Melineh Kurdian

Genre: Folk
Secondary Genre: Rock Los Angeles, California USA Contact

From the first note sung, Melineh Kurdian captures you with her honest delivery. Her easy stage presence makes audiences feel comfortable enough to laugh with her stories, and be moved by her intimate lyrics, her sweet, strong voice and her funky folk-rock guitar style.

Artist Information

Biography

Born in Wichita and raised by her Armenian family, Melineh earned her degree in French and adores all things Japanese. After living in New York City she relocated to Los Angeles, which she now calls home. In her younger years Melineh wasn’t allowed to play with the kids out and about in her neighborhood until she had completed an hour of piano practice each day. A task which as a six year old may have seemed unfair but one that she is more than grateful for now. In those years she performed in countless recitals and competitions however it wasn’t until she stumbled across an old guitar under her mother’s bed that she found her true musical calling.

She has undeniably come a long way from that young girl teaching herself how to play an E Chord in her bedroom and listening to her fathers Jazz collection, classic rock and girls with guitars. She has embarked on two hugely successful tours of Sweden, which holds an overwhelming fan base for her as well as graciously catering to her US based fans by performing in much revered venues such as the Bitter End, CBGB’s Gallery (New York City), The Knitting Factory and Hotel Cafe (Los Angeles) as well as Tin Angel (Philadelphia), just to name a few. Her arrestingly honest song As Good As You was placed on MTV’s The Real World.

Melineh also graced the stage at the National Womens' Music Festival this year, which in previous years has played host to the likes of Melissa Ferrick and Cris Williamson. She was honored to be asked to present an award at last years Armenian Music Awards in front of a crowd of over 7000 people at the Club Nokia (Los Angeles).

After the triumph of her debut album From Where You Are, Melineh has just emerged from recording her new EP The Where and How. The Where and How has been in the making for more than a year. It debuted on Saturday, October 23rd, 2010, at the Hotel Cafe to a packed audience eagerly awaiting the new material. Her beautifully melodies are undoubtedly reminiscent of a young Shawn Colvin or sultry Janis Joplin. The EP is filled with rhythmic guitar phrasing and soulful vocals. “ This is not an overly produced project by any means”, said Melineh in a recent press release. “There is such a lovely attention to detail with every instrument, with the vocals, and with the arrangements, that I still find myself discovering new little pieces each time I listen to the songs”.

The New York Times has dubbed her music “soulful and amusing”, and upon watching her perform live you instantly understand where they were coming from. There is an expressive and poignant quality to her voice, not to mention an honesty that can be hard to find these days. Coupled with her zest for life and her hilarious knack for storytelling, Melineh effortlessly takes her audience on a journey with her music. Before they know it, they have fallen in love.


“… a voice with a measure of Patty Griffin's ability to wrench the heart.” -- Jon Sobel, Blogcritics.org

Instrumentation

Melineh Kurdian, vocals and acoustic guitar
Steve Krugman, drums
Eric Holden, bass
Carl Byron, keyboards and accordions

Discography

"The Where and How" - 2010
"Live from Hotel Cafe EP - Benefit for Natl. Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence" - 2007, Girl Parts Trio
"From where you are" - 2004, debut album
JANE Magazine Reader Compilation CD #4 includes Melineh's "As Good As You."
Peace Songs for a Better World Vol. II includes Melineh's "World."
GoGirls Compilation 2006 includes 'As Good As You'
Catherine J. Snow Stroke Foundation - Musicians for Stroke Awareness includes 'World'

Just some of the places you can hear her music: www.harrisradio.com
www.netteradio.com
www.radiocrystalblue.com
www.femininegroove.com
Michiko&Chris Radio Show in Japan
Swedish public radio
WBAI Pacifica 99.5 fm in New York
KJHK 90.7 fm in Lawrence, KS
WJFF 90.5 fm, "Out Loud & Queer," New York
www.rubyfruitradio.com
www.wholewheatradio.com

Official Website

http://www.melinehkurdian.com

Links

Audio

Lyrics

Video

As Good As You

Photo Gallery

Press

  • Performing Songwriter Magazine [+ Show ]

    Layered acoustic guitars solidify the rhythm on Los Angeles resident Melineh Kurdian’s debut record....

  • Hyperactive Music Magazine [+ Show ]

    Ah, the sound of female vocalists possessing rock n’ roll backbone with singer-songwriter brilliance...

  • 12 Out Artists on the Rise [+ Show ]

    Melineh Kurdian's bold, wise voice sounds too seasoned to have only been captured on one CD so far. ...

  • Melineh at the Bitter End [+ Show ]

    New York-based singer songwriter blending rhythmic folk guitar, rock, jazz, and blues with intellige...

  • Scene and Heard: Melineh, Kate and Lourds Get Noticed! [+ Show ]

    As a female singer/songwriter in New York City, Melineh Kurdian faces the obvious challenge of how t...

Setlist

'Between Me Now' / 'Santa Maria'/ 'You're Not There' / 'Only One'/ 'Sending Boxes' / 'World' / 'Goddamn n' Just Do' / 'Have a Little Heart' / 'As Good As You' / 'Three Years and a Day' and then perhaps a rousing rendition of Bill Wither's 'Ain't No Sunshine' or Morrissey. Her sets are usually 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes.

Basic Requirements


Calendar

There are no upcoming dates at this time.