Portugal: MELA returns with 'VEIAS', opening a new chapter in her musical journey

 

Credits: André Nóbrega

The Madeiran singer-songwriter unveils the first single from her upcoming second album, exploring resilience, identity and personal transformation, following a creative process she described as the most challenging of her career in an interview with Hashtag Eurovision in March.

Madeiran singer-songwriter MELA has released 'VEIAS', her first original single since her debut album, 'Aguarelas', marking the beginning of a new artistic chapter and offering a first glimpse into her upcoming second studio album, scheduled for release in 2027.

Co-written with Joana Alegre, the track explores resilience, the ability to overcome adversity and the determination to keep moving forward. Featuring string arrangements by João Borsch and production by Vitor Carraca Teixeira, 'VEIAS' combines cinematic pop with organic instrumentation and influences from Baroque classical music, introducing a more expansive sound.

"'VEIAS' addresses overcoming and transcending adversity, and how defeat can be redirected. The central message is that there is something within us that prevents us from giving up, at every stage of life. This deep desire to carry on runs through our veins, and that is what makes us human: our constant ability to overcome adversity, no matter how desperate things may seem," MELA explains.

The single reflects the artistic direction MELA had already discussed in an interview with Hashtag Eurovision in March, when she opened up about the creative process behind her forthcoming album. At the time, the singer described the project as an "inner journey", revealing her ambition to explore more intimate and visceral dimensions of her identity, while moving beyond the expectations surrounding her music following her participation in Festival da Canção 2024.

During that conversation, MELA also reflected on the impact of public opinion after performing 'Água' at the Portuguese national selection, explaining how the experience had led her to reassess her relationship with external validation. "I stopped believing in public opinion," she stated, highlighting a renewed commitment to artistic authenticity and personal expression. The new single appears to embody that determination, placing resilience and self-discovery at the heart of her music.

Although rooted in pop, 'VEIAS' pushes its cinematic instrumentation to new heights, with an orchestral arrangement that reinforces the song's sense of rebirth. The track features organic strings and a composition inspired by Baroque music, creating a soundscape that contrasts with the electronic elements explored throughout the upcoming album.

The record, developed in collaboration with producer Vitor Carraca Teixeira, will bring together electronic and organic sounds, as well as industrial and natural aesthetics, drawing inspiration from the visual and musical worlds of the Baroque and Rococo periods. As MELA explained previously, the project is intended to challenge her creatively, embracing discomfort and exploring different dimensions of her artistic identity.

Conceived as a conceptual body of work, the album will see each song represent a different part of the human body, with each element symbolising an aspect of the individual and the experiences that shape a person's identity. 

"Each song on the album will represent a part of the body that makes up a whole and builds an individual, symbolising that we are all the collective result of our individual experiences and every experience that has shaped us into who we are". 

Credits: Daniel Novo

Further singles are expected to be released over the coming months, offering additional insight into the project's musical and visual identity. MELA promises bold, intense visuals and an immersive experience in which music, imagery and concept come together.

Born in Funchal, MELA first gained wider recognition in 2024 after being selected from more than 800 public submissions to compete in Festival da Canção with 'Água'. The song became part of her debut album, 'Aguarelas', which also features 'Não é Amor', 'Tanta Gente' and 'Amor com Amor'. The second studio album is scheduled for release in 2027, with the new single and its official music video already available on digital platforms.

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