Melissa Larkin

"When people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I always said a singer, well, that, or a psychiatrist" In her early years, which began in a small town Alberta, Melissa Larkin remembers being surrounded by vinyl and words. Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell. It was the album pictures that drew her in first, then the stories. Soon, Melissa began writing her own three-year- old tunes under her bed on a tape recorder after bedtime.
Her passion for music and writing continued throughout childhood – choirs, and piano lessons, paired with an avid listening addiction, left Melissa feeling that her childhood inkling for a future profession was right on mark.
Then, like long-lost peas from the same pod, Melissa found the guitar. Immediately they were good friends, and suddenly, years worth of poetry found its way to melody, which found its way out into the world. They went to university together, where Melissa studied evil, won a University wide battle of the bands, and sung back up in a reggae band. They traveled the world together through Europe, Africa, and Central America. They spent so much time together, that Melissa had amassed over 70 songs in just four years.
In 2004, after flying home from the Sahara desert, Melissa met numerous people backstage at a Jack Johnson show, who would change her life. Seeing immense potential in this young songstress, Canadian band and independent record label owners Nine Mile took Melissa under their wing, and began recording her massive repertoire of songs. Shortly after, Melissa was invited to join a North American tour opening for both Nine Mile and the Australian phenom, Xavier Rudd.
Since then, Melissa released an acoustic EP in 2005 entitled "The History of Plumbing", which has garnered the attention of a rapidly growing global fan base. In addition, she began her own non-profit organization called The Forgotten Tour, which was designed to bring music to people and places abandoned by the mainstream music industry. In January 2007, Melissa did just that, touring non-profit organizations and venues in 32 cities across North America, sharing the stage with Tristan Prettyman, Alex Cuba, and once again Xavier Rudd. The Forgotten Tour 2009 will be happening this summer. Check back for more details.
In between touring regularly throughout North America, Melissa is currently planning the recording and release of her first full-length album, to debut in 2009.