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Melanie Blatt Profile |
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Birth Date: March 25, 1975
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Birth Place: London, England, UK
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Birth Name: Melanie Ruth Blatt
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Height: 5'3"
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Biography |
Melanie Ruth Blatt (born 25 March 1975) is an English female
singer and occasional actress. She was born at University
College Hospital in the London Borough of Camden and is
named after Melanie Safka. Melanie is a solo singer and a
member of All Saints. Melanie is 1.62m (5'4"). She has a
French Jewish mother and a Jewish father whose ancestors
were from Poland and Russia and a younger sister called
Jasmine Blatt whose name was chosen by Melanie. She was
raised in both England and France. Melanie has one daughter,
Lilyella (born 20 November 1998) by former partner Stuart
Zender, one-time bassist with Jamiroquai.
Blatt made her name as part of top UK girl group All Saints,
but following their split has launched a moderately
successful solo career. Her musical style is influenced by
Blackstreet, Stevie Wonder, R&B and hip-hop. Her outlook is
also influenced by being the daughter of hippy parents who -
when Melanie was six - camped out at the Glastonbury
Festival for three days.
Melanie went to Fitzjohn's Primary School where her musical
talent was immediately noticed by the head teacher David
Joyne, who encouraged her parents to send her to a stage
school. In 1986 Melanie went to the Sylvia Young Theatre
School where she met Nicole Appleton. The two girls became
best friends. During this period Melanie also played young
Eponine in Les Misérables for six months, and was the
understudy for Cosette together with fellow Sylvia Young
student Denise van Outen.
In 1986 Melanie was diagnosed having Scoliosis. Since her
parents weren't satisfied with the treatment for the
condition in the United Kingdom, they decided to move to
France where a specialist decided that the best way to treat
it was to put three metal rods in her back.
In 1993 Melanie started out singing in the band Drive with
Guillaume and they recorded "Curfew" together. She performed
this song on the TV programme Access All Areas. She also did
backing vocals with Dreadzone doing backing vocals with
Denise van Outen.
Later that year Melanie met Shaznay Lewis at the
Metamorphosis recording studio in All Saints Road, London
and they proceeded to record together. Together with Simone
Rainford they formed the band All Saints 1.9.7.5 which was
later renamed to All Saints when Simone left and Nicole and
Natalie Appleton joined Melanie and Shaznay.
In 2000, Blatt appeared in the critically mauled film Honest
directed by Dave Stewart opposite Nicole Appleton and
Natalie Appleton and in 2001 she played a small, but
memorable role in the independent British film Dog eat dog.
Her solo releases have been of variable success; her most
prominent being "TwentyFourSeven", a collaboration with The
Artful Dodger, peaking at #6 in September 2001 and the UK
version of I'm leavin by Outsidaz on which she replaced
Kelis. Her new album was being written and recorded with
Matt Hales from Aqualung and featured "See Me", which was
included on the Robots soundtrack (2005) and released on a
single with matching video featuring footage from the movie
and Melanie with her face covered in diamonds.
During 2005 Melanie played small venues in the UK which
featured songs from the album she was working on at the time
and included unreleased songs like "In Your Arms," "I Don't
Mind," "Now You're Gone," "No Lullaby" and "Love Sweet
Love."
On January 24, 2006 it was announced that All Saints had
reformed with a new record contract and subsequently
released a new album, Studio 1 on November 13, 2006. Blatt's
solo record was shelved in favour of the reunion.
Mel is currently co-hosting The Hot Desk for ITV mobile - a
music show for mobile phones. |
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Other
Information |
Half-French, half-English, she has spent 4 years in
Normandie and is fluent in both languages.
Daughter, Lilyella, (b. 20 November 1998), with former
Jamiroquai bassist Stuart Zender.
Has a young sister, Jasmine
Has 3 metal rods in her spine, due to back problems
(scoliosis) during her childhood.
Has musical notes tattooed on her right arm and a dragon
tattooed on her left side
Attended Sylvia Young Theatre School, along with future All
Saints bandmates Nicole Appleton and Natalie Appleton. |
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since February 12, 2008