Meet Mels as we talk all things music producing, dream collabs, and favourite genres to produce.

This month we've been in touch with Mels, a trader and music producer from East London as we talk about all sorts of genre making, her transition from trading to producing, and all things dream collaborations. Make sure you go over to Instagram and drop Mels a follow on @melsyh and keep up with all of her latest work!

Hey Mels, please can you give yourself an introduction for anyone that isn't already aware of your work?

I'm Mel, 24, and I do a bit of everything to be honest, I've been trading for 7 years, and a producer/engineer for 3. I dabble in graphic design and I run my own trading company. I'm based in East London, the ghettoooo.

That sounds sick. How did you get into trading?

To be honest, I started studying it in sixth form, but I never too it serious. I just used to see all of the guys on Insta do it, I kinda like numbers so it made sense. I feel like I can't accept failure, so I just made it work. I enjoy it so that helps, I just never gave up at it and here we are.

I respect the hustle, how did you go from trading to producing?

Honestly, I always wanted to be in the music industry but I can't sing and I didn't want to be a rapper so I thought why not do producing. I already had the first steps as I play piano at grade 6, so I knew about the theory. I love drill and UK rap, so I went in that direction. I also thought about the fact that there's barely any females in the producing world, so I thought it would be cool to change that narrative, I tend to get into predominantly male dominated industries and break boundaries.

Have you got any favourite rappers in the scene?

I love say right now, Booter B, Gully, and the CGM lot drill wise, very hard, all of them.

How does producing make you feel?

It depends what kinda beat I'm making, most of the time I'm just being experimental with it, so it brings out a lot of different emotions, just got to get into the song as much as possible.

Have you got a favourite genre to produce?

Drill definitely, so much you can do with it. I'm quite opened minded, the one thing I don't really like is jersey/melodic beats, when they're too happy.

I get what you mean, what does 2023 look like for Mels the producer?

Hopefully full of big placements Inshallah. Just gonna keep working and see what happens.

Have you got anyone you would love to produce for?

I would say Digga D or Russ, would be hard to do something with them. I love making Russ type beats, so I think that would be something I would work towards.

I was thinking of Russ a lot when looking at your beats, it would be very sick to see that happen. What about American artists, who are you liking over there?

I like Lil Durk, that would be crazyyyyyyy to work with him, I think I'll just retire at that point.

Is that the ultimate goal?

I think the ultimate goal is to just enjoy what I do and create new sounds, but working with Lil Durk would be nice hahaha.

I couldn't agree more, do you have any advice for anyone that wants to start producing?

Yessir, I would say just to be persistent and try to find your own sound, when you try and perfect it or sound like other people, it gets long. Just try to be yourself and practice always makes perfect.

100%, do you have anyone you would like to shout out? Someone you've worked with or just a friend, anyone you like.

I have loads, I would say @sykesbeats because without him, I probs wouldn't have bothered with the beats thing, he always took me in and tried to help me when I first started making beats.

For sure, thank you so much for your time, have a blessed year!