Melissa Czarnik
Melissa Czarnik is an emcee and poet from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She released her first cd, "Strawberry Cadillac" on Hyperdrive Motivator Productions in July of 2008. She is best known for her precise flow and poetic lyrics. Czarnik co-founded Hyperdrive Motivator Productions alongside producer Eric Mire, who is also responsible for her instrumentation.
Live Show
She often performs live with the five-piece backing band know as the Eric Mire Band, which is made up of Maurice Cotton (Keys/vocals), Chip Baily (drums), Brad Bloom (sax), Don Bradshaw (congas), and Eric Mire (guitar/vocals). When performing in cafes in select cities, Czarnik is joined by a minimal set, always partnered with Eric Mire on guitar and loop pedal, and sometimes accompanied by Brad Bloom on sax, and Don Bradshaw on congas.
Other Projects
Melissa Czarnik has been featured on several Hyperdrive Motivator Productions releases.
- eric mire, Eric Mire (HMP, 2007)
- Strawberry Cadillac, Melissa Czarnik (HMP, 2008)
- Spooky Love, Eric Mire Band (HMP, 2009)
- Local Live, Melissa Czarnik w/ Eric Mire Band (HMP, 2009)
Czarnik is currently finishing up her sophmore album, to be released late summer, 2010.
Critical reaction
Molly Snyder Edler wrote in OnMilwaukee.com that "Czarnik's smooth voice and smart rhymes bump Strawberry Cadillac to the top shelf. Highpoints include the heartfelt track 'February' which backflashes on her relationship with her deceased brother, the bongo- and conga-filled 'Garden of Eaten' and the upbeat 'If You Gotta System'."