1. One hour after the gig at Forum, I sit backstage on a large, springy sofa, pen and pad at the ready,
eagerly awaiting my much anticipated interview with ‘Melody’, the young female songstress that has
recently taken the UK’s music industry by storm. The Mancunian bred independent artist shot to
fame in early 2012 after being noticed on YouTube for her, no short of amazing!, covers, including
her dazzling cover of ‘The writer’ by Ellie Goulding which has received over 2 million views since she
posted the video in late 2011. Almost a year later, I’m backstage at her sold out gig here at the
Forum, one of London’s most respectable and well known music venues ready to get all of the nitty-
gritty revolving around her at the minute including info on her new upcoming album as well as the
rumours that love is in the air between her and no other than One Direction’s very own Liam Payne!
A steward at the Forum signals a short bell that signals the end of the night and no longer than 15
seconds later, she is walking toward me, head held high, almost glowing and clearly electric
following tonight’s performance. It has been noted before that Melody looks almost goddess like
even with minimal make up and it’s true! Her cheeks have a naturally red tint, her skin flawless and
her eyes, big and brown seem to glow, even under the ugly artificial light at the Forum. I waste no
time when she addresses me saying “I’m sorry I’m so late, tonight’s just been really hectic! I’m
exhausted but I told them I was going nowhere until I’d spoken to you”. She follows this with a slight
giggle. Noting that her day to day life must be a constant rush, I understand that she won’t want to
waste time with pointless small talk so I get the ball rolling by asking,
“So Melody, tell me, how does it feel to be where you are now?”
“Well, what can I say? I’m living the dream! That sounds so cliché, but it’s true I am! Ever since I
was 6 and I developed my love for singing this has been my aim, and now here I am! One minute I
was in my living room, recording myself singing and uploading it to YouTube, the next I was
receiving emails and letters from record studios asking me to record professionally for them! It’s
amazing!”
“A lot of tabloids and magazines have recently stated that you have let fame go to your head. How
do you respond to that kind of criticism?”
“Obviously it hurts when I read things like that. I’d be lying if I said stuff like that doesn’t get me
down. *laughs* But what I always say is that I don’t believe that I’ve let fame go to my head. I’m
still the same girl I was a year ago. I go to the chippy on a Friday, I go to bars and clubs with my
friends and I watch strictly come dancing every weekend like a ritual. Singing and touring aside,
I’m just your average 19 year old girl from Manchester and personally, I always urge myself not to
pick up magazines in shops just in case there’s a vile shot of me getting out of the car with my
underwear on show or a bad angle shot of me devouring a kebab! *Laughs*

2. “Okay so that aside, what has been your favourite or maybe most memorable part of the year?”
“Wow. Where do I start?! It’s been one hell of a year I’ll tell you that and it’s gone by so fast! I
think the most memorable moment for me has to be the night I played in the Manchester
academy. What a night! It was so immense to see all of my friends and family staring up at me
singing along! *she pauses* as for the favourite part of the year I simply have to say the day I
found out ‘I stay’ reached Number 1 ! I screamed and cried all day long! I’d never felt so ecstatic in
my life! I rang up everyone I know and just screamed to them down the phone. It was an amazing
sense of achievement that I’d never felt before! I was no longer just a stupid blonde from
Manchester trying to make it big. No. There I was. I was there and it felt unimaginable.
“And Melody, I guess you knew this question was inevitable” *she laughs and looks up at the
ceiling* Are the rumours true that you and Liam are dating?”
“Yep I knew this question was coming alright. One of you is going to get it out of me eventually.
Me and Liam have been on a few dates. He’s a really lovely guy, genuine and also cute which is
always a bonus! *laughs* But no we’ve been discussing and we’ve both agreed that we just don’t
feel like we could hold a full time relationship at the minute what with all the touring for both of
us. So sorry everybody but for now, we’re just friends! *laughs*