Woman: Breaking The Rules is a project celebrating women in Manchester music. The project, which comprises 5 short films, a pop-up exhibition and several events, is part of our Heritage Lottery-funded Rebel Music programme and is led by MDMA co-founder Alison Surtees.
Through our online networks we held a vote to determine which 5 inspiring women in Manchester music we approach to feature in our 5 short films. A whopping 718 people voted.
Melanie Williams won the 'writing' category for her work as a songwriter. In this film she describes her journey in the music industry, including her inspirations and struggles.
Melanie started singing and writing for a band in Manchester, Adventure, invited to join by fellow musician Eric Gooden. Eric and Melanie went on to sign their first recording contract with Geffen Records just a few years later. This took them to Chicago to be there at the birth of House Music.
Melanie also collaborated and sung on a track with Manchester band Sub Sub. The single release of Ain't No Love, Ain't No Use, very swiftly rose to number 3 in the UK charts and became an undisputed club anthem.
With the release of her solo album, and a version of You Are Everything the classic Motown duet sung with partner and solo artist Joe Roberts, they reached top 20 in the UK, while her Everyday Thang, Frankie Knuckles’ remix hit number 1 in the billboard breakout charts in the US.
Her continued collaborations with artists worldwide & consistantly with now husband Joe Roberts has birthed 2 further albums with Dark Flower and their current raw neo-soul band Butterfly Jam.
The aim of the series of films is to give encouragement and inspiration to other women to share their stories and artefacts on our site, so these vital histories are not lost.
MDMA has secured The Refuge for the final exhibition for this project in February 2018. The exhibition will reflect key women from the music industry and their influence. The exhibition will open with a launch featuring live DJs. There will be a social screening of a longer documentary we are in process of securing further funds and access for, as well as our shorts.
As the short films are produced, we will share them through our website, and social media, and keep you up to date as they are ready to go. Anyone wanting to add names to our long list of key women, feel free to email alison@mdmarchive.co.uk with your ideas.
Keep in touch with the project via our dedicated Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/groups/1599590207014...
Our Twitter hashtags are:
@MDMarchive
#RebelMusicMCR
#MCRWomeninMusic
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