Today we’d like to introduce you to MELŌ.
Hi MELŌ, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Mikey Collard:
Jordan and I knew each other from college (were pledge brothers in the Sigma Chi fraternity), and then we met Zakkary in 2004 when we all tried out and made it into a band that was being formed around Jonas Persch, a former singer in the boy band LMNT. Spearheaded by a management group from LA, the band was called Carnaby, and it included Jordan (drums), Zakkary (guitar), myself (bass guitar), Jonas (vocals) and another Jordan on keyboards. After playing together for a few months and doing a few shows, Jonas quit the band and the three of us (Jordan Davis, Zakkary and I) decided to form our own band, Melodramus. Zakkary took over vocals and we added his brother Ted Newsom (aka The Rose Phantom) on synths.
Jordan left the band in 2005 to attend dental school, and he was replaced by Andrew Hopkins on drums. With this lineup, Melodramus released “30 Silver Pieces” in 2007 and “Two: Glass Apple” in 2010.
I quit the band in 2010 to attend grad school at USC and pursue a career in public relations. Melodramus went through some additional lineup changes over the years and the latest lineup moved to Seattle in 2015, and then released “1+1=1” in 2019. (GRAMMY-award-winner Matt Winegar mixed and produced “Two: Glass Apple” and “1+1=1”.)
After each of us went our separate ways and moved to different parts of the country, we eventually all found our way back to the Salt Lake area and each other to create MELŌ, over nearly two decades after we first started making music together. We started playing together again during the pandemic, and have been releasing new music over the last few years – culminating with the recent launch of our new concept album, “HiLo.” (Streaming links are here: https://linktr.ee/themelothree)
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Mikey Collard:
I love writing, playing and performing music. It’s my release – I need it to balance me out. It’s not a stretch to say that learning to play bass guitar changed my life. And I’ve always loved being able to play with Jordan and Zakk – they’re incredible musicians and just all-around awesome people. We were just kids when we started playing together! So many amazing memories with those two. It’s been a lot of fun getting to know them and play with them over the last 20+ years, but it hasn’t been totally smooth. We’re older now and at different places in our lives than we were when we first played together, which can sometimes complicate things.
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Zakkary Hale:
Life should never be totally smooth. Challenges and turbulence creates opportunities and growth. This applies directly to music or any artistic expression. Playing in a band with others is a blessing. The most difficult part is managing time, priorities and communicating.
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Jordan Davis:
I’ve always loved music and when I left Melodramus in 2005, it was a hard decision for me. For the longest time I questioned and doubted my decision, wondering if I should have chosen a career in music instead. It’s now come full circle and I am happy with the decision I made. My career now in dentistry has allowed me to be able to produce an album like “HiLo” and to be able to freely express my musical passion without any pressure.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Mikey Collard:
MELŌ is a rock band from Salt Lake City. Our sound is an eclectic mix of metal, rock, and pop. For our new album “HiLo,” we went big, collaborating with composer Gavin McMahan and the Budapest Scoring Orchestra for the album’s symphonic orchestrations. Meant to be listened to in track order, “HiLo” is designed as a seamless, concept album: instrumental interludes connect the tracks, guiding the listener through an emotional journey from beginning to end – the highs and lows. I’m super proud of it. Special shout out to Flip Twogood at Aggressive Audio for his help with making it happen.
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Zakkary Hale:
I am a full time musician and instructor for the Salt Lake Academy of Music. I am proud of all of the music I’ve been blessed to create. I am proud to work as a teacher, mentor and coach for all types of musicians.
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Jordan Davis:
If we are talking about the band and the music, I’m the drummer and love playing, but I also have a passion for the creativity of the music and the meaning behind it. In working on this album, I found joy in bringing everything together. Recording a live orchestra for a rock band has always been a “bucket list” item for me, so incorporating that into this album was a really amazing experience. I love creating and building things. I’m more of an entrepreneur by heart than anything else, so to be able to help create and be a part of such a unique and meaningful album is such a privilege.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Mikey Collard:
Loaded question! In terms of creating music, it’s about being able to work with musicians I like working with (who are on the same “wavelength”) and creating something that I can be proud of – something that I’d like to listen to myself. And then if others like to listen to it too, that’s a bonus.
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Zakkary Hale:
Musical honesty, transparency, vulnerability and genuine intention is of absolute importance to me. I am bent on constant growth and individuality through zeal and ambition. Hard work and sacrifice. Passion.
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Jordan Davis:
For me, it is being able to make a meaningful impact on others’ lives. Whatever I’m doing, my goal is always to do something that is of great worth. To be creative, to solve problems, to build, to work hard, to sacrifice–all in the hopes that what I do will have meaning and purpose and a positive result for myself and others. I believe our new album “HiLo” is exactly that–honest, creative, meaningful, purposeful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/themelothree
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelothree
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themelothree
- Twitter: https://x.com/themelothree
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2RkoYEQ9eu9LYocUPzoFsw
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themelothreeslc
- Threads: https://www.threads.com/@themelothree
