Melissa Czarnik
\"With slammin- poetry, precise beats, and DIY authenticity, Czarnik is an inspiration to young MC-s everywhere.\" - Bitch Magazine

\"Her musicality is inclusive enough to envelop folk, jazz and pop sensibilities in loops and live instrumentation...Czarnik may not be out to set the world ablaze as a female counterpart to Eminem, but she\'ll fire up listeners to grab notebooks and microphones and set their observations to sounds not beholden to any commercial R&B radio format.\" - Shepherd Express

Milwaukee based Melissa Czarnik (Zar-nik), recently released her first full-length hip-hop/poetry based album, Strawberry Cadillac (Hyperdrive Motivator Productions). When asked why she named her first album Strawberry Cadillac, Czarnik responded, -Cause Strawberry Buick just didn-t cut it!-

The 17 track, Strawberry Cadillac, is the product of a year long project which focuses on issues such as sexism, politics, relationships, and love. Mixing her interests in poetry and Hip Hop, her song diversity exemplifies a strong influence of artists such as Lauryn Hill, Ani Difranco, and french songstress, Edith Piaf.

Her style is a powerful mix of poetry, precise delivery, and conscious content in a voice that ranges from sweet and playful to commanding and scathing. The music that backs her up is the product of producer Eric Mire, a classically trained composer and pianist with decades of experience in both classical and popular mediums. Together, Mire and Czarnik have founded Hyperdrive Motivator Productions, a record label that prides itself on delivering conscious, original, and innovative music to it-s listeners.

Strawberry Cadillac blends live instrumentation with beat machines, electronics and guest appearances by some of Milwaukee-s most talented musicians. Collaborative appearances include, but are not limited to; Robin Pluer-s vocal stylings on Rue Lafayette, Robert Figueroa of Nabori-s latin percussion on Garden of Eden, and Maurice Cotton of Cotton Gin Music Productions- keys on Thunder Summer Storm and production of the Happy Song.

Thought provoking content is the foundation of Strawberry Cadillac. After spending two years in AmeriCorps as a Volunteer in Service to America and Public Ally, Czarnik worked for justice in areas such as poverty, k-12 education, the environment, and predatory lending. Her experience in these jobs is directly reflected in her lyrics.

Czarnik is the Marketing Director at Woodland Pattern Book Center, a non-profit destination book store. For her increasingly frequent shows, Czarnik performs live with the Eric Mire Band; a five-piece band made up of Eric Mire (vocals/guitar), Maurice Cotton (keys/bass), Don Bradshaw (latin percussion), Brad Bloom (sax), and Terence Pettigrew (drums).

Ms. Cream is a Milwaukee based poet and freestyle emcee who started writing poetry at a young age of eleven. She has performed in venues from Chicago to New York, and in 2003 opened for MC Lyte at Wisconsin State Fair-s Pride Fest. For her more frequent live shows, she performs a combination of spoken word and freestyle poetry alongside guitarist/songwriter Decoteau B Cool. Currently Ms. Cream is in the process of recording her CD of spoken word poetry and writing a book of short stories.