Career
1990s bands - Tiger Trap, The Softies, Go Sailor, Gaze
Melberg was raised by working musicians [12] and following her appearance right out of high school at the International Pop Underground Convention in Olympia, Washington, in August 1991, [13] she had almost instant success with the all-female band Tiger Trap. [14] The short-lived band garnered a cult following in indie-pop circles. [15]
In 1994 she began writing music with Jen Sbragia under the name The Softies. During their initial run, the band released three albums between 1995 and 2000. [16]
That same year she formed Go Sailor with former Crimpshrine member Paul Curran on bass, and Henry's Dress member Amy Linton on drums. They released three 7" EPs, followed by an album compiling their recorded output, before disbanding in 1996. [17]
In 1997 the Vancouver-based Gaze started releasing music, with Melberg on drums. Full-length album Mitsumeru followed on K Records in 1998. [6] Then a second, Shake The Pounce in 1999, which was recorded by Calvin Johnson at Dub Narcotic Studios. [18]
Late '90s to 2000s - Solo career
She released her first solo album, Portola , in 1998. It contained a mix of single sides, studio demos, and home recordings, with songs split evenly between original material and covers of other artists. [19]
In 2002, she gave birth to a son and lived with her husband and family in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada. [20] She returned to the pop world in 2006 with her second solo album, Cast Away the Clouds. [21] Melberg toured briefly for the album, including a spot opening for Belle and Sebastian. [22]
Her third solo album, Homemade Ship, was released on K Records in 2009. [23] The track "Old Days" was featured as Song Of The Day by NPR Music. [24]
In the early 2010s Go Sailor reformed for some live shows, starting with Slumberland Records' 20th anniversary shows in 2010, followed by the 2011 edition of NYC Popfest. [5]
As of 2011, Melberg was a part of two groups, Brave Irene and Imaginary Pants. [25] Brave Irene was a five-piece band; with Melberg on guitar and vocals, Caitlin Gilroy on keyboards, guitar, tambourine, and vocals, Jessica Wilkin on organ, Amanda Pezzutto on bass and vocals, and Laura Hatfield on drums. The group recorded its self-titled debut with producer John Collins at JC/DC Studios, which was released in 2011 on Slumberland Records [26] to positive reviews. [27] [28]
In 2013 she was a member of the band PUPS, who released a split tape with Movieland on Green Burrito Records. [29]
She was the singer and guitarist of Vancouver-based band Knife Pleats, who in 2015 released the album Hat Bark Beach. The other members of the band were Kaity McWhinney and Tracey Vath of Love Cuts and drummer Gregor Phillips. [10]
The band Olivia's World, featuring Melberg on drums along with Lica Rezende and Joe Saxby, released its debut EP in 2019. [30]
2020s - Bratmobile, The Softies reunion
In 2023 Melberg started playing guitar for the reformed riot grrrl band Bratmobile. [31]
The Softies released a new album in 2024, The Bed I Made. [32]
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