Melanie Fiona Hallim (born July 4, 1983) is a Canadian R&B singer-songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. She was born to Guyanese immigrant parents (mixed with black, Indian, and Portuguese ethnicities) and grew up in the inner city of Toronto. Living in a music filled household, Fiona says she always knew music was her passion. Her father was a guitarist in a band and would allow her to sit on the stage when she was younger as he practiced, and remembers her mother playing music at home; everything from The Ronettes to Whitney Houston. Fiona was featured on Reggae Gold 2008 with the Supa Dups-produced "Somebody Come Get Me". Her debut album The Bridge was released in the summer of 2009. She worked on the album with Future Cut, Vada Nobles, Stereotypes, J. Phoenix, Peter Wade and Salaam Remi. The debut single "Give It to Me Right" was released to radio stations on February 28, 2009, and peaked at #20 on Billboard's Canadian Hot 100 and #41 on the UK Singles Chart. The second single, "It Kills Me", became her breakout song on the Billboard Hot 100 where it cracked the Top 50, along with hitting #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song earned Fiona a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The Bridge also earned her a NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding New Artist. In late 2009, she was chosen as one of Beyond Race Magazine's "50 Emerging Artists". Fiona participated in "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" to benefit Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. Her single, “Give It to Me Right,” peaked at No. 22 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay. Sampling the iconic '60s hit “Time of the Season,” "the track creates familiarity with existing fans, says Fiona. With lyrics like, “When I want it / You gotta be ready / When I get it / I better be satisfied,” she showcases her sultry pipes and solidifies her strong persona as a self-described “no nonsense” woman who knows what she wants. Fiona’s’ debut album, "Bridges," is slated for release in the U.S. August 18 via Title9/SRC/Universal Motown, but may be pushed until early fall. Producers include Supa Dups (John Legend, Pitbull) and Salaam Remi (Lauryn Hill) among others. Other songs on the album include the emotional ballad “It Kills Me” and Fiona's personal favorite, “You Stopped My Heart." Next on the agenda for the Caribbean crooner is more songwriting for various artists, touring and making sure she gives it to her fans just right. “I go through heartache, I feel sad. I want people to feel like they know me, like we’re friends,” she says. “I feel like artists aren’t putting their hearts into it anymore. They're all about the quick fix. I’m a big nerd, I’m not that super cool artist. I live out of my suitcase and I’m happy to do so. I’m focused on my career and my fans, not just right now.”