Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mel Taevin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mel , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

It wasn’t until I reached my teen years that I found my voice. When I was 13 years old, I wanted to try out for the school musical. That year was The Wizard Of Oz. I never sang in front of anyone before, and it was time for the big audition. As a practice round, I sang “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” to my parents, and they were impressed. That was the moment I realized I could probably do this for real. From then on, I joined a gospel choir which taught me how to appropriately sing, and from then on vocal art is an element I’ve been pursuing as a musician. There are so many amazing vocalists out there, I quickly realized I have a lot to learn from those around me. I’m grateful to have the opportunities to learn, and form my own craft within the lessons.

Mel , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m an indie singer songwriter living here in LA. Like many musicians, I come from The Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. There, I studied songwriting and vocal performance with some of the greats. I learned ways around the industry and the challenges that come with being an independent artist. Once I decided that music was the path for me, I focused more on my craft than I did networking. Now, I’ve dipped my big toe into the waters of networking, and it’s helped me a lot in my career. I think the trickiest thing is making a living solely on your craft, and maintaining the bandwidth to proceed with your hard work. All of it boils down to hard work and focus. If you’re not going to release that song you’ve been sitting on for years, no one else will. If you aren’t going to write that song you’ve been meaning to write, it’s not going to get done. Simple as that. You need to have initiative and drive. I’m most proud of how far I’ve come as a songwriter. I’ve written a million horrible songs, but they all lead somewhere. I now feel confident and reassured that my craft and my work is unique and shows I can be a part of the team. Put me in coach!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

As a creative, many people are going to want to root against you. They’re going to want to set you back. They’re going to want to give you specific limits. My Junior year of High School, a classmate of mine, (who ended up on Broadway) came up to me and brought me onto the stage during a rehearsal.

He said, “Look at this place. Look at the size. You will never perform in front of a bigger audience ever again.”

I believed it. I believed what he said as a peer, and as someone I looked up to in the theatre community. It wasn’t until I went to Berklee College of Music, where I had opportunities to perform for myself and for others in front of large crowds that I realized he was wrong.

I proved him wrong. But his voice is always inside of my head, limiting me and making me feel small. It takes constant reminders to show me what resilience is, and that my hard work amounts to something so much bigger than words.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Music has always been there for me. From when I was a little kid, to now, I’ve relied on music in ways that are bigger than words can say. Music has been there for me when I’ve been at my lowest, and when I’ve been at my best. My goal is to provide music that serves the same purpose for others as it does for me. I want to be the artist that people go to listen to when they feel sad, or overwhelmed. I want to be the artist people turn to for comfort, to feel seen. I owe it to the musicians that made me feel that way. It’s for them that I hold this mission close to my heart.

Contact Info:

• Website: sadsongmel.com
• Instagram: sadsongmel
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@meltaevin1430

Image Credits
Dan Mayo / Erica Bonkowski