With her sophomore album The MF Life set to drop next month, Melanie Fiona is next up on the cover of Rolling Out magazine’s weekly issue. The 28-year-old songstress looked stunning as she posed for a set of classy shots. Inside, Fiona talked about making the decision to pursue a music career, what her immigrant parents have taught her and what she has learned about that thing called love:

ON INSPIRATION OF PARENTS’ WORK ETHIC:
“I guess having immigrant parents and seeing them work hard and sacrifice and struggle to make a better life for me and my brother always gave me that foundation,” Fiona says. “If you want something, you want to build it. If you want to progress and if you want to change where you come from, you must do better than you did before. My parents really taught me the notion of appreciating hard work, not taking anything for granted, and paying your dues. Everything comes in time.”

ON WHAT SHE HAS LEARNED ABOUT LOVE:
“It’s a lot easier to sing about the downside of love because I feel that’s therapeutic and you’ve got to express it. You’ve got to express that vulnerability to yourself, or on a record, or to an audience. It is very therapeutic for me and I hope it’s therapeutic to the people that are receiving it as well. [...] I’ve learned more of a definition of love — if one could ever figure it out in a lifetime — because love comes in so many different forms. I’ve grown into love. I realize that I’m very deeply rooted in love. It’s kind of become my passion for the music. Knowing that the things that love can do to us, the power it has. It’s that driving force that can get you going. It’s that weight that can drag you down. It’s that thing that blinds you and helps you see clearer and see life like you’ve never seen it before.”

ON THE ATTRACTIVE TRAITS OF A MAN:
“Confidence, not cockiness or conceit. I’m very turned off by an arrogant man. I love a guy who doesn’t take himself too seriously, but when it’s time to take things seriously, he does. And I am very attracted to a guy who has great relationships with great people. Show me your company and that will tell me who you are.” [Source]

Check out the behind-the-scenes video where Melanie attends the magazine’s cover party and talks about music and how it became a big part of her life while growing up. Melanie’s sophomore album, The MF Life makes its debut of February 7.

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