Austin, Texas-based chanteuse Mélat hasn’t slowed her schedule of releasing new music. But this time she steps away from regular collaborator Pha the Phenom to team with Delicious Vinyl producer Jansport J on the track “Fanclub.”
The song’s melody is constructed of ’90s-era hip-hop, with that “kick, kick, pause, kick” beat consistent throughout the cut. But what should also be appreciated are the light tinges of percussion and the harp strings, the latter of which add a touch of class to the gritty samples laced throughout the track.
Taken together, these elements work to craft an organic base for the controlled, velvet-smooth vocals of Mélat. Her voice manages to be delicate and at times reaches for rasp as she waxes poetic lyrics of (a potential one-way) love. As part of her Side B series, “Fanclub” shows Mélat’s offerings are getting progressively better, from the darkish edge of “Daphne” to remaking Britney Spears’ defining hit, “… Baby One More Time.” “Fanclub” also manages to simultaneously exist in the space between timeless sophistication, retro throwbacks and modern-day soul.
