Melissa Burnos

A former NFL cheerleader turned rocker, Melissa Burnos is an unexpected success on the Miami music scene. A few years ago Maurice Gibb, a good friend and member of legendary group The Bee Gees, encouraged Burnos to turn her pages of dark poetry in song. A natural entertainer, her inherent rock sensibilities come alive on any stage as she loses herself in the music.

Passionate about music and dancing since she was old enough to walk, Burnos trained in ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop, using the last genre to get her on the road to stardom. Turning her passion into a career, Melissa rose to the limelight as a cheerleader for the Miami Dolphins where she not only danced her heart out, but also sang a tune or two at special NFL events. All the while, she knew she wanted to accomplish more and decided to leave the sports world to focus on her true passions.

Her pop rock sound is a mix between Portishead and Led Zepplin, while vocally, blues legend Etta James serves as her greatest hero. Embarking on a world tour this year with Argentinean pop star Ricardo Montaner, Burnos will perform in historic venues in Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia, Uruguay, Colombia, and Mexico.

“I really pride myself on my live show because I’m a really high energy, in your face kind of singer,” explained Burnos. “I like to take live audiences and listeners on a musical journey that is deep and dark, upbeat and fun, where I can break it all down and make it sultry and sexy.” - Miami Herald

See link... - Deco Drive

An English major-turned-Miami-Dolphins-cheerleader-turned-minxy rocker, Melissa Burnos is ostensibly a woman of evolving interests. But listening to her music, it’s clear that performing is a blood right. She’s got only one single under her belt so far, but on it she comes out swinging. “NME” (or, “enemy”) is a sugary shot of hard rock that places Burnos’s muscular voice center stage. Influences ranging from Led Zeppelin to Alice In Chains and Heart are evident, but the song’s unequivocal pop gloss makes Burnos most comparable to Pat Benatar. A snarl of electric guitars and pummeled drums is undercut with a sing-songy chorus, “Hey, hey, NME / I’m not coming out to play.” Lines like “Master manipulator / Misery instigator” come off like an updated version of “You’re a heart breaker / Dream maker.” But whether or not Burnos’s music is derivative is beside the point: she’s a confident performer wielding a potent mix of aggression and seduction. In other words, dontcha mess around with her. - Our Stage

Power...Mystery...Attraction. Power Rock has a new Face! Interview with Jahi Asad MELISSA, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS DAY WITH US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR NEW SINGLE “NME“. WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR WORLD THESE DAYS? It's my pleasure. Thank YOU! My world is full of music. I'm constantly writing new tunes and poems. Right now, I am finalizing tunes for my first full-length album. I just sang with Ky-Mani Marley at the 17th Annual Caribbean Festival in Miami. He's amazing! I just did a performance at the “March on Stage“ event at the Hard Rock In Hollywood, Florida. March on Stage is a live music program featuring emerging and iconic Artists performing at Hard Rock locations worldwide. March on Stage strives to raise funds and awareness for “Musicians on Call.“ WHERE'S HOME FOR YOU, MELISSA? Miami, FL YOU WERE A MIAMI DOLPHINS CHEERLEADER, IS THAT RIGHT? Yes, that's right! Go `Fins! HOW LONG WERE YOU A CHEERLEADER WITH THEM? 2 years WHAT WAS THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAD BEING A PART OF THE NFL? That's a tough one! There were so many! I absolutely looooove performing for a packed stadium! It was such a rush! It's cool being NFL Alumni. My fellow Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders Alumni and I share a special bond and friendship. It's almost like being part of a sorority.
SO, WHEN DID YOU SWITCH THE GEARS AND START PURSUING A CAREER IN MUSIC? When I stopped cheerleading for the Miami Dolphins. WAS IT ANDY GIBB WHO MOTIVATED YOU TO START A CAREER AS A SINGER? No, it was the late Maurice Gibb (Bee Gees) who encouraged me to turn my poetry into songs. I was already singing and performing with bands locally. As an English Literature major, I filled countless books and journals with tons of poems and prose. Mo read some of the poems and said, “Whoa, why don't you write songs?“ The rest is history. WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU TO HELP YOU COME TO DECISION TO MAKE MUSIC A PART OF YOUR LIFE? Music was already a huge part of my life. He just encouraged me to turn my poems into songs.YOU HAD SOME GREAT PRODUCERS WORKING WITH YOU ON YOUR NEW SINGLE “NME“. Actually, my guitarist, Dave Karmiol, and I co-produced “NME.“ Dave did a great job. We work very well together. It was recorded at Lenny Kravitz's Setai Recording Studio in Miami Beach. The brilliant Matt Knobel (Lenny Kravitz, Mick Jagger, Ricky Martin, Chaka Kahn) mixed and mastered the song and Ian Mercel engineered. Matt and Ian did an amazing job. WHAT IS THE SONG ABOUT? I wrote NME about struggling with, caging and taunting, inner demons or the “ENEMY WITHIN“.

HAVE YOU EVER WRITTEN A SONG AND IT DOESN'T MOVE YOU IN THE SAME AS IT DID WHEN THE IDEA FIRST CAME TO YOU? WHAT DO YOU DO?
No, my songs are little pieces of my personal adventure. Each time I sing them, it's like a time machine transporting me right back to the experience and emotions that inspired me to write them.
BOB DYLAN ONCE SAID “MUSIC CAN SAVE PEOPLE, BUT IT CAN'T, IN THE COMMERCIAL WAY IT'S BEING USED. IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.
IT'S POLLUTION.“DO YOU STILL BELIEVE IN THE POWER THAT MUSIC POSSESESS?
Of course I do! Music is a powerful tool that artists can use to unite people, affect moods, inspire creativity in others, motivate actions, convey emotions and experiences that people can identify with, ultimately making people aware that they're not alone. I absolutely love performing i for a packed stadium!! IT WAS SUCH A RUSH! YOU TOURED IN SOUTH AMERICA WITH-LATIN GRAMMY NOMINATED ARTISTRICARDO MONTANER? HOW FUN WAS THAT?
It was incredible!!! We did 30 shows in two months, saw lots of beautiful cities, rocked sold out stadiums and arenas night after night! I can't wait to do it again.
ANY HICCUPS DURING THE TOUR?
We finished a show in Bolivia and had a show in Buenos Aires that night. Our flights were delayed and they had to separate the band on different flights back to Buenos Aires. A couple of the other singers and I were on the last flight doing our makeup for the show on the plane. We landed and were whisked from the airport to Luna Park in Buenos Aires and barely made the show in time. It was exciting and nerve wracking at the same time! DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO MEET UP WITH RICARDO?
Yes, several times. He and his family are fantastic people. Ricardo met up with us at his restaurant, Regazzi, in Miami during the rehearsal week. They took us all to dinner on tour and, of course, we met up with him at soundchecks.
SO, ARE YOU WORKING ON PUTTING A FULL ALBUM TOGETHER?
Yes!!!! My guitarist, Dave Karmiol, and I are finalizing the new material now. We have written some slammin' tunes for debut album. WHERE CAN WE PICK UP THE NEW SINGLE?
It's on iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/album/nme/id354768757 Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037DLIZI/ref=cm_sw_em_r_dp_mp3a Myspace.com www.myspace.com/melissaburnos MELISSA, YOU'RE MUSIC IS HOT AND WE WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.
Thanks so much! You guys rock! I love your magazine. Keep up the great work!

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Link:
http://www.adarasmagazine.com/index.aspx?issue=issue02&page=33 - Adaras Magazine

"A natural entertainer, her inherent rock sensibilities come alive on any stage as she loses herself in the music."
-Rayme Samuels, Miami Herald - The Miami Herald