Melody Gardot

Born and raised in New Jersey, US, Melody Gardot took to music from an early age, eventually becoming a regular performer in Philadelphia, US nightclubs, during her time studying as a fashion student at the Community College of Philadelphia. Gardot's life was turned upside down, after suffering a bicycle accident that left Gardot fighting for her live, eventually spending several months recovering from multiple head injuries and pelvic fractures.

Whilst in recovery, music was to be the therapy that Gardot needed, helping combat her amnesia and find her past musical talents once again. The accident left her with hypersensitivity to both sound and light, which meant she could only listen to soft, gentle music, influencing her own direction. Whilst in her hospital bed, she taught herself guitar and began to write the songs which would eventually become her debut EP, "Some Lessons," released in 2005.

Having improved dramatically over the year, Gardot decided to pursue a career in music after recovering, with her debut EP being followed by her independently recorded full-length, "Worrisome Heart." The album caught the attention of Verve, who reissued the record in 2007. Her extremely personal music has found widespread praise for her emotive, gentle blues. Her personal story makes her rise to success even more impressive, releasing two further albums, 2009's "My One and Only Thrill" and 2012's "The Absence." Her records have consistently found international chart success, managing to top the charts in Norway and Sweden.