoming stage fright every time I perform.
Q: What’s the one thing you’d like to do to further your career?
A: I’d like to take my performance skills a notch higher.
Q: Is there an instrument you wish you could play?
A: I’d love to be able to play the violin because it’s emotionally expressive.
Q: If you could sing a duet with any singers in the world, who would they be?
A: Alicia Keys and H.E.R.
Q: What’s spending time with your sister like?
A: Rare but great. We are very close but have different personalities. She’s my adviser, rock and ‘go-to person’ for lots of things.
Q: Three words your mother would use to describe you...
A: This is what she says: “Obedient (sometimes not so obedient), talented and sometimes daring.”
Q: What three characteristics would you look for in Mr Right?
A: Empathy, kindness and trustworthiness.
Q: And your ideal date night is...
A: A simple dinner that’s possibly home cooked and lots of quality conversation.
Q: Your favourite R&R is…
A: My favourite way to relax is in a cold environment with a cup of hot coffee or cocoa and light music in the background.
Q: If someone peeked into your handbag, what would they find?
A: I carry a backpack; it contains my purse, headset, sanitiser, shawl, phone charger and laptop.
Q: What’s life likely to be beyond 50 for Melissa Pereira?
A: I’d like a simple life in a cottage surrounded by nature and loved ones, and doing a job that I find productive.
