From Dublin but based in Brighton, producer and vocalist Meljoann has been making noise around various music scenes since the late 00s, producing a kind of soulful, synth backed sound that firmly airs her views against a starkly engaging, meaty backdrop.

Upcoming new single ‘Bye’, for example, takes a running jab at the evils of the social media giants, and the way in which data is manipulated; an unusual topic for music, but that leftfield tendency to explore topics other prefer to leave in written form is amongst the things that make Meljoann a compelling listen.

“’Bye’ is a word I’d dearly love to say in this situation,” Meljoann says. “Big Tech has a monopoly on our social communication, politics and arts. Through this, billionaires like Zuckerberg, Bezos, Musk and Ek enact a kind of digital neo-colonialism. Throughout the song, I’m saying we do have a choice, and the time is coming when we can leave all of this behind.”

“It’s possible to ignore this stuff,” she continues, talking from the perspective of a musician trying to promote work, “but only if you’re able to have a day-job as well. Or maybe if you’re a big legacy artist, and everyone knows who you are already. Someone like me just has to engage with it. So, I do it in a way that hopefully exposes the hokey mechanisms behind influencer culture.”

“I hope not to do so for much longer. There are grassroots alternative software scenes, creating welcoming community-run spaces for people. Like the Fediverse. We shouldn’t have to look at a bunch of ads, and click “I Agree” on a bunch of dodgy corporate BS, when we just want to talk to our friends or listen to music online.”

“I have an ongoing frustration with the music industry. But the feelings in the song are all about power imbalance, where you just have to “play along” with a load of rubbish: flattering, fawning, and keeping all their dodgy secrets. The video documents a talk show that goes horribly wrong. It references 90s shows like Ricki Lake and Jerry Springer.”

“It’s not that I enjoy it, but I can only write authentically about my own experiences,” she says of a tendency to write social commentary into her music. “Then, when I zoom out, I see all my individual experiences are just one part of a much larger socio-political picture. It seems myopic to just focus on yourself.”

“I’m very focused on visual expression alongside the music. I’ve always had dreamy synesthesia-like experiences with music, and it’s really satisfying to be able to make these images. I feel it gives a more complete impression of my ideas. If it means I get to act the maggot in front of a camera, wearing ridiculous costumes, that’s a bonus.”

“I just want to keep writing, music-making, improvising, producing, filming… all the things! We’ll be releasing my new album soon.”

Brighton is a place that allows Meljoann freedom of expression, she says. “Brighton is an amazing, queer-friendly city. I feel I can be more myself here. There’s a great experimental music scene, full of friendly people.”

“I do miss Dublin as well, though,” she continues, “but the scenes I remember have been priced out. Hardly anyone I know can afford to live there anymore.”