Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Neal. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Melissa V Neal is a singer/poet born and raised in Washington DC. By the age of five years old, she was already singing in her church choir. She is a merger of a driven melody; passion. Melissa’s sound is compared to a soulful lullaby, no matter the genre. She is the queen of ballads but doesn’t let that fool you she knows how to move the crowd and turn things up.
The Godfather of Soul James Brown is her main inspiration and a major influence, as well as Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and Prince. As an artist, she lives to give her all on and off the stage. Her mission with her music is to bring real soul music back by creating and performing music that shakes your soul and gives you heart quakes.
Melissa V. Neal also holds a wide multitude of industry experience and has had the honor to sing background vocals for Al Green, Jennifer Hudson, Patti Labelle, Rita Ora, Bruno Mars and so many great others. Melissa is currently recording her debut album and is excited and ready to share her music on the world’s front stage.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
One of my biggest blessings is my children but also one of my biggest challenges. When I had my second-born child, I started to battle depression. The depression was so bad that I started to have very low self-esteem. I would cry and just feel like everything in my life was falling apart. Depression will do that to you! During that time, I still had to be a mom for my two sons, life wasn’t going to stop just because I was depressed. So I kept working at my craft when I would find the time. I would escape on stage, it’s always been an experience like no other but I noticed that my 2nd born son had ignited a fire in me! Something that I never felt before when I would get on stage. I felt free, I felt ready, I felt power, I felt the love and I would just feel better. Things were on the up but suddenly, I started to feel sick. There was baby number three on the way. The Depression came back, it tripled this time. I would say to myself, you’re done, It’s no way you are ever coming back this time. I would look in the mirror and feel ugly.
On the outside, I seemed put together and happy but on the inside, I was dying. The experience that changed my life was giving birth to my daughter Melodee. While giving birth to my daughter Melodee the worst thing happened I had a placenta obstruction and we both almost died. I never forgot the moment that I held her, my life changed forever. I decided that day that I would fight and take back my life. I would be who I was born to be and I would help others along the way. So I started to work out every day, eat healthily and before you know it I was 71 pounds down before Melodee’s first birthday. All over my social media, I was inspiring others and I did not even know it at first. Once I realized what I had overcome. I started a mission to help others around me. I started my own fitness 45 Day Challenge. During this challenge, not only did members lose 20 pounds or more they also left feeling better about themselves. I now understand that my work is about helping others through music and fitness. It’s about helping people overcome and helping them see that where you are today, that you don’t have to stay there. That there is always joy on the other side of pain.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Singer, Songwriter, Fitness Enthusiast Health Coach.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Dear Fear 10 Powerful Lesson Author: Tiana Patrice. One Day My Soul Just Opened Up. Iyanla Vanzant
Contact Info:
- Email: mnealv@gmail.com
- Instagram: Melissa V Neal
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaandadamas/
Image Credits
Sharlene White Lene Lenes Photography
