Bonny M | October 15, 2024
Melo Taro is a Pretoria born and bred Hip Hop artist whose only goal was flourishing after high school, in anyway that could have been. I’ve been bullied, been the bully, loved, gained, lost and it all prepared me for where I am today. With each and every day I am grateful to pursue a fire burning in me because the journey has exposed me to great friendship and opportunities.
My journey in music began when I first fell in love with a Nicki Minaj track called “Massive Attack” back in 2009-2013 and the era of YMCMB and The Black Eyed Peas and etc.
I loved to dance at the time and was consumed by what I was seeing in music videos. Something resonated with me so deeply, but little did I know it would be destiny. On days when my parents would argue I would close myself off and listen to music on loud (surprised how I can still hear fairly well now). Music slowly followed me through the different emotions I experienced as I grew.
From 2014 to 2016 I listened to a lot of SoundCloud, that being lofi and underground artists like Foggieraw (before he blew up). Then I got into the likes of Sam Smith, Bryson Tiller, etc. 2017 I came out of my shell, that was when I found my confidence and I began expanding out of myself and really trying new things.
I had been writing from a young age, and was always encouraged to write, even by my mom. She would say “If you can’t say it, write it” .I also participated in poetry events at school and even attended something called ‘Hot Chocolate Circle’ which would be held at my school on Saturdays and we would socialise, talk and write about our experiences, what we liked and disliked and shared hot chocolate after.
I would find myself writing rhymes in the forms of poetry that expanded more on how I felt through depressive stages in my life. 2018 was when I first purchased FL Studio – the producer’s edition. I was tired of the type beats that couldn’t hold the weight of my energy the way I needed it to, hence why I got into beat making which then evolved into producing and balancing the sound.
From 2019 to 2020 I was slowly progressing, but put at a halt due to COVID. I was supposed to attend the Academy of Sound Engineering as a part time student because I was also studying psychology and sociology at the time… but that didn’t happen due to admin issues.
In 2021 things took a huge leap. I was faced with a choice of being a pilot or continuing studies or music, I had to choose one and give it my all. An opportunity came to make an EP and it just felt right. It was my mentor who helped me and boosted my skills in production as we worked on my first project. I originally wanted to just make 1 song, which turned into 3 and somehow got to 7 songs.
Honestly, I thought that would be the year I blow up off that one single project but I was WRONG. The way it came out hurt me for a long time because we worked so hard on it only for the master to come out below par. It was embarrassing and hurt my ego for a long time. I felt like a failure, but it moulded me into the beast I am now.
Since that moment I swore to never rush and never have my music sound terrible. That everything I do will always be better than before. It was only until September 14 2022 that I released the song that follows up on my EP, titled ‘Dramatics‘. Shortly after I got my first manager and he gave me a task to make 2 hits before the end of May 2022 and I made two songs back to back, “Dramatics” and “Regency Hotel”. I hadn’t slept for almost 48hrs as I wanted the recordings to come out great.
In that process I was creating the beat and recording at the same time, I didn’t write for it, I just had to figure out what worked after each line. I was alone in the room, early hours and there was an energy that consumed me as if it was “now or never”. My first music video was that of Dramatics, we had it play out on my birthday back in 2022. A gift to myself, that same year ‘Where We At’ followed back in October which was the song that allowed us to go on a radio tour in KZN for about 3-5 days.
I got a PR manager who facilitated our movements and it felt like I was now entering the industry. In 2023 ‘Cheat Code’ was released on the 9th of February which we had a launch party and everything was great, but so much was going on that I didn’t fully process the whole event that it was a huge milestone from where I started. In that same year, we released ‘One Day’, ‘Up’, ‘More’ and ‘Month End Salary’ and my journey with The Lord grew the most.
It’s a long story and I’ve said so much already. I could write a whole chapter on the journey, but for this article I’ll close it off here. God, Pain, Redepmtion and Perseverance. That all shaped the music and I don’t regret any steps I took in hopes of it being a strong addition to my story. We are now in 2024 with plenty radio interviews and new support. We started from no one to a team that supports this little flame I had when I was a ‘ntwana‘.
Offshore, Eon Menace, IamNapalm, Jordan Pariah, ApolloTheMortal, GiftInPerson, NA$h, Thandojay, Nemesis, Ugodakalusha and Mr Areapareng (before he was Mr Areapareng) are added to the list of artists I have collaborated with and each experience was different. Some spontaneous, some were planned, others strictly business and a lot with the intent to create something crazy.
I had a good time in every experience, but it is only with Jordan Pariah where I’ve enjoyed every element and the chemistry shared made so much sense when we both hopped on the beat. We blend so well when we both in our elements, I love working well with artists and having no ego contest in the room.
I aspire to change the idea that of everyone dehumanising each other just to “get to the top”. In life you have two choices: Manipulate or Inspire. People want to be led, we are all sheep after all and we all have a master.
I want people to know it’s possible and there’s no other way around it but through it. Trust in God bro and you’ll grow into something no one ever expected. Simple as that! Music is powerful, we operate on vibrations and frequencies. God spoke everything into existence. Let there be light and not dark within this industry and that’s what I want as I pursue music. Just music and helping each other get home and change lives.
How do you handle critics?
I don’t give people power. I appreciate constructive criticism, but I also will feel when your heart is not at the right place and has no care for my growth and safety in my journey. I appreciate genuine aid and redirection, that is real love. However, when it comes to nonsense I won’t entertain that, I am a person, I will feel stings but I won’t ever stay down for any man. God won’t allow that, I’m telling you.
Anything you are currently working on which you would love for our readers to know about?
Right now my heart is in the debut album, but it’s a weird one because I’ve been planning this since 2022. It’s only now that I’m taking the proper initiative to actualise what I feel and hear.
I’ve been growing my sound to a certain standard where I intend for it to compete globally and that’s been really exciting. I don’t want to depend on any man so I will do everything with God, I have a studio and it will be recorded and produced all in there in the name of Jesus bro!
For bookings you may contact me through the following:
Email my manager on info@tahrecords.co.za
Instagram via @Melo6Taro
Twitter via @Melo6Taro
TikTok via @MeloTaro