Melé Steps Into Album Mode With ‘Alive On Arrival’

Fifteen years into life as Melé, Krissy Peers has finally made the debut album. Took him a while, right? But judging by the fourteen tracks on Alive On Arrival, he clearly had plenty to get off his chest.

Released through Defected Records, Alive On Arrival brings together plenty of genres. There’s house, hip-hop, soul, R&B and the wider global influences Melé has picked up along the way. The artist says that the album was shaped between London, Miami and his hometown of Liverpool, places he loves the most.

A LOT OF FRIENDS CAME ALONG

Melé brought plenty of company with him for this one. Jords, Wonky Logic, Roland Clark, Lex Amor, RIA, IRAH, Marla Kether, Reek0, K.O.G and Bontan all appear across the record, and somehow nobody feels like they’ve been added just for the sake of it.

There’s a proper sense of purpose to the collaborations. From So High with Jords and Wonky Logic through to Soul Flower (Move Like Me) with Lex Amor and Get A Little Down alongside Reek0 and Marla Kether. The whole thing feels like a magic ride with friends, to be honest.

The album was made in, and heavily influenced by, London, Miami and Liverpool – three places that are close to my heart. Sonically, it’s inspired by some of the best: Jungle, The Neptunes, Gorillaz and Masters At Work.” – Melé aka Krissy Peers

FIFTEEN YEARS, THEN

The title itself takes a little inspiration from Wu-Tang Clan’s C.R.E.A.M.. This probably tells you enough about how wide Melé’s musical world actually is. And that’s really what makes Alive On Arrival interesting. It may be his debut album on paper, but after fifteen years as Melé, there’s already plenty of history, records and dancefloors behind it.

By now, he knows exactly what he wants his music to say and where he wants to take it. This is more like finally putting the whole story in one place. Fourteen tracks later, he’s arrived. Took his time, mind.

Melé was only 17 when this whole thing started, and now, somewhere around 35, he’s looking back at what he calls a pretty mad journey spent making music and living in the studio. That probably makes Alive On Arrival feel even more like one of those “bloody hell, we actually got here” moments.

If you fancy seeing where he goes after finally arriving, you can keep up with Melé here – although after all that, I’m hoping album two doesn’t take another fifteen years.

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