What happens when a singer-songwriter from a small California town spends 8 years living in Cambodia? 🌍🎶 In this episode of dopeYEAH talk, Rob Cass sits down with Melissa Lingo, who shares how growing up in a tiny observatory town surrounded by nature and music shaped her sound, and how powerful female role models, including her mother, influenced her music career. She dives deep into the profound impact Cambodia had on her life and art, describing how the country’s history and people played a role in shaping her perspective as an artist. 🎤🇰🇭 From recording albums in the snow to balancing melancholy with humor, Melissa talks about the challenges of today’s music industry, the pressure of social media, and her belief in a "slow music movement" that values authenticity. 🎤✨ She discusses her early inspirations, including Tom Waits, The Cranberries, and Joni Mitchell, and emphasizes the importance of staying true to her creative vision. Don’t miss this insightful conversation, complete with an intimate acoustic performance of her song “Thistles” near the end of the episode. 🎧 Don’t forget to: 👍 Like 🔔 Subscribe 💬 Comment 📲 Share STAY TUNED ON SOCIALS: https://instagram.com/dopeyeah.talk https://www.tiktok.com/@dopeyeahtalk?_t=8pWkf42Rm9h&_r=1 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563840578898 https://x.com/dopeYEAHtalk #MelissaLingo #dopeYEAHtalk #Cambodia #CaliforniaMusic #SingerSongwriter #MusicJourney #TomWaits #Cranberries #JoniMitchell #IndieMusic #AppalachianMusic #bluegrass #FemaleMusicians #SlowMusicMovement #SocialMediaPressure #MusicIndustry #AcousticPerformance