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BIO
MELD’s sound can be described as “UniverSOUL” — A cinematic, soulful experience with a powerful message of healing for our planet. Frontwoman and songwriter Melanie Dewey has been compared to a modern-day Janis Joplin in spirit, with the vocal power of Susan Tedeschi and the conscious lyricism of Trevor Hall and Rising Appalachia.
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Her sophomore album, Sunrise (2025,) was born as a tribute to her late father, and includes voice memos from his final weeks of life woven throughout the album. The record also features collaborations with Americana powerhouses Cristina Vane, Austin Grimm, Lady Couch, Sicard Hollow, and Max Ribner, and was released independently on 8/8 Lion’s Gate. Within its first week it passed 20,000 streams, was celebrated on NPR’s Finally Friday, and was marked by a packed-out release show at Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge in Nashville.
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Her debut album, Words of the Water (2020), drew praise from NPR, Forbes, Live for Live Music, and The Tennessean. Mixed by Paco Cosette (Sturgill Simpson) and Michael Esser (Sheryl Crow, Robert Randolph), and mastered by Anthony Thogmartin (EarthCry, Papadosio), the album also features a spoken-word meditation featuring Amber Lily, Marya Stark, Katie Buxton, Heather Christie, Shira Elias, Alanna Royale, Maureen Murphy, Jess Nolan, and Erin Boyd (Phantom Vanity). Complete with messages of environmental activism and the power of water, proceeds of this song have been donated to ocean cleanup efforts. Earlier releases include the H.U.R.T. EP (2017), produced by Matt Harris (Zoogma) and highlighted by Nylon Mag, BTRToday, and No Country for New Nashville, followed by the H.U.R.T. Remixes (2018,) which featured remixes by Felice, SAER, DanielwiththeBalance, Spaceship Earth, Waterchild, and Batavia.
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Along the way, MELD has toured with Ayla Nereo and Zoogma, and has shared the stage with Maggie Rose, The Main Squeeze, Papadosio, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Sicard Hollow, Them Vibes, Brothers Past, and many more. Festival highlights include Music on the Mothership in Taos, Sonic Bloom, A Lovely Time Fest, and Summer Camp Music Festival, which was played after MELD won Nashville’s “On The Road to Summer Camp” competition in 2022. After what she calls a “five-year grief portal,” Melanie also launched Voice Temple (2025) to help others in grief reclaim their voice and truth. From her Nashville home base, MELD’s mission remains simple: to spread the transformative healing of music as widely as possible.
PRESS
“The Grateful Dead, jam band culture spreads across jazz, folk, country and bluegrass — genres integral to Nashville’s identity. Cross-genre Nashville musician Melanie Dewey, who goes by MELD, draws from each of these genres beautifully.”
-FORBES
MELD is fresh on the scene, but you best believe the waves she’s making are big. -
-NYLON MAG
" Singer-songwriter MELD (Melanie Dewey) lost her father and aunt in a two month span of time. With the power of music, she turned her tragic losses into a love project to save the environment. 'Words of the Water' is truly a work of art."
-MUSIC CROWNS
“By all accounts, here is an artist that isn’t afraid to break down the boundaries that too often limit and confine.” -BTRTODAY
"Bold lyrically, musically, and visually". - WMOT ROOTS RADIO
“ On her debut album 'Words of the Water,' MELD uses the sounds of soul, pop, and funk to elevate stories of self awareness. The release is an exciting reflection on the resilience of the human spirit."
- NO COUNTRY FOR NEW NASHVILLE
" Singer-songwriter MELD has worked consistently in the Nashville music scene without getting sucked into the commercialized Broadway sound. Her self-titled debut record serves as a true testament to how passionate MELD is toward her craft."
-LIVE FOR LIVE MUSIC
GALLERY
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