About
Straight out of Amsterdam, MC Melodee is the front woman of soulful hip hop band La Melodia.
Releasing her first La Melodia album with legendary Japanese label Handcuts in 2007, MC Melodee positioned herself as the hottest European female on the mic. With La Melodia she toured through Europe on the Stones Throw tour with Oh No, Guilty Simpson, Percee P and DJ Romes. After Europe, the demand for her music was growing internationally and she began to perform all over the globe. She performed in the USA (such as at Q-Tip & Rich Medina’s night Open at Santos Party House), Japan, Africa, Indonesia and of course all over Europe. Her second release “Electronic Love” was spread worldwide together with Holland’s most well known blogger Nalden, and includes a remix by world famous producers Cookin’ Soul. This collaboration led to the release of MC Melodee’s first solo project “Check Out Melodee” in 2012. On this mixtape, which is mainly produced by Cookin Soul, MC Melodee collaborates with different artists such as Mac Miller, Smiff n Wessum, Chuck Inglish (Cool Kids), Ohno, Mucho Muchacho, Griffi and DJ Whoo Kid. After the success of this mixtape MC Melodee decided to do an official album called “My Tape Deck” together with the Spanish production team, in April 2013. This 90’s inspired hip hop album, which was released on Jakarta Records in Germany, is a more personal album and has features on it by Bootie Brown / The Pharcyde and Jetlife rapper Fiend. In 2013 Melodee visits the US (NY, LA, NO) to perform at CMJ NY, record videos and hit the studio with respectable US hip hop artists. In 2014 this leads to the release of 3 different EP’s with featurings and productions by US artists: AG (D.I.T.C.), Illa J, Chuck Inglish, Like (Pac Div) and others. The video singles for Coolin EP, In My Zone EP and “Crunch Time” EP were recorded in Amsterdam, New York, Mexico and Valencia (Spain). Melodee’s international appeal is confirmed by her First European Tour which takes place that same year (spring 2014). Together with DJ EZD Melodee performs in many European cities in France, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Italy and much more. After a memorable performance on HipHopKemp (CZ) & Bahidora (MEX) more international music collaborations and shows all over Europe follow in 2015. This leads up to an official MC Melodee EU Tour early 2016. MC Melodee’s new album “Passport Pimpin” produced entirely by Cookin Soul is next up, and is released July 8th 2016 on the German label Vinyl Digital. For this album the artists decide to mix different influences to create new and contemporary sounds. Neosoul meets trap, meets the golden era, which can be heard on the videosingles “Place Is Lit”, “Find My Way”, “Passport Pimpin” and “Up & Down” which are recorded in Bangkok, Tokyo, Albufera and Valencia.
FULL BIO MC MELODEE
MC Melodee has been active in the music industry since the early age of 16. Next to being a writer, performer and front woman of her band La Melodia, with whom she performed all over the globe, she is Director of a platform for female hip hop artists “Dam Dutchess” in her home base Amsterdam.
MC Melodee, whom you might have met in the past while working at Fatbeats Record Store and Kindred Spirits Records in Amsterdam, can be found MC-ing in the Dutch club circuit in venues like Bitterzoet, Paradiso and Jimmy Woo, or on Dutch festivals including North Sea Jazz festival, Appelsap, Mysteryland, Latin Village and Valtifest amongst others. Or you might hear her dropping by occasionally on Future Vintage Radio, a weekly radio show that she weekly hosted up till 2010 on Dutch radio program “3 voor 12” on 3FM radio.
Together with DJ/Producer I.N.T., MC Melodee is the co-founder of “La Melodia”. This hip hop duo brings you witty wordplay combined with production that is rich in detail. Not the average hip hop you may expect, as they cross borders and go beyond. Together this crew represents the city of Amsterdam, where they settled by way of Eindhoven about 10 years ago. What started with the independent release of the single Dough/For You on 12” vinyl on La Melodia Records in 2004, led to a European tour with Stonesthrow’s artists Ohno, Percee P, Wildchild, Roc C and DJ Romes in 2005, a record deal with Japanese label Handcuts Records/Universal Japan in 2006, the release of their debut record “Vibing High” in the Benelux on PIAS in 2007, several frequently shown music videos on Dutch TV with the help of MTV/TMF, a tour with their own live band in 2008 and lots of performances worldwide on festivals including North Sea Jazz, Sonar, Popkomm, Soul Nation and Capetown jazz. A performance at New York’s Open at Santos, hosted by Rapper/Producer/DJ Q-tip and DJ/Producer Rich Medina also leads to performances on NYC’s CMJ (Music Marathon) and Music, Film & Interactive Conference SXSW (South by Southwest) in Austin, Texas. In 2010 it even results in a new 7 inch vinyl release on record label “Record Breaking Music” called “Chemistry b/w„Working on it“. This is followed by the release of their latest album “Electronic Love” on La Melodia Records. A year later another vinyl release “Flirtatious ft. Louis Bordeaux” follows on AudioWear LP and La Melodia records a spectacular new video “Spaced Out" which is released independently in 2012. After also leading a Peer Education Project for 3 years at Studio West Amsterdam, the duo starts to focus on their individual solo projects. La Melodia brings you soulful hip hop with a hint of electric funk and raw yet hypnotic beats that will keep your head nodding from start to finish.
In 2009 MC Melodee is selected by the European Music Office to be a part of the ambitious three-year European project Diversidad. Dedicated to bringing together urban cultures around the European Urban scene, Diversidad selects 20 rappers, beat makers and DJ’s from around Europe to become the framework of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. This collaboration leads to several features by MC Melodee on the 2010 album “The Experience” and to the participation of a European tour in 2011.
During this tour MC Melodee meets talented and world famous production team Cookin’ Soul from Spain. Heads bop and a connection is made instantly. Inspiration flows and songs are made, leading to the successful release of “ Check Out Melodee” in July 2011, “ Cha Cha Cha 2011” in fall 2011 and “Up In The Clouds” in winter 2011. In 2012 Cookin’ Soul sets up a collaboration between Melodee and Billboard #1 artist Mac Miller. This song called “Genius” is like the other songs one of the singles of the mixtape “Check Out Melodee” produced by Cookin’ Soul, hosted by DJ Whoo Kid which was released spring 2012. The mixtape, which was released on Dat Piff featured respectable international artists like Mac Miller, Smiff n Wessum, Chuck Inglish (Cool Kids), Ohno, Mucho Muchacho, Griffi and DJ Whoo Kid. More European shows followed that year for MC Melodee, especially in Spain where she reached a lot of new fans after doing an interview for MTV Spain and a cover shoot for HipHopLife Magazine together with her new partners in music. After the success of “Check Out Melodee” which was picked up by big international hip hop blogs like 2dopeboys, hiphop DX, Okayplayer, WeTheWest, OnDaReal, HiphopDE and others, MC Melodee starts to work on a new project with Cookin’ Soul late 2012. The first two video singles of this album called “Ain’t My Style” and “Exhale” which were released early 2013, introduce MC Melodee & Cookin’ Souls first official album together:”My Tape Deck”. This album, which is released digitally & on limited vinyl in April 2013 on Jakarta Records (DE) is a 90’s inspired hip hop album with features by Bootie Brown / The Pharcyde, Jet Life Records rapper Fiend and Dutch up and coming singer Feliciana. The third video “Think Twice” which is recorded in Melodee’s homeland Curacao, was released May 2013.
The album received many good international reviews & media coverage, which led to new bookings abroad like Viñarock Festival (ES) and also led to the scheduling of a US Trip in October 2013 where Melodee performed & worked on new material with various US based hip hop artists. This resulted in the release of a series of three EP’s. The first EP called “In My Zone” (February 2014) has productions on it by Chuck Inglish, Like (Pac Div) and Cookin’ Soul. “Spectacular” is the first video single for this EP, which was followed by MC Melodee’s first European Tour in spring of 2014, with shows in Austria, Spain, Poland, Italy, France, Germany and more. In June 2014 Melodee released a new video “Naked City” featuring AG of D.I.T.C. It is the first single of her second EP called “Coolin” (July 2014). This EP is followed by “Crunch Time” EP that year (November 2014) which has features on it by rapper/singer Illa J. (J Dilla/Yancey Boys) and Dam Dutchess members Feliciana and D-Luzion. The video single for this EP is “Discodip”, is recorded in Valencia, Spain. During Melodee’s first show in Mexico (February 2015), she records the fourth and last videosingle “Terribe Thing To Waste” for her Triple-EP project.
Apart from her solo projects, Melodee also teamed up with Swedish DJ Eka Scratch and initiated the FAM project: a mindblowing collaboration between Dam Dutchess (NL) and Femtastic (SE) featuring 17 talented female MC’s/vocalists. The album “FAM - FAM First" was released worldwide on i-tunes, spotify a.o. and was celebrated during two memorable releaseparties in Stockholm and Amsterdam early 2015. The album has a videosingle “Rock With It” and was officially released on vinyl January 2016.
After that an official MC Melodee EU Tour follows early 2016. MC Melodee’s new album “Passport Pimpin” produced entirely by Cookin Soul is next up, and is released July 8th 2016 on all digital platforms and limited golden and black vinyl through the German label Vinyl Digital. For this album the artists decide to mix different influences to create new and contemporary sounds. Neosoul meets trap, meets the golden era, which can be heard on the first videosingle “Place Is Lit” which is recorded by Melodee herself in Bangkok late 2015 when she’s there with Cookin Soul for bookings. The second single “Find My Way” is very personal, and tells Melodee’s story while being pregnant on her quest to find her way in life. Videosingles “Passport Pimpin” and “Up & Down” match the interational character of the album being recorded in Tokyo (JP) and in Valencia (ES).
With her fan base growing, MC Melodee continues to tour around the world, internationally expanding her name and music. Expect more from this gifted female MC with the raspy voice and sick flow as she will continue to pursue innovative and creative ways to craft and release her music…