Melaku Assegued
Santa Cruz
Melaku is a solo artist whose music updates classic American pop music. A performer as well as a songwriter and producer, he writes and records his music at his studio in his hometown recording studio, Mowbray Studio, and releases the music on his independent record label, Angellion Records. Raised in a small beach town in northern California, Melaku began writing and singing as early as 5, picked up the drums at 10, and started recording himself at 13, later moving on to recording with bands and artists in the area. Melaku went to Columbia University in New York City for college, and studied Sociology and Business Management, but continued recording songs in his dorm on campus. After interning at SONY Music, Jive Records, his original songs landed him a management deal that lead to writing songs with producers for artists like Ke$ha, Flo Rida, B.o.B, Jacob Lattimore, Collie Buddz and various major and independent labels like Universal Motown, Atlantic Records, Tulsa Records, Easy Star Records, and G Note. After graduating, Melaku spent many summers in LA in writing sessions and writing camps, while defining his own sound as an artist. On 11/11/2018, Melaku released his debut album "Golden Age," a record that pulled inspiration from the retro artists he grew up listening to from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The album received positive coverage from publications like With Guitars Magazine, Tattoo Magazine, The Indie Source, and Consequence Of Sound. On 12/12/2019 he released his sophomore album "Dream World," an album that dives into the awakenings that can come from the ending of relationships. The album is more focused in it's influences, pulling from and updating the AM Gold sound of the late 60s and early 70s; think artists like Tom Petty, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, the Doobie Brothers, and America.