Melanie Charles (Season 4 Finale)
Photo by Meredith Truax
I want to take a sec and reflect, which is something I struggle with quite a bit. There’ve been many instances where I’ve found it easier to focus on the past or the future, but the present has felt elusive to me at times.
Creating this season was such an unexpected gift. Getting to bring you these talks helped me to rebuild who I am after a traumatic experience last winter and the main reason I even mention that is due to how this season reignited my faith in people. Specifically, how we need people who’re different than us, people who’ve lived different lives than us and have had different experiences that we can only dream about.
So with that, I want to give a major thanks to everyone who’s been on the podcast, along with a massive thanks to you, the listener. I say it every season but the fact that you’ve taken the time to listen to this is huge and it truly means the world to me.
Today’s finale is a truly special one and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with Melanie Charles. She’s a musician from Brooklyn, New York who’s inadvertently challenging what you’ve come to expect from jazz. I’d call her a maverick but she’d be quick to correct me that she’s simply herself.
On this episode we have a deep chat about her album, Y’all Don’t (Really) Care About Black Women and the journey that went into the creation of this personal body of work.
Melanie will be playing a selection of shows in Canada, Europe, and the UK soon, along with a free show in Central Park on July 16th. Be sure to visit her website tour dates.
Season 5 of the podcast will be kicking off in September, be sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter so you don’t miss out on updates!
After you hear the episode, be sure to check out Melanie’s reimagining of Woman Of The Ghetto on the official New Exchange Playlist. Also, be sure to follow Melanie Charles on Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
