MTV News: Why don't you begin by telling a little about yourself.

Melissa Williams: I was born in Portland, Oregon. But I call my hometown Orlando, Florida because that's where I have resided for about 5 years now. I'm 18, and I love to sing. Oh wow..was that ok? Sounded a little cheesy to me. I'm a bit nervous, I gotta tell you.

MTV: You're doing fine. Do you have a problem with some people's negative perceptions about you?

Melissa: A lot of people wanna perceive [me] as a little white girl, trying to sound however. I'm just singing, like, what feels natural to me and what's most comfortable. It really upsets me, a lot because these people don't know me.

MTV: So how long have you been singing and performing?

Melissa: I've been singing and performing ever since I could, basically. I mean, from laying a towel on the floor in the bathroom and pretending to be performing on stage, to local block parties and talent shows and things like that, and to "Star Search," and the record deal.

MTV: Tell us about your "Star Search" experience first.

Melissa: It was awesome. I got to meet Ed McMahon, and it was my first time in L.A., and I lost on "Star Search," so that was a little devastating for a seven-year-old. I was up against a twelve-year-old, so I was like, "Not fair!" But it was cool.

MTV: Tell us how you ended landed a record deal.

Melissa: I landed a record deal a while after I landed songs on the "Anastasia" and "Cruel Intentions" soundtrack. I recorded for the "Anastasia" soundtrack first and then after that it was like "nobody's calling me anymore".. I mean, it was a little bit of an all-time low for me, I had no hope of recording again. And finally the phone rang again like 8 months after "Anastasia" and they wanted me to do the THEME song for "Cruel Intentions" and about 2 months after that, JIVE called, auditioned me and signed me on the spot. I took a year off to finish High School the right way before I actually started recording my debut album, what was cool is that JIVE understood and we put the project on hold. Later...in Mid 2000, I went in the studio and I did something I always had dreamed about, recorded my debut album.

MTV: What are your biggest fears about being in the entertainment industry?

Melissa: You know, the comparisons kinda bother me, because that takes away from my own artistry and the other person's. We're all individual artists, and that sort of bothers me. Maybe "here today, gone tomorrow" sort of scares me. But I plan on working hard to make sure that doesn't happen. Staying focused.

MTV: How do you distinguish yourself from someone like Britney Spears or some other teen pop idols?

Melissa: Well, what's cool is that I'm a fan of Britney Spears. I'm a fan of Mariah Carey, who I've also been compared to, which is amazing. I mean, we are all our own individual artists, you know. I'm not a Britney Spears, and Britney Spears isn't me. But I think especially when people hear more of my music... it'll definitely distinguish who I am. On the upcoming album, it is a pop-R&B album, but I have a lot of soul, and there's some rangy vocals in there, so it gets kinda crazy. We've got everything from mid-tempos to really big ballads.

MTV: Who are your influences?

Melissa: I would grow up in the talent shows singing Mariah Carey or Madonna songs. "Someday" from, you know, back in '90 or '91 or whenever that was. I have a love for her. Her style and technique is amazing. Brian McKnight I really admire. He's my favorite male vocalist. As far as blues goes, because I'm a huge lover of blues, R&B, and gospel, I love Aretha Franklin. Completely. I have a lot of respect for Lauryn Hill, because she's so heartfelt and deep on everything that comes out of her.

MTV: What's in your Walkman right now?

Melissa: The Pink CD, "Can't take me home"...love it.

MTV: What's in your VCR right now?

Melissa: Janet Jackson, "Velvet Rope" tour. I just love watching people's performance videos. And she, being an amazing performer, her and Madonna, I aspire to do my little shows like that one day.

MTV: Are you planning to tour any time soon?

Melissa: I am going to be on tour possibly with 2GE+HER, I'm doing a few promo shows, and a lot of radio shows.

MTV: Are you excited to be reunited with longtime "friend" Chad Linus from 2GE+HER when you tour with them?

Melissa: Oh, that's funny. The 2GE+HER guys are very cool. I mean, who knows? It's always good to see him, the other guys too, and we will run into each other occasionally, and being that we were all great friends, we keep in touch.

MTV: What are your plans for your promo shows?

Melissa: I am not going to be singing my upcoming single and video "Make you mine" at all. It's a time where I think I can get in front of a bunch of people interested in me and really sing my heart out to just piano and vocal. It's just a piano and a mic and that's it. I'll get bluesy with Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit", one of my all-time favorite songs.

MTV: If you weren't singing, what would you be doing right now?

Melissa: I can't really picture me doing anything else besides what I am doing now. I don't know, I love acting, so I would say that. Acting.

MTV: Last question. If you could describe yourself as one animal, what would it be?

Melissa: This is a funny question. I guess, everyone says that I remind them of a cat. Like, I'm sort of laid back all the time, but when I get onstage, it's like, I sort of pounce... it's like I come alive. So I can surprise people like that. So I guess a little kitty cat.

MTV: Well, good luck Melissa, in the future I have a feeling we're going to be seeing MUCH more of you. Until then, we'll be looking out for your album, that will be out sometime in.... September?

Melissa: No...we haven't actually scheduled a date for the first single yet, so I don't really know right now. But the video is out!!

MTV: We'll be looking out for it, most definitely. Good luck, and our best wishes for you.

Melissa: Thank you so much, bye.