Out of the anguish of heartbreak and self awareness rose the snarkiness that builds what “Miel” is all about. Melanie Frade learned to poke fun at soured relationships and self pity thus creating an indie-pop pseudo-70s project devoted to tackling relationship issues not quite head-on. Her lyrics may be pervasive at times, but they’re wildly relatable. Deemed a pessimistic optimist, “Miel” is for the people, in light and dark.

Melanie grew up in a Portuguese household in Toronto, Canada, studying music from a young age. “Miel”’s influences are spanned through many genres including bossa nova and fado among soul, jazz and indie rock. Citing Fiona Apple, Joni Mitchell and Billie Holiday as her top musical influences, she is no amateur musician and songwriter. Melanie achieved a bachelor’s degree in music performance and is now working towards a masters in performance and production at Berklee’s Valencia campus. She has devoted her life to the study and experimentation of music and its industry.

The purpose of the project is to address personal conflict and trauma without idealizing it. Having a light hearted approach, “Miel” allows for these concepts to exist without the gravity of the emotional consequences, whether that be through interpersonal relationships or the relationship to the self. It is therapeutic music made for others who are in search of an outlet.