Sensual. Intuitive. Intellectual. Spiritual. Melinda Joy Rothouse is a singer-songwriter/bass player whose songs interweave poetic lyrics (many originally written as stand-alone poems) with bass and melody lines that draw from a variety of genres. Born in D.C., she grew up in the Midwest and has lived in New York City, San Francisco, North Carolina, Philadelphia, and New Orleans before migrating to Austin, TX, after Katrina. She recorded and released her debut CD, Unbound, in New Orleans during the summer of 2004 with her band, M.J. Baby & The Last Word. Currently performing mostly as a solo artist, she also collaborates with Hannah Williams as well as J.T. Martin and Sean Hannon of Chasca. In addition to her musical endeavors, Melinda is a teacher, writer, and creativity / writing coach. She holds a B.A. in Biopsychology from Vassar College, and Master's degrees in Religious Studies from Indiana University and Performance Studies from New York University's Tisch School for the Arts. She teaches in the religion program at Austin Community College, and keeps a blog on religion, culture, and travel at: http://acommunityofthespirit.blogspot.com/
Melinda also co-hosts Creative Splash, a monthly working group for artists, writers, and musicians to explore the creative process in a fun, informal way. Each evening includes a variety of improvisational exercises, free writing exercises, movement, musical jams, and more! This event is open to anyone who wants to nurture their creative side in a relaxed, low-pressure setting. Click here for more information. Performance Highlights: 2009 Art Actualized Showcase, Austin, TX |
