Carrie Melbourne

Carrie Melbourne is not new to music, with a pedigree of both classical training in music and success as a session and performance musician with British artists Babylon Zoo, Tricky and Mike Oldfield. Not to mention a solo career with her own band a few year ago. However, as someone who has found it imperative to center her life around God, her new album "Et Spiritu Sancti" is her first venture of melding her deep-rooted beliefs with her talent of song-writing. Incorporating a mixture of her own lyrics ("Mary's Song"), those of medieval authors ("Jesus Christ the Apple Tree"), and even a prayer written by the leader of her parish, she sets the words to irresistible melodies. "Our inspiration is given to us by God and Jesus, and in some ways we are in fact, just a conduit for him. Music is part of our prayer.......", says Carrie, when talking about her inspiration for her music.

The album has just been released, but already Carrie has been noticed by radio programs such Mark Jones’ “Soul and Inspiration” where she was recently interviewed and her music showcased, and the BBC's Radio 4's award-winning program "Something Understood", which will feature her song "Breath of Prayer". Although her music tends to resist being pigeon holed into a certain genre because of her versatility, she is optimistic that it will fill a gap in the Christian music market. Reflective of her personal approach to ministry and promoting God's word through her work in the community parish, she feels that music must also touch something personal in the listener. "I think in many ways music is always trying to convey the same elements of passion and technical expertise.......it is one of the great communicators in life", she said, when talking about her music and that of other Christian song-writers.

Combining prayers set to music, such as her "Our Father", her music inspires contemplation and thoughtfulness. However Carrie does not stop at comfortable lyrics. With her venture into "Mary's Song", she explores the feelings of Mary as she struggles with the conflicting emotions of happiness and sorrow when faced with telling Joseph about the conception of Jesus, and the fear of the societal implications of such a revelation.

In "Breath of Prayer", the lyrics metaphorically inspire one to think of breathing and taking in the divine, becoming closer to God through the act of meditation. In a joyous message in "Declaration Day" she sings about a God who does not judge, and invites us to dance and sing with him, the song elegantly fused with background vocals and keyboards. The diversity of her music continues with the song inspired by a medieval carol "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree", and a poem by 16th century British priest and poet George Herbert set to music in "King of Glory".

The diversity of the tracks will make it an album that will appeal to a wide-range of listeners that want some music to think about - and listen to again and again.

As a professional musician, Carrie has performed world-wide with well-known names such as Babylon Zoo, Tricky, and Mike Oldfield. (She played on his Tubular Bells III premiere at Horseguards Parade London 1998, his European tour 1999 and his Millennium Bell show in Berlin Dec 1999.)
Carrie has had several television appearances in the United Kingdom, including The Jools Holland Show in 1997 with Tricky, and again in 1999 with Mike Oldfield. She has also been seen on MTV, Top of the Pops and Channel 4's The White Room with Babylon Zoo.
In the United States she has been on the David Letterman show and the Chris Rock show in Los Angeles with the band Tricky.
In Europe her appearance include major European TV and radio stations with Babylon Zoo, including the Danish Grammy Awards!
Carrie also had an original band in the 90's - Melbourne. She sang and played bass guitar and Chapman stick (see photo). Melbourne released two albums "Indian Ocean" and "Night Star".
Carrie now works as a lay pastoral assistant in the Church and contributes regularly singing and playing church music.