Mel 4Ever is redefining what it means to be a pop star. With the recent release of her genre bending sophomore EP, She Culture.1, she has cemented herself as an artist to watch. Pioneering her own sound within the hyperpop realm, Mel 4Ever is fiercely passionate & bold. She channels her anger and experiences with transphobia and misogyny into her music, creating powerful anthems that will resonate with anyone who has experienced navigating a world that centers around cisgender, heterosexual, white men. This project is abrasive, honest, and unapologetically authentic in every way.
She Culture.1 is an autobiographical work that narrates Mel 4Ever’s own experiences, feelings, and rage. The lyrics cover a wide range: So Cool narrates her first experience hooking up with a man after transitioning, i hate u recalls the betrayal by a family member. Mel 4Ever leans into overwhelming emotions and brings them into the light, leaving no stone unturned. Nothing is taboo or shameful in her world, and this openness in her art has allowed her to create a safe space for fans and listeners who share similar experiences or feelings.
Following the release of the EP, I got a chance to chat with Mel over email, and hear a bit more about She Culture.1 and her recent live performances.
Congratulations on the release of your sophomore EP, She Culture.1! How have you felt about the response so far, and how are you feeling about the release overall?
Thank you! The response has been both inspiring and maddening. The EP captures a lot of intense emotions so I’m happy I can share that with people–but I can’t stand still. I wanna put more out and connect more with people. I’m inspired that people are listening but I’m maddened by my drive.
This is such a powerful project encompassing your own experiences with misogyny & transphobia, and expressing your rage & feelings. Was the creation of this EP therapeutic for you in a sense? How did it feel to channel those big emotions into music like this?
It was really therapeutic. It was me just processing…trying to make sense of what I was experiencing… I just happen to do so through word and sound. It’s very abrasive and very cathartic so it was important for me to release that.
I’d love to hear a bit more about the title track, She Culture. The verses are really intense, and then it bursts into a sweeping chorus. The sonic duality is incredible. Can you tell me a bit about the inspiration behind this song?
That’s exactly what I was trying to portray. My experience of being a trans woman in New York City was often very stimulated and intense, but almost immediately always met with euphoria, so I wanted to bring that to the song. Anger plays a huge role in this track because I was just so fucking sick and tired of the bullshit I was being fed through media.
This song is about me feeling so completely correct and OK in my body, while simultaneously being told that I was [derogatory names] slash whatever the fuck people are calling women like me. And it made me angry that I was feeling like a monster because of other people’s thoughts. “She Culture” is ultimately about finding your power within chaos.
The accompanying video for She Culture (and J.K. Rowling) is so powerful as well, can you tell me a bit about the concept and your experience filming the music video?
I wanted to create a story where I was turning my body and flesh into a weapon, because that’s how I conceptualize transitioning. My weapon is not meant for evil, but it is for protection of self. So in the video I mutilate myself, and then I become my own armor. The video was fucking crazy because I was in an actual morgue that was once used by actual dead people. Like.. crazy. The energy in that building was palpable and it was really fucking spooky for the entire crew.
A standout track on this project is definitely i hate u, I love that this EP ended with a ballad. The lyrics are so full of anger, and yet the song is so melodically gentle – can you tell me about that contrast?
This song is about being betrayed by your family member, so it’s a very touchy subject and it’s such a soft spot in my heart that is holding a lot of pain. I wanted to sonically represent that. But I was so deeply hurt, I needed to say exactly what the fuck I felt ..which is kind of my ethos. I don’t like to beat around the bush. I like to say exactly what I’m thinking. The contrast in that song is extremely honest and it’s heartbreaking.
You worked with a lot of awesome producers for this project, including Jack Hoffman, umru, Fraxiom, and more. What was it like working with an array of such unique producers?
Fucking c*nt! The girls were giving. It was really cool to see how everyone else works and creates art. Melting us together felt really really special, sexy, sad and fun. Everyone’s method is so different, so it was really a learning experience at the end of the day. I just wanted to learn and absorb, it wasn’t really about having the feature for me.
Can you tell me a bit about your songwriting process?
I usually start with an idea or a hook, and then work out words from that. I like to start with a solid story or idea like I need to fully visualize the song before I start writing it, and I never write with the intent of not releasing it like I am a very “finish to completion” type bitch. Whenever I write with my collaborator, Tor Miller, we start on the piano. Literally almost every song I’ve ever released has started on the piano.
This is your second EP, following 2021’s Tranic Attack. How did the creation process of these two projects compare? Were there any big differences between the production processes?
Well, for Tranic Attack, I had no idea what I was doing [haha]. I was so green to the process, and it was mostly me writing a song about every major panic attack I had. With She Culture.1, I wanted to tell a more thorough story with a throughline that you could hold onto while delving into other ideas and vignettes. The production process was kind of the same, but I was able to make my mind up a lot easier with this project.
Do you have a favorite memory from the She Culture.1 production process? Was there a particular moment or session that stands out to you?
Writing Go Bitch! with Fraxiom was such a highlight. Everyone in the room was on the same vibrational plane and we were there only to have fun. I think that really came through on the track. Also, getting to perform most of the songs when I opened for Cupcakke earlier this year, was definitely a highlight. The crowd was response was amazing, and I fucking ate that performance, to be honest.
Though you are pioneering your own genre, how would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it? Who are some artists that inspire you?
Ayesha Erotica, Slayyyter, Charli XCX, Grimes–those are my girlies. A collaboration with any of them would be a fucking dream come true. And of course the ultimate inspiration: SOPHIE. I tell people that I make “tr***y music.” Like, I don’t know how else to describe it. Of course, there are plenty of references and familiar sounds but this shit is emotional music. It is meant to evoke something within you and I hope that people listen to it and feel like they wanna get something out of their body physically. It’s meant to make you move and think.
Over the summer, you opened for Ayesha Erotica, which was a hugely anticipated show as it was her live debut & return to the music scene. I can only imagine that the energy in that venue was amazing. What was that experience like for you?
It was just absolutely an incredible moment in tr***y music history. The audience was beyond ravenous. Like, she could’ve gone on stage and taken a fat steamy shit and people would’ve sobbed.
On the same subject, can you tell me a bit about your live shows? What is your favorite part of performing your music live?
Performing is my absolute favorite part of this job/career or whatever you call it. I like being able to put movement to the lyrics and sounds that I have made for people to understand the emotion behind it. I think it’s really important. I think my music starts to make a lot of sense after you see me do it live. If you ever want to understand my music, you need to come to a show. It’s absolutely religious for me. I love getting naked and dancing in front of strangers because it isn’t as subversive as people make it out to be. It’s actually just me connecting with my inner child and I think that comes across for everyone watching.
Lastly, if you’re comfortable sharing, I wanted to give you a space to talk about your experience as a trans woman in music. This subgenre/scene is primarily pioneered and occupied by queer artists & fans alike, but a lot of other corners of the music scene aren’t as much of a safe space. Can you tell me a bit about how you’ve navigated this industry & what it’s been like for you?
This industry is literally so crazy. I’ve only been in it for like two years so I can’t really come up with a conclusion, but I do know that I am often overlooked or not taken seriously because of my “antics”. I think a trans person doing anything is revolutionary and should be watched. That being said, the music industry is about making money. Musicians and artists oftentimes are not but it’s the industry that focuses on the money making aspect because everyone that is not an artist that works in the industry is there to pay their bills. So until you can prove that you can make somebody besides yourself money you won’t be looked at. If you are a blonde haired, gorgeous girl, who is 16 years old…that is a tried-and-true formula for money. But “a brunette bitch with a candy dick” (a line from Big League Chew) is a little harder sell. I’ll be fine though 😉
Listen to She Culture.1here!
