A Q&A with Melon Kali
Dutch Alt-R&B with a Funky Edge…
What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
Our latest release is called ‘Flagship’. ‘Flagship’ is about an outstanding woman in the club. She inspires everyone around her to dance, yet nobody dares come near her. She’s the one everyone admires. It’s a nod to female empowerment, treating all women like flagships.
What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
This song basically wrote itself. We held a writers camp with the band and wanted to try something different. Everyone came up with a word, and Vivian crafted the lyrics and melody in a separate room. She returned with the chorus of ‘Flagship’ and the rest followed naturally. The band immediately had a vibe that fit perfectly.
Who produced the release – what did they bring to it? If you produced it yourselves what do you enjoy most about producing your own material?
We produced this song together. After Stan came up with the chord changes, we chose a clavinet sound. Drums stuck with a basic four-on-the-floor pocket groove. We added a Latin clave rhythm in some places and emphasized the ‘two’ at times. Bass and guitar came later, aiming for a funk feel inspired by Chic and Prince. We also added an instrumental breakdown after the bridge.
What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
We want to share our inner world with our listeners and make them dance at the same time.
How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
Originally, it was just Vivian and Marc. Many tracks start with Vivian’s melody idea or Marc’s chords, drums, and bassline. Now we have a full band where most of us have produced music for years. We all look for the best ingredients to add. Our playlists overlap a lot, which helps shape our sound.
What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
Our biggest influences include Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince—our childhood heroes. We’re also inspired by The Internet, Cleo Sol, Anderson Paak and the Free Nationals, Bilal, and Pharrell, who bring fresh energy and production styles we love.
What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
We’d love to tour the world, but England, Germany, France, and especially Japan are on our wishlist. Our hearts are on the stage, and we thrive playing live.
If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
‘Flagship’ is a good representation of what Melon Kali is about right now, but our upcoming album Lilac & Lime Green will surprise you even more.
What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
We’d love to tour globally, see beautiful countries, and connect with people enjoying our music live. We can’t wait to meet our live crowd.
Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
Thank you for making this dream come true and supporting live music.
For more info about Melon Kali, visit Instagram or Facebook.
