Melissa Rae Barrie | Youthink
Image credit:  Universal Music | Country music artist Melissa Rae Barrie attended Elgin Park Secondary in Surrey BC.

Melissa Rae Barrie Sets Her Sights on a Big Career in Country Music

by Emmy Clutchey - Windermere Secondary, Vancouver BC Jul 5, 2011

Local country music artist, Melissa Rae Barrie, releases debut album Breakaway.

For Melissa Rae Barrie, life has been full of surprises – some good and some bad. When her career path changed from playing professonal hockey to becoming a country music artist, it wasn't by choice. As a young hockey player Melissa suffered many injuries, but always managed to bounce back. However, when she slipped a disc in her hip during a college pre-season game, her school no longer wanted her on the team, essentially ending her dream of having a hockey career. To deal with this harsh reality Melissa found an emotional outlet through music, which unexpectedly became her new career path. With a new dream to pursue Melissa got to work and it's clear all her efforts are paying off. Signed to 604 Records, she has completed her first cross-Canada tour, released her debut album Breakaway and worked with Josh Ramsay of Marianas Trench.
 
Youthink caught up with Melissa on the eve of her album release, and days before getting married to NHL hockey player Brandon Segal, to talk about her newfound success as an artist, the meaning behind her tattoo and how she’s managed to balance her career with all the wedding planning.

YT: You are a native of Coquitlam, BC but grew up in White Rock. Which high school did you attend and how would you describe your high-school experience?
MRB: I went to Elgin Park in South Surrey, so just like the border of White rock. [Grade] 8 through 12, I loved it. I was on all the athletic teams, like basketball, soccer, volleyball and then hockey on the side. And yeah, when you’re busy with sports you make a lot of friends. And art classes too, I do a little painting here and there. Yeah, it was really fun in high school.
 
YT: After many injuries, you were forced to change your career path. How did becoming a music artist end up being the next step?
MRB: Well, my whole life, I’ve always been very artistic, like interested in music. I was in choir and band playing bass, and I spent I lot of time writing poetry and stuff. And so when I couldn’t do hockey anymore, I didn’t really want to work at a desk or anything like that so I decided I would try to pursue music just to see where it took me - maybe just have some fun along the way and it ended up working out pretty well for me.
 
YT: How are you feeling about the release of Breakaway and how are you going to celebrate?
MRB: I don’t know how I’m going to celebrate! I’m getting married on Saturday so that’s celebration enough, but… Yeah, it’s been a long road so far. I think it’s been a year and a bit since the album’s been completed, so it’s really exciting after having a couple singles out already to put  the whole album out for everyone to see.
 
YT: What is the meaning behind your album’s title?
MRB: It’s kind of a hockey reference with the Breakaway as well as breaking out into like a new life, a new chapter.
 
YT: Your first single Passenger Window reached the top 40 on the country music charts and the video was added to the CMT rotation. What do these achievements mean to you and are they the first steps towards your goal of being taken seriously in the music industry?
MRB: It was amazing that my very first single went Top 40 in Canada. And having the video be on CMT was great, because a lot people told me that I wouldn’t be anything, that I should just stick to karaoke, go back to university. I got a lot of slack from family members and stuff, and you know, to have me on TV, and then to have me on the radio when you turn on the radio… It was amazing. It’s just like a “screw you!” in everyone’s face!
 

Melissa Rae Barrie: Passenger Window

YT: Unforgivable and Room to Breathe are songs inspired from very personal relationships. As an artist how important is it to be comfortable and willing to share personal stories through your music?
MRB: I think it’s very important because the audience has to believe you, right? They have to know that it’s coming from your heart or they’re going to listen to you and know that all it is is singing - there’s no emotion behind it. So, it’s harder for them to relate to something that isn’t something honest and true. So I think it’s important to not only draw from other people’s experiences, but your own personal stuff.
 
YT: Have you always been comfortable writing about personal experiences?
MRB: I’ve always been comfortable writing about it, just experiencing it and knowing that it’s going to be put out there in the public was kind of tricky trying to keep the names private - like I’m not Taylor Swift who’s going to be like, “This song’s about this person!” So, yeah, I was comfortable with it, you know. People know who they are.
 
YT: You co-wrote and worked with some wonderfully talented people on this album. What it was like working with Josh Ramsay?
MRB: Josh is absolutely amazing, even though he comes from pop-rock stuff and I come from country. I love all I kinds of music, so it was really cool to blend the two musics... musics? That’s not a word. (laughs) Music, and you know, see what came out of it. We got along really well and it was just cool learning from a guy who’s been in the business longer than me who’s just so talented.
 
YT: How was the experience of shooting your video for Passenger Window and what was it like to work with your fiancé on your recent video shoot for Miss Me For A Minute?
MRB: Passenger Window was done by Stephano [Barberis] and he was absolutely amazing. For my very first video shoot, it was like working with my best friend or my brother. He completely put me at ease and calmed me down, and made it easy to have this fake boyfriend I’ve never met before. So then, doing that and then going to a video which actually had my boyfriend or fiancé and it was like I had known the ropes. It felt like I’ve been there a bunch of times, and I could teach him what to do, and it was really comfortable for me at the end.
 
YT: How nervous were you for your a cappella audition in front of 604 Records CEO Jonathan Simkin and did you expect to be offered a major label deal right away?
MRB: I was pretty confident going in there because Jonathan is such a chill, down-to-earth guy. We’ve talked on the phone and msn, funny enough and he’s just such a goofball and I wasn’t scared at all going in there. But yeah, I didn’t think I’d get signed a contract signed right then, so it was cool to know that it was successful and it happened that easy.
 
YT: Do you have a motto that you follow in life?
MRB: A motto? Um… I have “hold on” which I have tattooed on my wrist. So it just means some days you might have bad days, some days you might have uh, really bad days, and you need to hold on to the next day. Hold on and every day you hold on it’s going to get a little better before you know it. Life’s going to be… peaches!
 
YT: You've said that “everyone has a little sweet and sour in them and that how people relate to one another.” How do you hope our teen readers relate to your story of getting where you are today as an artist?
MRB: You know, I think that being sweet and sour doesn’t mean like, you’re a jerk, and then you can be nice. I think it means, that you’re a good person and you’re kind to others, but if you need to stand up for yourself or stand up for someone else that you’re willing to take a stance and be proud to have a voice. I think that’s important for all kids.
 
YT: How challenging has it been to balance all the wedding planning with everything going on in your music career?
MRB: It’s been VERY challenging, especially having the album drop on the same week that I’m getting married. It’s like… “Ahhh!” But yeah, it’s difficult flying back and forth to do press and then to do videos and radio tours and having to go back to Dallas to visit him and come back to do planning. So it’s been a whirlwind of a year!
 
YT: Has Brandon been helping out with planning?
MRB: No! He doesn’t help out at all, because we’re getting married up here and then he’s in Dallas. He doesn’t know what to do and then… he’s a boy! (laughs)
 
YT: What can fans look forward to next from you?
MRB: Next I hope that a new album comes out. That probably won’t be for another year or two, but always working on writing new songs and hopefully going on a tour this fall!
 
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