After establishing themselves with a breadth of dynamic delights these last few years, Dutch outfit Melon Kali are back on the grind once again to deliver their shimmering new single 'Flagship'.
Adopting more of that funk-filled aesthetic they are known for, 'Flagship' makes for an incredibly rich and riveting return for them. With its breezy hooks elevating some spellbinding vocals throughout, they return to us with one of their more impactful efforts to date here.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and influences over the years.
What was the first band or artist you fell in love with?
The first artists we fell in love with were the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, Prince, Chaka Khan, George McCrae and Jimi Hendrix.
Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like?
Fun fact is that one of our first bands was almost the full MELON KALI band. Viv, Davy, Levy and Stan have known each other since they were teens and played their first gigs together. The sound was funky, we played mostly Funk and Soul classics from the Jackson 5, Chaka Khan and Earth, Wind and Fire.
Marc was in a group called Trackaddicts with a great MC called Ten, and a live band. They have an album called `Trackaddicts in America’ on Spotify. At the same time he was with Postmen, a reggae infused ‘rap with a live band’ thing.
What has been your primary inspiration in writing music?
We are on an ongoing search for music we’d love to hear, but hasn’t been written or iterated yet. Also: getting buttery chord changes to go well with vocals, great drums and a thick bass melody. Our primary inspiration in writing music are our daily life events. Viv is writing mostly about her inner world. Most of her lyrics of the new album came up when she was doing meditation.
What is a song you wish you had written yourself?
Run to the sun by Pharrell. Prototype by Outkast. Old Town by Phil Lynott. All Matter by Bilal. Long hot summer night by Jimi Hendrix. Suzy Thundertussy by Junie Morrison. Telepatia by Kali Uchis. Any song that contains a landscape and shows it when it’s played…
If there was any moment in your career you could relive, what would it be?
The feeling we get from playing live for a big audience that goes wild, but now with our own MELON KALI repertoire instead of the covers we used to play.
Marc says: Playing at the Elysee Montmartre, in Paris, with Postmen. Busking in Central Park.
Which artist would you most love to share a stage with?
We would love to share the stage with Little Dragon.
And is there an artist you would love to collaborate with as well?
We would love a collab with Durand Bernarr, Cleo Sol, Butcher Brown or Anderson. Paak.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
In five years we see ourselves doing a worldwide tour with our music. Preferably at warm and sunny places where we can go read a comic book in a hammock in our spare time, of course with some obscure soul playing in the background.
Melon Kali's new single 'Flagship' is out now. Listen to it below.
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