Meet Melody McArthur | Singer Songwriter, Actress

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melody McArthur and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melody, how do you think about risk?
For me, risk is equated with reward. I’ve done many things afraid and accomplished greatness. I believe it is because of continued pursuit despite fears I have grown immensely as an artist, business owner, and human being. The more you grow, develop and evolve your sense of self, skills, confidence, and authenticity, the more success and abundance will be drawn to you.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a singer-songwriter and have been writing original works since about age 14. I learned to play guitar initially at age 7 then picked it up again at 14 at which point I began writing music. I played flute in school and learned how to read sheet music it’s been many years since I’ve done that though but that musical journey was about all I had available to me because I grew up in a place that was very rural with very little resources for someone with artistic talents. I grew up in the 90s when art wasn’t really something that was seen as a skill one should develop and pursue; thats something other people did. Eventually however, as an adult, living in an urban setting and working and attending university I decided to start following my dreams. 2014 I started recording and releasing my music, I learned about the industry, took on projects and risks that forced me to step outside the comfort zone and therefore grow as an individual and develop as a human being. This has all brought me to the place I am today with my artistic skills, achievements and ambitions. I have released six albums since 2014 almost one album every year and because I am relentless, I am currently a lead actress in the touring all Indigenous casted musical Bear Grease. I went from understudy to the lead starring role and we are now as a team, including some from the very initial beginning, making our Off Broadway New York debut summer 2025 an unbelievable feat for a project that was born from a spark of creativity that Crystle Lightning and Henry Andrade wrote, directed, pursued, believed in and found a team including myself to believe in the dream and now here we are, Rez kids from all over Canada, USA, and Mexico taking Bear Grease to New York City. Some lessons I have learned is when no one else believes, you do and if you persist it will exist and that everything including all the magic happens outside where you’re comfortable. You want it? You have to grow and develop and you hone your skills ;if you don’t know something, you learn it who wants it most will have it. I want the world to know most that rez kids can do anything and Native American people are highly gifted and talented people capable of mainstream level of art, business, law, education, and much more.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Without a doubt in my mind my first recommendation would be the thrift shopping opportunities it’s worth a day or two out of your trip to just go check out all the Hidden Treasures that can be found in the local thrift stores and then of course you have to do barbecue my recommendations always will include Sweets, Martin’s and Jacks! I also thoroughly enjoyed the patsy Cline museum, the Johnny cash museum and walks down by the river. I’m pretty easy going though and checking out talent at the open mic nights, particularly Douglas Corner.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to Bear Grease, the all-Indigenous casted North American touring musical parodying the hit musical Grease from a Native American perspective. Joining Bear Grease has made my dreams of becoming a full-time artist, traveling the world and sharing artistic gifts come true.

Website: https://Linktr.ee/melodymcarthurmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodymcarthurmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melodymcarthurmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melodymcarthurmusic

Image Credits
Image one: Keisha Cardinal
All additional images supplied by Melody McArthur