Melissa Lefton, 26, was born in Chicago. A self-taught musician, she began playing keyboards at age 10. Melissa spent her teen years in San Francisco dancing around her room like most rambunctious kid rockers and listening to groups like The Cure, The Smiths, Yaz and Depeche Mode. She says however, "the 'Flashdance' soundtrack was the most influential piece of music in my life." When she graduated high school she moved to New York to study Journalism at NYU. Not happy doing internships and getting ready for the "9 to 5 thing," Melissa looked for a way out in music.
Melissa's first music gig was with a band called Product - a gig she got by answering an ad in the Village Voice seeking a "theatrical female frontperson" who "wanted to be a star." Product played a few showcases in New York at clubs like CBGB's, Don Hills and Brownies and although they had a recording contract, never released an album.
Melissa however, caught the attention of an A&R executive at Jive who was impressed with her lyrical skills as a songwriter and her attitude. Melissa was promptly offered a solo deal. Melissa Lefton's music - all self-penned - is best described as Cyndi Lauper meets Beck, with a touch of fellow Chicagoan Liz Phair-like attitude.
The melodies are whimsical, yet stylish and contemporary and very lyrically inclined. The home made video for "My Hit Song" is not a "standard" music video, a-la MTV. It was done completely by Melissa herself, all over one crazy weekend in New York City.
