Melo is only 24 years old but is already forging a unique and crossover path for herself in the Gospel and Afro Pop markets.
Shakara Ft Cliff M is the first single off her brand new album Light.
What made you decide to enter the world of music?
Melo:
“I’ve always loved music. From a young age I’ve been surrounded by all flavors of music. For me to actually start writing my own music was an event we had in our ministry last year called Love World Music and Arts festival at Nasrec. It is a platform that allows artists from all over the world to perform and showcase their gifts. That’s when I wrote my first single called Dance For You.”
Why Gospel and Afro Pop?
Melo:
“Well Gospel is what I know I can best represent as I am a Christian and it’s the life that I live. I’ve been a Christian my whole life and was brought up that way but I never understood what it really meant to call myself a Christian. I think that goes for many Christians. We think it’s about praying, going to church and being righteous. There just came a time in my life where I decided I wanted to grow myself spiritually and truly understand who God is so that I can come to understand who I am. The word Christian means to be Christ like so to be Christ like you have to understand His personality, His character and then imitate who He is. It therefore cannot be something measured just from one act, it’s a lifestyle. So the more I started investing in the word the better my life became and that’s what I sing about. The beauty of the life God has given to us all.”
Take me through Shakara; why have you decided to release this as your first single, what inspired the track and tell me about how your collaboration with Cliff M started?
Melo:
“I met with Cliff M who is a producer as well as a singer and told him I wanted to make a song that has an African and house sound which he completed in minutes and from there I knew exactly what I wanted the song to be about and knew that Cliff M had to feature on it. The word Shakara is Pidgin English which means you’re showing off or living a good life. So the song is about celebrating that good life that God has giving to us and doing it in style. I of course did have some help with some of the terms. This is the kind of song that makes you want to dance and forget about any challenges you may be going through.”
Tell me about your new album ‘Light’ – the running theme of the album, the inspiration?
Melo:
“The theme of the album ‘Light’ is based on my personal experiences and expressions of who God is to me. Light has different meanings to it. It can mean insight or illumination or direction, guidance, to reflect, to be joyful, warmth or making something visible. So all these different meanings is how I would describe who God is in my life and every song would be an expression of that.”
Which one song off the album best represents you and why?
Melo:
“They all represent me. I wouldn’t single one out to say it best represents me. All the songs talk to who I am.”
If you could work with anyone in the music industry, international or local, who would it be and why? (this could be a producer, song writer, musicians…)
Melo:
“I’ve actually worked with amazing people on this album, from whom I’ve learnt so much and who have all brought something different. So I am open to working with anyone who has the same vision as me and can bring something unique. I love not being predictable or boxed.”
You are very new to the music scene but is there any moment in your career that has stood out for you?
Melo:
“Well making this album has been the best moment. Playing with different sounds, traveling to record, not sleeping, growing in confidence and in writing, hearing my voice in studio for the first time, meeting and working with different people, completing the album. It’s all been a wonderful experience, one that I could not have done without the Holy Spirit and all the amazing people who helped me during this time. Like Peter Tobe, Kwame Keys, Phinidi, Queen of Praise, Soula the list goes on. I also love that even though I was the one recording the music, it ministers to me too.”
If you were trapped on a desert island and could only take one album with you to listen to (not your own album), what would it be?
Melo:
“I would take the Bible. It’s the best album you can find anywhere. It’s Timeless.”
Follow her:
Instagram: @MyMeloLandMusic
Facebook: MyMeloLandMusic
Twitter: @mymelolandmusic
