Melis’ vocal shines on emotional new single “Holding Hands”

Soyaslanová now shares her fourth track as Melis, a longing, heartfelt cut that revolves entirely around the resonant, crystalline notes of her voice. Whilst the intricate electronics beneath the swell of the chorus are a gorgeous addition, it’s hard to tear your attention away from the singer/songwriter’s silky smooth vocals for long enough to truly appreciate them.

We chatted to Soyaslanová about her new release, and the debut EP from which it is taken.

"Holding Hands" is the lead single from your upcoming EP. How does it represent the body of work as a whole?

I think “Holding Hands” fully captures the vibe of the EP. The songs didn't come from a happy place and this one speaks for itself in that sense. It's personal and emotional and I'm happy to finally release it and perform these songs live!

Can you tell us some more about the story behind the song?

The song is about escaping the toxic environment of a one-sided relationship. It's about attachment; being torn between staying and leaving someone you've given everything to.

I was sad when I wrote it! It's uncomfortable to be so honest and open about something so personal and put it on the internet. By writing it into a song I was able to get over the issue. Hopefully it helps someone else too.

"Holding Hands" is accompanied by a gorgeous video. How did the narrative for that come about?

I wanted the video to have a deeper meaning–something that would take it to a higher dimension. I reached out to my talented friends Filip and Lubos (filmmakers), and they came up with a story being about a girl who does not confront or fit into the toxic environment of a utopian society. By going to the forest she finds calm and light. She is my alter ego. The video is a direct parallel to the meaning of the song. I wanted the viewer to feel something whilst watching, and think about the story - you can interpret it in many ways. The guys worked very hard on it and I'm super proud of it. We shot it in my hometown Prague, which means a lot to me.

Can you tell us a little about the EP tracks we haven't yet heard?

The EP is titled after the intro track “Parallels”. I wrote the melody and words on a plane. That's very odd for me as I never write without my guitar. It's dreamy and melodic and it has a mixture of electronic and live elements with lots of layered vocals. It's probably the most cheerful track on the EP.

And then there is “So Nobody Knows”. I'm truly looking forward to play this one at the live shows. It's a dynamic track on the recording but it truly comes to life on stage. You'll have to come hear it for yourself!