Influenced by a childhood listening to the likes of the Ronettes, the Supremes and Whitney Houston, Melanie Fiona began her musical career scrounging in Los Angeles for a recording contract. The difference between Fiona and every other hopeful was that she caught the attention of Kanye West, who invited the Canadian vocalist to tour with him as an opener — all without having released an album. Fiona made her proper debut with the single, “Give It to Me Right,” a song that used some creative sampling of “Time of the Season” by the Zombies. Her first full-length, “The Bridge,” hit store shelves in 2009, delivering plenty of retro R&B and soul sound. Continuing to reinvigorate the styles and techniques of decades past with her upcoming sophomore effort, “The MF Life,” Fiona kicks off Fridays at Sunset’s 17th season this week at 6:30 p.m. at Kanawha Plaza. $20-$26. fridaysatsunset.com.