March 14th, 2011
Melanie Fiona became “every woman” as part of her Derek Blanks alter-ego photo shoot. In a new interview, the singer tells Essence about her new “Sistory: Every Woman” campaign and her new album. Check out the photos below as well as excerpts.

ESSENCE.com: Why did you start the “Sistory: Every Woman” campaign?
MELANIE FIONA: I wanted to do something that was different that would represent the way I feel as a young woman in music and just a young woman in general. In making music, I found that women really responded to my music. So that was really the focus of the stories that were being told from a woman’s perspective. When it came time to this ‘Her Story’ campaign I wanted to do the alter ego shoot with Derek Blanks and become several different women in different times and in different cultures. I’m in the middle of the photograph, which is where I’m representing the unity of music, love and peace. It’s really just about showing the fight of women throughout time. Rather than history, it’s ‘Her Story’.
MELANIE FIONA: I wanted to do something that was different that would represent the way I feel as a young woman in music and just a young woman in general. In making music, I found that women really responded to my music. So that was really the focus of the stories that were being told from a woman’s perspective. When it came time to this ‘Her Story’ campaign I wanted to do the alter ego shoot with Derek Blanks and become several different women in different times and in different cultures. I’m in the middle of the photograph, which is where I’m representing the unity of music, love and peace. It’s really just about showing the fight of women throughout time. Rather than history, it’s ‘Her Story’.
ESSENCE.com: Is this how you’re celebrating Women’s History Month?
MELANIE: I did it a while ago and rather than just putting it out there and making it this cool thing, I wanted it to actually be a part of a campaign.
MELANIE: I did it a while ago and rather than just putting it out there and making it this cool thing, I wanted it to actually be a part of a campaign.
ESSENCE.com: Can you tell us about your new album coming out in June?
MELANIE: It’s called ‘The MF Life.’ It’s about all the experiences of being a new artist trying to establish themselves and what that means to go on this journey personally and professionally. Sometimes life isn’t always so great, but I think that’s the beautiful thing that we need to celebrate. ‘The MF Life’ is that balance, it’s that yin and yang of life. It’s the highs and lows. I’m so excited about it. After touring with Alicia Keys and Kanye West, I’ve felt more inspired to take my base, which is rooted in soul music, and make it bigger so it’s stadium soul now. The songs are more introspective. [My first album,] ‘The Bridge’ was definitely a collection of songs and stories that were not just my own, but everyone’s. But for this album, a lot more of it comes from my own personal experience.
MELANIE: It’s called ‘The MF Life.’ It’s about all the experiences of being a new artist trying to establish themselves and what that means to go on this journey personally and professionally. Sometimes life isn’t always so great, but I think that’s the beautiful thing that we need to celebrate. ‘The MF Life’ is that balance, it’s that yin and yang of life. It’s the highs and lows. I’m so excited about it. After touring with Alicia Keys and Kanye West, I’ve felt more inspired to take my base, which is rooted in soul music, and make it bigger so it’s stadium soul now. The songs are more introspective. [My first album,] ‘The Bridge’ was definitely a collection of songs and stories that were not just my own, but everyone’s. But for this album, a lot more of it comes from my own personal experience.
