How MEL Symphonic Is Expanding His Creative Sound Through Collaboration, Emotion, and a Bold New Musical Direction

For MEL Symphonic, each new release is an opportunity to explore unfamiliar creative territory. His upcoming instrumental rock single Touch introduces a more melodic, emotionally driven sound while marking his first collaboration with professional musicians, opening the door to richer arrangements and live-inspired performances. As he continues building toward future singles and a full-length album, MEL remains focused on creating music that connects through feeling, experimentation, and the shared energy of collaboration.

MEL, you’re preparing to release your new instrumental rock single Touch at the end of July, and unlike your previous releases, this project introduced collaborations with hired musicians and explores a completely different sonic direction. What inspired you to take a new creative approach with this release, and what made this the right time to experiment with your sound?
I love coming up with interesting chord progressions, but neither of my prior releases showcase that. They’re very riff-based and have a darker vibe, so I wanted to reveal another side of myself. I dusted off my old demo for Touch and finished writing it during a very creative streak. I did all the guitars, bass, and keys in my home studio then enlisted the help of 2 talented musicians. It’s stylistically different from what people have heard in my music, but every song is an experiment because it can go in a new direction that I didn’t foresee at the beginning of a new idea.

Your music has previously been rooted in instrumental rock, but you’ve shared that Touch stands apart stylistically from your earlier work. How would you describe the evolution of your sound, and what were you hoping to express differently through this track?
I focused on melody, harmony, and conveying emotion that builds from start to finish. I’ve tried to incorporate an evolving idea in each of my songs, like a bass part that expands from one verse to the next or small nuances that give it life or the feel of a live performance. This song, thanks in large part to featuring a real drummer, sounds like it’s meant to be played live. So I’d like to build a catalog that can reach that level and I intend to enlist other musicians and instrumentation to achieve that.

For this release, you brought in hired musicians to contribute performances, which marks a new step in your creative process. What was it like shifting from creating independently to collaborating with other musicians, and how did that change the final outcome of the song?
It was really exciting getting them involved and I have my friend Yago Mann, one of the best producers in San Diego, to thank for connecting me with these pros. I gave some direction as to what I was looking for, but I really encouraged them to do what felt right when it came to rhythm, dynamics, and the solo in the later half of the song. Hopefully, they were inspired by the music and my arrangement, because they did an amazing job.

Instrumental music relies entirely on sound and emotion without the presence of lyrics to guide the listener. What draws you to creating instrumental rock music, and how do you approach telling a story or creating feeling purely through composition?
As I stated early about focusing on melody and harmony, I really just wanted to let the chords guide me to the right notes for the melody. The melody in the verses for example, was written years ago in a different key and at a slower tempo but when I started writing a chorus/hook, I felt stuck. It didn’t feel like it was going anywhere, so I changed keys and tried a different feel altogether. This really unlocked the chorus for me and I had it worked out with a bass part and lead guitar melody very quickly.

While I’d like to write lyrics and incorporate vocals into my music someday, I think an instrumental can get closer to the feelings one is trying to express. Most of my favorite songs of all time have lyrics, but I’m more interested in the vocal melody than the actual lyrics or their meaning. The emotion is in the performance. That’s how I approach it when writing and recording.

With Touch set to release in late July and representing a new chapter creatively, what excites you most about sharing this track with listeners and where do you see your musical journey heading next after this release?
Every release has taught me new things and I think this is my best work yet. I’m very proud of it. Touch is out on July 28th and I may have another single out before the end of the year. After that, my plan is to begin work on an album, continue learning production and collaborate with more instrumentalists. I have a lot more to say creatively and that calls for different sounds or textures.

Eventually, I would love to build an ensemble that hearkens back to the big groups from the 1970’s like Tower of Power, Chicago, or Earth, Wind & Fire. While I value the freedom to write independently, some of the best music we can create comes from a shared experience.

Links:

• https://www.melsymphonic.com/
• https://linktr.ee/MELSymphonic
• https://www.youtube.com/@MELSymphonic