Party for singers 10th album

Melissa Cox. Photo/supplied

Melissa has a voice - a beautiful one - which she uses to shed light on social issues, concern for the environment and as therapy to mend a broken heart.

The multi-talented singer songwriter from Mount Maunganui has had a difficult year.

She suffered a devastating miscarriage in April. Melissa wants women to start talking about miscarriage, as as many as 50 per cent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage.

"I want to shed light on these issues so women don't feel afraid to speak out about it if it happens to them," she says. "People don't really know what you go through emotionally, and physically."

She has just released her 10th album and is holding an album release party on October 29 at Totara St venue.

Crimson Daughter contains messages and concerns about politics in her home country the United States and global environmental issues.

"I have songs that deal with the erosion of democracy in America, I have songs about climate change and the destruction of the environment for profit globally," she says.

Melissa, 34, and husband Matt Smith (who sometimes joins her on stage) moved here four years ago. She is from a musical family in Wilmington in Delaware.

"I started as a folk singer, I was obsessed with Jewel then I started turning to Celtic fusion, taking on Irish and Scottish influence and morphing them into something else. The closest thing would be Irish rock but not in the traditional way, more modern ... think The Cranberries meets Enya.

"Now I have taken world fusion with electronic influences and using looping technology."
Crimson Daughter is available via www.melcoxmusic.com/crimson-daughter.

the fine print
*What: Crimson Daughter by local songwriter Melissa Cox, album release party
*Where: Totara St venue
*When: October 29, from 5.30pm
*More info: All ages. Adults $10 ages 13-17 $5, kids 12 and under free.
*Tickets from: www.melcoxmusic.com/party