Bravo's Platinum Hit has been heating up lately as the competition gets more and more intense! Once we saw the talented Melissa Rapp get eliminated we were dying to know her side of things. On the show she was criticized for not pulling her weight in the song writing sessions, so we caught up with her to get the facts! Take a look........
TGHP: How did you wind up on Platinum Hit?
Melissa Rapp: An industry friend told me about the open auditions in LA and I went just to check it out. The line wrapped around the building! I decided to give it a go and kept getting called back. I didn't think it would work out, but my friend kept insisting--you are perfect for this show--you're going to get it. The whole audition process was actually spread out over six months, though we only found out we were definitely part of the cast with about 10 days notice. It was an adrenaline filled process!
TGHP: Do you feel it has been a positive experience for you?
Melissa Rapp: Overall, yes. While many of the situations we were put in weren't ideal for creating the best music, it was a defining experience for me. Writing with extreme time demands, competitive co-writers, and without any of my normal sources of creative inspiration...these were huge challenges. Getting through them and surviving only makes me a stronger writer.
I also really liked getting to learn from the judges. Songwriting workshops are always very illuminating. This was more of a songwriting bootcamp--getting direct feedback from so many talented songwriters and producers was invaluable.
TGHP: Do you feel like you were portrayed accurately on the show? Specifically in relation to your contribution in songwriting sessions.
Melissa Rapp: No, I don't think I was portrayed very accurately at all. I was a real contributor in my sessions, especially as a source of lyrical strength. You will notice that none of my teams (other than my last one) ended up in the bottom. Though it isn't shown in the edited show, I was there pushing us conceptually and lyrically, always being sure to comb through lyrics and keep editing and revising when necessary.
TGHP: I feel like you are a little on the shy side, do you feel that made it harder for you to speak up during the songwriting process?
Melissa Rapp: I think a lot of the cast members that came off as quieter or shy are actually the people you'd prefer to work with in a real life songwriting session. I don't know if it it's apparent in the finished show, but some of the cast were such personalities--working with them brought to mind words like steamroller, neurotic, bulldozer...not the preferred traits of maturity, open-mindedness, humility, and skill. Of course, the pressures of the competition brought the worst out of a lot of people! I noticed that others were very eager to take credit when it should go to the whole group.
Essentially, working in those teams of people, and under those unnatural circumstances, was not easy. For me--someone who prefers to approach songwriting in a peaceful, zen angle sort of way...it was quite a shock. I do think I did my best with the opportunities I was given, and I'm proud of my work on the show.
You know it's funny, because a lot of the adjectives people are using to describe how I come off on the show (shy, ditzy, etc) are not at all how I've been described my whole life. I'm actually one of the most extroverted people you will ever meet, and I've always been a bit of a nerd. I guess that tells you how much the editing can actually shape people's impressions of reality. :)
TGHP: I feel like so many of the contestant’s style came through so clearly on show, due to their strong personalities - I didn’t feel your style was as obvious. How do you describe your music?
Melissa Rapp: My music is organic pop with folk and soul roots. With my new songs, we are going with a sound that could be described as when motown meets the coast...soulful melodies and bass lines but with a beach-inspired vibe.
TGHP: I know you went to Stanford, impressive! How has your academic experience effected your songwriting and overall profession as an artist?
Melissa Rapp: You know, songwriting is a craft of it's own. But I do believe all the like classes I took--poetry, creative writing, short stories, literature--make me a better songwriter. You hear all the time that the more reading you do, the better your lyrics will be. Learning to revise your writing is also an important skill that I honed in school. And of course, thinking out of the box and on a deeper level, which all university level coursework requires, helps a lot in songwriting.
As an artist, I also try to approach my career with the same drive and organization that helped me succeed academically. Since it is a tough business, this has really helped.
TGHP: What was your major?
Melissa Rapp: History, with a Literature and the Arts focus. I also took music classes and performed with singing groups non-stop!
TGHP: It seems like you have a strong presence in the Bay Area - San Francisco is home to The Gough House Project - We find it so inspiring - What from the Bay Area inspires you?
Melissa Rapp: Yes! I lived in San Francisco for about 6 years after college. It was a wonderful music community to be a part of while I developed my songwriting and performing skills. I got a scholarship to study a lot of Blue Bear School of Music with some incredible songwriting teachers. I also was very inspired by the Bay Area's landscape. Bike rides up Hawk Hill in the Marin headlands, foggy San Francisco nights, wine country visits, snowed in weekends in the mountains...all these moments led to magical experiences and some great settings for songs!
TGHP: Where can we see you live? and Where can we listen to your music online?
Melissa Rapp: I have been doing a lot of shows in LA and still make it back to the Bay Area. If you sign up for my email list at my website (http://www.melissarappmusic.com) or follow me on Facebook, you'll be kept posted on show additions.
My website is also the best place to hear music--we even have some free downloads up!
Or, of course, on itunes (itunes.com/melissarapp)
TGHP: Do you have plans to work with anyone from the show after the show?
Melissa Rapp: Yes, I imagine I will do some co-writing with some of the folks when our schedules allow...Blessing, Karen, Johnny, Sonyae...they were all great to work with.
TGHP: What are your next moves?
Melissa Rapp: I'm recording a new album to be released this fall. We have some amazing players on it--drummer Jimmy Paxson (Stevie Nicks), bassist Lige Curry (George Clinton), and Jason Orme (Sarah Mclachlan). These new batch of tunes continues with my soulful pop vibe but also taps into my Hawaiian roots. I can't wait for you to hear it!
