Melissa Janis Lefton was born on 13 August 1975, and began playing keyboards at the age of 10. After finishing high-school she moved to New York to study communications at New York University, though decided to also focus on a career in music while studying. She joined the punk rock band Product after answering an ad in The Village Voice seeking a "theatrical female frontperson" who "wanted to be a star." Product played at venues including CBGB, and were signed and recorded an album, although its release was cancelled. In 2001 she signed to Jive Records and recorded her debut solo album 'Melicious', which was slated for release on 21 August 2001. 'Melicious' took on topics like pollution, date-rape, occultism and murder, with tongue in cheek, with her once being referred to as the "anti-Britney". It was slated for release in Spring 2002, and a couple of songs from the it were commercially released, with 'I Love Life' appearing on the soundtrack to 'The Princess Diaries', and 'My Hit Song' being featured on the soundtrack to 'On The Line', while her cover of 'He Blinded Me With Science' appeared on the soundtrack to 'Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius'. The month before it was due for release, the Seattle Weekly gave a favourable review of the album, as did the Autumn 2001 edition of Elle Girl, but first it was delayed, and then cancelled completely. In an attempt to salvage her career, the label set her up with a manager who sent her to Los Angeles to become an actress, but discouraged with the roles she was offered she returned to New York City, and spent several years working professionally as a commercial jingle writer. By 2006, Lefton was in a sunshine pop band named Hello, who released a self-titled album on the Frisbie Records label. So that 'Melicious' isn't lost forever, here it is for us to enjoy.
Track listing
01 My Hit Song
02 ...Now I Got Punk Rock Fever
03 Radio Rainbow
04 Ozone
05 Last Summer
06 Sugar Daddy
07 Bionic Man
08 Sunnyville
09 I Love Life
10 Who Shot Jennifer
11 I Know You Want Me (How Can I Blame You)
