Melissa Carper

American singer and bassist Melissa Carper grew up in Nebraska in a musical family, with a childhood steeped in Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, and Ray Charles. She learned to play bass in the school orchestra and was performing with the family band from an early age. That early love for roots music, combined with her discovery of voices like Billie Holiday and Lead Belly, forms the foundation of her style: raw, playful, and full of life.

On her new album Borned In Ya, Carper sounds more relaxed than ever. The songs are deeply rooted in tradition, yet they also show her growth as a songwriter. From country soul and R&B to honky-tonk and jazz – Carper switches effortlessly between genres without ever losing her unique voice. Her singing is warm and clear, her lyrics rich with stories and small observations. For this album, she collaborated with top musicians from the Nashville scene and recorded it at the analog studio The Bomb Shelter. The vibe is homely and intimate, but always with a wide-open perspective.

Carper is beloved in the Americana world for staying true to her roots, with a charming individuality and a sense of humor. She is open about her queer identity, which makes her a distinctive voice in an often conservative country landscape.