Meleni Smith

{{short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Meleni Smith | image = | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | alias = Polly A. | birth_date = | birth_place = [[Flint, Michigan]], United States | origin = [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]], United States | genre = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] | occupation = Singer-songwriter | instrument = Vocals | years_active = {{start date|2005}}–present | label = [[222 Records|222]]<br>[[Columbia Records|Columbia]] | website = {{URL|myheartinfocus.com}} }}

'''Meleni Smith''', also known by her stage name '''Polly A.''', is an American singer-songwriter from [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]].

==Early life== She was born in [[Flint, Michigan]] and raised by a Jamaican mother in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]].<ref>[http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,9867927,00.html ''Artist Direct''] ''Introducing...Meleni Smith''.Retrieved May 18, 2013</ref>

==Musical career== Previously signed to [[Columbia Records]], she released the EP 'Meet Me in the Bathroom' on August 2, 2005.<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/meet-me-in-the-bathroom-mw0001436346 ''Allmusic''] ''Meleni Smith- Allmusic'' .Retrieved May 20, 2013</ref> She is also credited as a composer alongside [[Toby Gad]] for the song 'Happy' from the 2005 film [[Hitch (film)|Hitch]] soundtrack.<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/hitch-mw0000259909 ''Allmusic'']''Allmusic- Hitch Soundtrack''.Retrieved May 20, 2013</ref> Meleni Smith is credited as being a composer alongside producer [[Kerry Brothers]], producer/songwriter [[Toby Gad]] and singer [[Alicia Keys]] for the 2009 song "Love is My Disease".<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-element-of-freedom-mw0001791556 ''Allmusic'']''Allmusic- The Element of Freedom''.Retrieved May 20, 2013</ref> She independently released the album 'My Heart in Focus' in February 2012.<ref>[http://theurbandaily.com/1769395/meleni-smith-puts-the-blues-back-in-rb-for-my-heart-in-focus-album/ ''Meleni Smith Puts the Blues Back In R&B For "My Heart In Focus" Album''] ''The Urban Daily''. Retrieved 2013</ref><ref>[https://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000049941 ''Guidry News''] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130616111922/https://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000049941 |date=June 16, 2013 }}''Recording Artist Meleni Smith''.Retrieved May 18, 2013</ref> She was nominated in the 2013 [[Soul Train Music Awards]] for Record of the Year for co-writing the song "[[Crooked Smile]]" by rapper [[J. Cole]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131112231150/http://www.bet.com/shows/soul-train-awards/2013/nominees/ashford-and-simpson-songwriters-award.html ''BET'']''The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter's Award''.Retrieved March 30, 2014</ref>

In December 2014, Meleni Smith released an EP titled ''Distorted Fairytales''.<ref>[http://www.vibe.com/article/stream-polly-a-distorted-fairytales-reevaluate-cuffing-season ''Vibe''] ''Premiere: Stream Polly A's Distorted Fairytales and Reevaluate Cuffing Season''. Retrieved December 12, 2014</ref>

== External links == *[http://www.iampollya.com/ Official Website]

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Meleni}} [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American women singer-songwriters]] [[Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters]] [[Category:Musicians from Milwaukee]] [[Category:American musicians of Jamaican descent]] [[Category:222 Records artists]] [[Category:Singer-songwriters from Wisconsin]]