‘Aphrodite’ the debut album from Melina Malone is here.
Tipped as ‘one of the best voices in Ireland’ by GoldenPlec, Dublin born Irish-Greek R&B artist Melina Malone is a force to be reckoned with in the Irish music scene. With collaborations with some of Ireland’s finest artists from Mango X Mathman to Zaska, Booka Brass, Glasshouse Music, and Irish Women In Harmony her powerful vocal performances often leave audiences captivated and Melina can be seen regularly drawing large crowds whenever she performs.
Taking influence from all things Neo Soul, from soul queens Erykah Badu & Jill Scott, to their more contemporary counterparts Amber Mark, NAO & RAYE, Melina Malone’s album ‘Aphrodite’ lands ahead on October 6th, the day of her Ireland Music Week showcase debut, and is a powerful debut with heavy nods the aforementioned Soul trailblazers, while also blending flavors of Bossa Nova & 90’s R&B. Melina aims to redefine the standard of Irish R&B with this record.
‘Aphrodite’ is OUT NOW.
Her latest singles ‘ ‘Lovers Sunday’, ‘Tru Luv’ and ‘Naive’ have garnered support from the likes of RTE 2FM with each track landing on the day time playlist, BBC1xtra, 98 FM, FM 104, BBC Introducing, Nialler9, Goldenplec, IMRO, Noctis Magazine, Ones to Watch, and more, plus Spotify Editorial playlist slots on ‘A Breath Of Fresh Eire’, ‘Fresh Finds UK & Ire’, and ‘LED Lights’
“I was thinking a lot about the role of women in Greek myth and the parallels with modern life when writing this track. It’s an expression of female rage which is often portrayed as a threat to patriarchal society and the stories of Medusa, Pandora, and Circe come to mind. On the surface it’s ethereal and sweet, but it’s much darker than what it seems. Really enjoyed building a world on this one”
The album themes are heavily inspired by Melina’s Greek-Irish heritage, and draws parallels between modern feminism and Greek myth with the album tracklist order representing a woman’s journey from pain, suffering & loss of self, to love, empowerment, and acceptance. The spirit of the album’s namesake, ‘Aphrodite’, the Greek goddess of Love & Beauty, is ever-present, and represents a return to the divine feminine and what it means to be a woman in Ireland today.
Listen to the album below:
