Interview with MELODNA

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

I never have an answer for that. Music was something that was always apart of who I am starting from the earliest memories of my life. I was always surrounded by music. I was always singing. I was always writing. I don’t ever remember “learning” or “starting” music. It all has just always been there.

I don’t know a version of myself without music. If I didn’t do music, I’d probably be really f*cking bored. But more seriously, I wonder if I would have an alternate way of healing and processing my life experiences and emotions. That’s what music does for me now, so without it, if I had no alternative, I’d probably be suffering honestly.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

Live my life, that’s what I like to do. But people close to me would tell you that I’m always breaking out into song either way. I just can’t help it, it’s so natural. I barely notice me doing that. But yeah. When I find myself in a block, I just go back to routine, which is mom life, kicking it with my girls, listening to other music, any day to day activity.

How long have you been making music?

 All I know is I wrote my first song at 4 years old..honestly, my earliest memories of life are me singing.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

I’m based out of regina, sk. If anything, it definitely hinders my creative visions and my momentum I’d say. But, it definitely has trained me to know how to extract certain parts of anything or anyone to fit what I need and teaches me how to create quality from what I have. But the city is more difficult then it is influential.

Tell me about your most memorable shows, if you haven’t played live what is your vision for a live show?

Sled island 2023 in Calgary was a good one. My set was on a rooftop, it was packed and the sun was shining. Then, it literally started pouring rain. Like, pouring. I was so excited for the show, then the rain came and sadness hit me so hard but I tried my best not to show it. I literally was watching everyone leave as I stood on stage, but I played and started singing anyway. All of a sudden, I was watching people come back. I deadass wanted to cry but.. I was busy chile! They stood in the pouring rain. I just couldn’t believe it. I don’t care who it was, if it were me, I’d be in my uber home. Later on, when I was doing one of my unreleased songs, I noticed this echo and I was like, “wait a second, omg. They know the words?” It was just the best time. I guess I never really knew how much people were into my music until that happened. The support and love was real ugh.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

The Cure Regina!!! The owners just genuinely love supporting all walks of music. Which is so hard to find where Im from. If anything, people pretend they do and have nearly nothing to support it the same way they do other genres. To be very honest, as a venue, or a promoter, or a sound tech, whatever.. its more than you just verbalizing “omg I love rap, I love afro!” You got to actually show it trough your work. Why are you a venue caiming to love and support rap, but the moment an artist of the sort comes, you have no proper resources to provide the best service the way you do country, pop, or folk music? Make it make sense. The cure is definitely the first venue to truly give a damn about my kind of music and it shows. They’ll provide professional sound, great lights, great atmosphere that rings true for any genre across the board. Love Kelly and her partner so much! Love getting booked there. I always think about when I blow up, how I’ll let that be the main venue I perform at to give back to a place that’s supported me from day one.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

It would be afronation or rolling loud for sure.. I’d need to see some uncle waffles, summer Walker, latto, cardi b, missy elliot, ice beats slide, ayra starr. Good little mix. But honestly, my dream performances are NPR’s tiny desk, colors show, and sofar chicago, sofar vancouver, and sofar south africa before anything else.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into making music and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

For someone just starting out, find a way to be yourself in this annoying industry and the true things that are meant for you will come to you. Ive always stayed true to that, it makes the journey double as long but its worth the wait.

To my younger self, I’d tell her that “being shy and sensitive isn’t something that needs fixing, it’s part of your beautiful personality. And, let your heart speak, it has something deeper to say.” I feel like those are things I learnt way too old and needed to know when I was young.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

That’s such an impossible question. They all mean something. They all represent a part of me that was healing or a part of me I was letting go of. It changes every time I make a new song!

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

Hmmm that’s tough.. my favorite to perform is probably “OMD” and “Relax” (unreleased) because I get to just sing my head off. The crowd definitely loves “Back To Earth” (unreleased) the most and “OMD”.

 What is your creative process, and what inspires you to write your music?

My life is my process. I can find any reason to write. Sometimes, my body feels like it hasn’t pooped in 23 days and that’s how I know like “Oh, I got some lyrics I need to release.” Or, if I’m experiencing something, and my words are leaving me, like I can’t express my feelings— I’ll grab a pen and start writing to literally tell me how I’ve been feeling. I always struggled with knowing how to verbalize how I feel because most times I can’t tell so yeah, I just write. So I’d say I inspire myself to write to be honest. Sometimes that bugs me, but it helps me nonetheless.

Do you have messages that you like to get across in your music, if so please tell me about them?

Depends on the mood! My music is my chance to give an accurate description of myself that no one can take away from me. So yeah, my lover girl side, my mental illnesses, my trauma, my motherhood. Any message surrounding those topics.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

My plans.. imma just keep doing what’s best for me and mines. My child is my fuel and that won’t change. Music is my release so imma keep on releasing and Lord willingly build a foundation that’s lasting for my family. I have 2 projects coming out in 2024. Im ready to show all of my sides to everyone. So expect some r&b, expect some rap, expect more vulnerable music, expect it all its coming. I have a music video coming for all my day ones that have waited long enough for a certain song to be released, and also finally some merch! Super excited.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

My Instagram is @melodna.mp3 and my tiktok and YouTube is @ishmelodna. Instagram is best.