Tony Mantor's : Almost Live..... Nashville - Mel Denisse: Finding Strength Through Vulnerability and the Sound of Alternative Rock

Episode Date: August 18, 2026

Show NotesAlternative rock artist Mel Denisse joins Tony Mantor for an honest conversation about songwriting, vulnerability, and discovering an artistic voice that refuses to fit inside traditional boundaries.Drawing inspiration from alternative rock, darkwave, trip-hop, and cinematic soundscapes, Mel creates music that explores emotion with remarkable depth while blending haunting melodies with powerful storytelling.In this episode, she reflects on growing up in a non-musical family, teaching herself to write and perform, navigating the challenges of being an independent artist, and embracing the evolution of her own sound. She also shares why some of the most meaningful songs are often the hardest to release.From recording in a home studio to balancing creativity with the realities of marketing and business, Mel offers a candid look at the modern independent music journey and the importance of staying authentic in an increasingly fast-paced world.In This EpisodeHow music became a lifelong passionInfluences from alternative rock and 90s musicBlending darkwave, trip-hop, and cinematic texturesThe songwriting process from emotion to melodyWhy vulnerability creates stronger musicFinding confidence through artistic evolutionBalancing creativity with the business of independent musicAvoiding burnout while wearing every hat as an artistThe importance of patience in developing a unique soundCreating music that helps listeners feel less aloneFuture plans for live performances and visual storytellingMel's thoughtful perspective highlights the power of music to connect people through shared emotions, reminding listeners that some of the most personal stories become the ones that resonate the deepest.Whether you're an aspiring songwriter, an independent artist, or simply a fan of emotionally driven alternative music, this episode offers inspiration and insight into the creative process behind an emerging artist with a distinctive voice.Be sure to follow Almost Live Nashville for more conversations with the musicians, songwriters, and creators shaping today's music landscape. 

Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Thanks for joining us today. Welcome to Almost Live Nashville, where music, entertainment, and great conversations come together. If you haven't already, tap follow. This way you stay up to date, never missing the great conversation and guests coming your way. Joining us today is Mel Denise, an artist who blends raw emotion with cinematic soundscapes in a way that's impossible to ignore. From alternative rock and dark wave textures to deeply personal songwriting, she is creating music that feels both haunting and powerful at the same time. Her sound has been gaining attention from listeners and music lovers around the world, resonating with anyone who's ever found beauty and heartbreak or strength in vulnerability. Today we get to chance to hear the story behind the music, the inspiration behind the emotion, and the journey that continues to shape her unmistakable sound.

Thanks for joining us today. I know. I'm excited. Okay, so for listeners who might just be discovering you, give us a little background on how music became a serious part of your life. Yeah, I mean, I've always had a connection to music, you know, so since I was little, I was writing and singing, and that led into, you know, picking up instruments and recording and trying to just figure out the whole thing.

And I didn't really have like a set clear path. I didn't really come from a family of, you know, musicians or artists or anything. They were very traditional. And like you go to college and then you get a nine to five. Right. I was, you know, going up against a lot growing up trying to figure this out. Right. But, you know, like when you love something, it never leaves you.

So, yeah, I just did a little bit. as much as I could on my own. Okay. Started collaborating with people. Sure. Other producers. Yeah. Producing myself.

And then just going for it as much as I could. Yeah. So you started playing what? Guitar. Was that your earliest thing that you played when you was like, what, 10 years old or something like that? Yeah. So I picked up the guitar first and then, you know, dabbled with a bit of piano here and there. But yeah, guitar is kind of the main.

instrument. Okay, so when did you, after starting playing guitar and dabbling with music, when did you realize that this was more than just a hobby that was going to be a serious part of your life? I would say, I mean, I guess in my teens, I was actively pursuing it. There were some hiatuses here and there, but some kind of opportunities would pop in here and there that kind of were signals to me. sure. This could be more serious than that I should continue to pursue it. And so, yeah, I mean, one thing led to another.

And I was just also trying to learn myself as an artist. Sure. Going through those years. Yeah. So in some ways, I'm kind of glad that I didn't go full force. Right. Because I'm really excited about everything right now and feel a bit more confident in terms of what I'm, I'm creating and so yeah.

So while you was dabbling in it, while you was doing all the things that you do as a teenager, who was some of the people that was influencing what you thought you might want to become? Yeah, I mean, gosh, I loved a lot of like 90s, early 2000s alternative. So deaf tones, failure, mu, a band called abandoned pools, anything just. Yeah, I loved a lot of different things. Even Tori Amos and Amy Lee, a lot of classically trained female vocalists that I thought were very interesting. Sure.

Artist that I think did a lot of juxtaposition with the type of music and the type of vocals that they were pairing together. Yeah, I've always been drawn to kind of the weirder combinations. Okay. Yeah. So did you, like when I was working the music, I would take a little bit from one artist that influenced me. And then all of a sudden I had my own style, my own sound. That kind of developed that same way for you? Yeah, I think so.

I think it's weird because you can have as many influences as you want. Yeah. But at the end of the day, what's going to come out of you is what's going to come out of you. Right. But I think it's definitely a fusion. And my co-producer that I work with, he is also a big fan of sort of genre bending and, you know, taking little things from different places. Right. So I think that's the most fun part of all of it.

And so you could probably hear elements of, you know, several different things and definitely some of those influences. As you grow, you evolve. And as you evolve, you keep adding different little nuances here and there. Have you seen now that you can look back at what you've done and what you've created, can you see where you've evolved and how you've changed over the years? And what has surprised you about some of the changes? Yes, definitely. I think the style of music, honestly, like a lot of the things I didn't know I liked are things I like now. Different styles.

Like there's a lot of trip hop elements, apart. of the album that's coming together. Okay. You know, just different, yeah, different kinds of sounds and moods and directions that I never really, yeah, thought that I would kind of go towards and before I definitely, I think pigeonholed myself a little bit. Okay. I had the mindset that I was like, I just like this one type of sound and I just, you want

to do this one type of thing. Sure. But I try to challenge myself a lot with opening up to things. Okay. And so that was a little bit scary at first and held me back in ways. Sure. But now I kind of feel like that floodgate has opened. And now I'm like, let's try anything.

Good, good. Now, when you sit down to write a song, do you have an idea in mind when you're starting? Or do you just kind of get down there and start putting some chords together and putting some melodies together and see what it develops into? What's your process look like? Yeah, a lot of the time, I'm, I'm, going in pretty blindly. Okay. I'm just like, what happens.

Yeah, and usually I'll try to find some kind of chord progression. I'm very melody-driven. I usually won't like lyrics or anything ahead of time. I just want to find like a solid chord progression and something I can build upon. Yeah. And yeah, it's pretty quick from there sometimes. Like, I'm a very visual person too, so I'll start kind of seeing this kind of movie or something playing in my head or, I don't know.

different themes and colors and just sort of a world starts to build. And I'm like, oh, I feel like this is what this is about. And sort of, yeah, it just starts growing from there. Yeah. So now, it seems like the alternative rock scene is starting to open up and develop again. Yeah. How do you see yourself fitting into this new development in the way that is progressing? Yeah. It's so interesting seeing it all like reemerge. I don't know. I mean, I there's so much more now out there. Right. So it's definitely a lot more saturated. Right. But I think because I have, I guess some of like the older roots of things that I grew up with, there's sort of that nostalgia that I feel like is sinking into the music that we're creating. So I hope in that way,

in and of itself, it can kind of be its own thing and stand out and feel accessible and feel nostalgic and feel new as well. I know that's a lot of things, but it does sort of feel like it has that fusion. Now, have you sat down and written a song that kind of almost feels too honest? You know, it's like, I don't want to share this, but then you hear it, you listen to it, it shows some of your emotions, then you decide to actually do it. How does that feel to do something like that? Yeah, it's uncomfortable sometimes. Well, because we're so weird with ourselves, you know right yes every artist out there i mean things are so vulnerable things you listen to every day and you don't give it a second thought but when you're writing it you're like oh i don't know but i am trying to

do that more because i think i have a tendency sometimes with lyrics to be a bit more ambiguous and leave room to interpretation and it's a bit more abstract themes or or just maybe more like generalize things and it's not getting into the weeds of that honesty or that vulnerability. So I think there's, yeah, there's definitely some tracks where I was like, let me just, you know, lay it all out there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's uncomfortable for like an introverted person like myself. What's that? An extroverted introvert, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think so. Yeah. I, like, I can feel like a big social butterfly, but as soon as I'm done, I'm like, I'm done. I'm the same way. Yeah. So is there a song that you put on an album or released that you

almost didn't release, but now you're kind of glad you did? I don't think so far. Okay. But there may be a song on the album that will be that. Okay. So then it's funny having conversations this week about one of them where I have gone back and forth on a lot. And so I think there definitely will be that situation. We all get into it when we're writing songs or producing a song. It's just, for some reason, it's just not working. How do you push yourself through that so that you can create something that eventually starts working and you can develop it into something that you'd hope, envisioned that it would be?

Yeah, that, I mean, that's a good question. I sometimes feel like music is, you know, its own entity. Yeah. And it'll get to you when it wants to. Right. And it's not and you can't force it. Right. So I don't know.

It's just like this weird kind of magical thing that like and I'm trying to learn that too, like not forcing things, dropping it, trying to come back to it the next day. Right. And then sort of like sometimes I'll just have insight on what needs to change or what, where to start. And but it is super frustrating. And it's one of those things where you're kind of at the mercy of it. Yeah.

At least I feel like that where I don't know when I'm going to get. at the breakthrough. So it's a little scary. Right. Yeah. Now, you're still emerging. You're still evolving. Do you still feel that you're still discovering your sound? Yeah, definitely. I keep telling people that this album feels like a like a tasting platter of sort of different, you know, different sounds and sort of ideas. And I mean, they all kind of cohesively go together. Yeah. But yeah, it's very much like a discovery album. So I'm really excited for after that, kind of what continues to go. But yeah, this is so the beginning for a lot of those things. So I'm still kind of learning it myself still. Yeah. So when we first start out in music, we are kind of naive to the business. We go out

there. We do the music. We just have these great plans, these great things that we're going to do. and then some of us get a chance to actually get to Nashville, New York, L.A., whatever hub it might be. And when you get there and you actually start doing it, then all of a sudden the business slaps you in the face. You realize that, whoa, this is not what I thought it was going to be. It's turning my fun into not so fun. What surprised you most about the industry from where you were being humble and naive to now you've worked in it a little bit and you're kind of seeing how it can raise this ugly face at times. Yeah.

I guess for me, I haven't been too surprised. Okay. Yeah, I mean, because also as an indie solo artist, you are having to handle and learn the business side of it and the creative side of it. Right. And I also have a background in marketing. So when I'm not working on music, I am behind the computer all day long working on, working on, you know, everything I can on the, the backside.

Sure. So, yeah, I mean, I don't think I've gotten too into the weeds. Okay, well, good. Like, stressful business. Yeah. But I think that I do feel confident in what I want and what I think this looks like. Sure. And building enough of it so that I think anyone that comes alongside it, you know,

has a fairly good understanding of what's happening. Sure. So hopefully it stays that way. Yeah, I hope so. Hopefully it's only helpful because there is a lot of work when you're, yeah, doing it all and wearing all the hats. That's right. An independent is completely different than when you have the major label working for you.

But the problem is when you have that major label, there's certain things you have to give up. And some of that is control on your direction. So have you ever had or felt like you've had to choose? between staying true to your sound or doing something that's a little more commercial that can help you get out there stronger? Yeah, I mean, I'm sort of learning that a lot with my co-producer. Okay. And I think that has been really helpful because, like I mentioned earlier, I pigeon hold myself a lot musically. And I think he's been really helpful to kind of expand my musical, you know, direction a little bit and try different things.

And, you know, the fear of like, oh, if I do one song like this, I'm going to be seen that way and like discount all the other songs and sounds that I'm pushing for. So that has been the hardest part. But we are kind of going through that back and forth a lot with this process already that I think it's giving me a good practice round to sort of navigate that and figure out the situations of, you know, when it makes. sense to let go of something when it's actually a good opportunity and not close myself off too much. Yeah. So what part of your journey so far do you think that people just don't see or don't get, but it has shaped you the most? Yeah, that's a good question. I mean, maybe, you know, I would have to say kind of what I just mentioned of all the things I'm doing behind the scenes that nobody would ever know about. You know, I wake up and I will work on songs for, you know, a handful of hours or a day

and then that night, next day, it's like I'm, then I'm wearing a different hat going into, you know, figuring out, you know, upcoming release plans or marketing or business or, you know, organizing a ton of administrative things on the side. Sure. Trying to, trying to just think about all sides of it without fully burning myself out. Yeah, you have to find that fine line because it's very easy to burn yourself out in this business, especially as an independent trying to take care of everything. Like you said, you're watching over your songwriting, you're watching over your recording, you're watching over your release, you're watching over your marketing.

There's just so much that you have to think about, and that can burn you out real quick. So what do you do to get away from it all so that you don't feel that pressure? And that way you don't think about it, which is hard to do because you're all. always thinking about it. So how do you find that separation? Yeah, I think I have to keep reminding myself that there's just no keeping up with the world these days. Right. With social media and the world, everything is so, so fast-paced. Right. So I kind of have to like take myself back to, you know, kind of like just reminding myself to be patient and that it's worth the kind of the long game to be patient with the project and really take your time on it because once it's done,

it's done. Once it's out, it's out. And we'll be really thankful that you weren't racing against the clock or the world because of everything that you see. Yeah. I just try to disconnect from that mostly. It's tough. Yeah. And when I'm working on music, I don't like to listen to other music because it just distracts me. It makes me, it pulls me in different directions. I'm trying will just just totally switch gears if it wants to. So remove distractions. Yeah. You mentioned social media, and that's, to me, the worst thing going right now,

because there's just so many comparatives out there. Everybody's comparing somebody to somebody to a band, to this band, and there's all these things going on. Do you ever find yourself getting wrapped up in it, not maybe personally? You see other people comparing you to others, and you're going, like, that's not me, but you don't want to get into that fight? I don't know if I've had too much of that. yet. Okay, good. Yeah, I don't know. That might be a battle like coming soon. Yeah, yeah. Even then I just,

I have to, I think the same concept still stands of like, I really need to make sure that I am not getting too sucked in too, too much. It's easy to do. Just to try to really balance that and disconnect because it's, it's just so crazy now. Have you ever had that pressure where you've said, man, this isn't worth it? I needed to go back just doing it for the fun. Well, it's still. fun, so I'll let you know I get to that point. Good. Well, that's good. I mean, as long as you can still keep it happy and fun, that's good. Yeah, no, I mean, there's definitely stressful days, but then it's just an indicator that you probably need a quick break. Right. You just have to walk away from it for a second, so. So years from now, people are just finding you stuff that you've put out. What do you hope that

they say about it? Well, first, I hope they enjoy it. Sure, sure. When I listen to music, I'm a big, I mean, we're all feelers, but like I love music with very intense emotion. Okay. Like feeling things very deeply and intensely. And like, I don't know. I just, I hope that people can resonate with it. Okay. Feel like, you know, maybe they're not alone in some stuff that they feel like it speaks to a piece of them that they didn't really realize they needed or like could feel or connect to.

Nice. Yeah. Now, if someone truly understands your music, what do they understand about you? That's a good question. That I, I don't know, maybe that I'm just a deep feeler. Okay. You know, I like to explore a lot of, you know, kind of heavier things. And I felt alone in a lot of that growing up.

It's not something I will really talk about with people. A lot of it's like these internalized things. Sure. So I think those things. things really come out in the music. Okay. So I think someone would probably understand that, you know, I'm also thinking about these kinds of things and them and, yeah.

So give me three words to describe your music. That's a good question. Let me think. I guess moody. Okay. Sad. And. surprising. Okay, so why sad? I think because there's just a lot of sad themes and heavy themes,

even in the more upbeat tracks. Okay. Yeah, the lyrics are kind of exploring a lot of not so easy to talk about things, so. Okay. All right. So what's the first album you remember listening to as a kid? I think I came across a deaf heaven album. Okay. All right. But they're not somebody I listened to. It was just there in the house. Uh-huh. So that's all I can really say about it is first memory.

Yeah, yeah. Now, if you had a chance to collaborate with any artists out there, who would you choose? That's such a hard question. I mean, I would probably say Chino from Deaf Tones. Okay. All right. And is there a song that resonates with you that you listen to all the time? you go, man, I wish I'd written that?

There's a few, but I'll say it's a Tori Amos song called Iron. Okay. It wasn't on any of her albums. It was actually part of a movie called Great Expectations. And that movie album is actually pretty incredible. A lot of awesome artists on it. Okay. And yeah, that song, to this day, I've never really heard anything like it.

Yeah. I'm just, yeah. So where do you see yourself five years from now? Hopefully having written a lot more music and would love to play shows. And I also, you know, I'm a big book reader. I love fantasy novels. And so kind of tracking a lot of the projects that are getting turned into film and TV shows and stuff. So if this music could in any way be a podcast.

part of one of those worlds. I think that would be something really exciting and kind of diving into that world. Okay. If you were to go back and tell your younger self, okay, this is what you're going to be doing, this is what you need to do, what advice would you give yourself to help expedite what you're doing? Hmm. I mean, I would just say keep, keep writing, keep studying the things that you love and yeah just just keep keep going okay i mean and it you just keep learning the more that you with the more that you do so right i'm sure i would i'll have a lot more to say in a few months yeah yeah so okay so now how do people follow you and find you so i am mel denise on pretty much every channel okay across yeah pretty much everything uh instagram facebook uh

X, Spotify, Apple Music, Bank Camp, all the things. All Denise. Are you performing at all? Yeah, so we have plans to hopefully get some shows going once the album is out, but that date we're still trying to figure out. So hopefully by the end of the year, something will start, you know. Oh, okay. So it's a long-term plan rather than short-term goals.

Yeah, yeah. Right now, we've just been trying to finish this album, and then we want to be pretty intentional with like the first show and starting that whole process. Yeah, good, good, that makes sense. Do you perform at all locally now, just nights go down and do things just off the cuff? No, nothing. Like right now we've just been trying to finish this album. I noticed something in your press release about BBC.

Was you doing something over in England? BBC One Radio just played one of the tracks on one of their shows. Okay. Well, it's been good. I really appreciate taking the time. Yeah, thank you so much. It was awesome to get to chat. Thanks again. Well, I appreciate you coming on. Thanks for spending part of your day with us. We hope today's conversation gave you something to take with you. If you haven't already, remember, tap follow so you never miss the great conversations and guests still ahead. You can always reach us at media at plateau music.com. Thanks for being part of what we're building here on Almost Live

Nashville. We'll see you next time.