DMV-based singer-songwriter Melissa Quinn Fox discusses her 2023 Wammie wins, new music, and more.
Singer-songwriter Melissa Quinn Fox scored quite a whammy this spring. In April, the artist took home three prestigious Wammie Awards at a ceremony held in Washington. One of those recognitions was best song for her composition “Dear Self Doubt.”
“I’m a four-time winner, which is pretty awesome,” Quinn Fox said, noting that she previously won a best song Wammie for her earlier composition “Back There.” “It really means a lot to be recognized as a songwriter for all the hard work I’ve put in—especially in this area.”
Indeed, Quinn Fox has put in the time and the work. A native of Pittsburgh, she spent several years after college traveling as a performer, appearing in shows domestically and overseas. Missing the family, she returned to the Iron City and played in various bands while refining her own voice as a songwriter. An old friend convinced her to head down to the Outer Banks to play summer acoustic shows while supplementing her music by working in the restaurant industry. During that time, she maintained a romantic relationship with someone in Pittsburgh, and the couple eventually made the move to D.C.
“I decided to take a chance on a new city, move here and see how I liked it,” she said, adding that the relationship ended not long after she arrived in the DMV. “I got a day job in sales I really enjoyed while I was playing music at night with various bands.”
She again considered moving back to Pittsburgh, but in 2013 met her now-husband. The couple temporarily set up homes in Newport, Rhode Island, and Destin, Florida, before settling (for now) back in the D.C. area.
“For my experience, I think it’s very supportive,” she said of the music scene of her adopted hometown. “There’s definitely a large circle of musicians that usually keep in communication with each other—sharing gig and venue info.”
Quinn Fox is a self-taught acoustic guitarist and also plays a bit of piano. She considers Fleetwood Mac, Carole King and Carly Simon, all of whom she heard on her parents’ record player back home in Pittsburgh, as early inspirations. Later influences include the ’80s and ’90s pop sounds of Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston.”
“But then I started listening to country music in high school—so Faith Hill, Sarah Evans, Trisha Yearwood, Dixie Chicks,” said Quinn Fox. “Nowadays Miranda Lambert, Brandi Carlile, Serena Ryder. I just take a little bit of them into my own style.”
This method has indeed worked for her. “Dear Self Doubt” marries a vintage country sound with some rather bluesy beats, while “Back There” infuses the Western feel of American music into the song’s country DNA.
“I really lucked out when I met Todd Wright, a local singer-songwriter-producer in Hamilton, Virginia. It really changed my life,” Quinn Fox said of working with the man who has helped refine her own compositions. “A lot of times when you’re an artist, you write these lyrics and you might think no one is going to…relate or think you’re stupid. You really just gotta be open to collaborating.”
Her wish to work with the best writers has led Quinn Fox to make nearly two dozen trips to Nashville—typically with her husband and the couple’s two dogs along for the ride. On her most recent excursion to Music City, she had the opportunity to try out several of her songs in front of various songwriters to receive feedback. Though Quinn Fox has met some stellar Nashville composers whose input can up her own game, she has no “set goal” regarding her trips to Tennessee’s capital—nor does she wish to move south.
“We really love Northern Virginia. It’s a good location, and [within] driving distance to our parents and families,” she said. “And there’s amazing opportunities here to play music all week long. Down [in Nashville] it’s oversaturated, and you’re scrambling to play gigs just for tips.”
The couple moved from Alexandria to Purcellville last summer, and are enjoying the slower pace of life a bit farther from the capital. From their home base, Quinn Fox can easily travel to upcoming gigs around the region, including as far away as Pennsylvania and as far afield as South Carolina with her guitar in hand.
The DMV has been good to Quinn Fox, allowing her to write, record and perform—her dream since youth. Her individual songs are leading up to an EP, she says, and potentially a full-length album sometime next year. Her next single, “Crime,” is due to drop June 30.
With several Wammies to her credit now, Quinn Fox said she will continue putting pen to paper, no matter the types or number of awards that may yet be to come.
“I have stuff written down on Post-its everywhere in the house. I had written down wanting to play these festivals [as well as winning] Wammie Awards,” she said. “It’s amazing to feel like it’s gonna happen and then it happens.
“It’s a great feeling to know you have positive energy and working hard pays off.”
Quinn Fox has some rather straightforward advice for anyone seeking to become a singer-songwriter: Be yourself, don’t try to make your music fit into someone else’s paradigm, and find your own unique voice.
“I always wanted to write songs that people relate to,” she said. “I fell in love with music and the story of the song—and how it made me feel.”
*For information on upcoming gigs and to hear more of her music, visit www.melissaquinnfox.com/. *
A native of New Jersey, Eric Althoff has published articles in “The Washington Post,” “Los Angeles Times,” “Napa Valley Register,” “Black Belt,” DCist, ScreenComment.com and Luxe Getaways. He produced the Emmy-winning documentary, “The Town That Disappeared Overnight,” and has covered the Oscars live at the Dolby Theater. He lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with his wife, Victoria.
Subscribe to Alchemical Records today to support our efforts online and in print.
Join the Alchemical Records Street Team to promote these and other artists, live music, and music community organizations & events while receiving cool perks from artists throughout the region.
Recent Articles In his fifth single since debuting as an artist in 2022, Daniel Cohen reveals what is perhaps his most pop-driven track yet, “Star
Flow-bending artist aSanTIS discusses art, culture, and whether sound can solve the world’s problems in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
My interview with Amy Santis aka aSanTIS began in the most unexpected way. The Maryland-based flow-bending artist and lyrical storyteller came prepared to engage in conversation around questions I had posed – and she also brought one or two of her own thoughtful prompts based on her curiosities around my view of learning.
This practice of taking in her surroundings deeply through observation and inquiry has come naturally to aSanTIS ever since she was a young child. In terms of her early starts in music, she notes that she began as a discerning listener. “Just listening to music from my mom, on the radio, just being a consumer in the world of sound. But I think mainly, my mom has always loved dancing and listening to music, so that was sort of like second nature. We play music at gatherings, we play music in the car, and these songs are sort of like diaries that take us into a specific place.”
Recent Articles Jimmy T’s Place launches on all major platforms Oct 6 True to form, dirty shirt rock n’ roll band One Way Out, originally
Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
