Tag: Melita

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bryan Estepa and Melita Team Up For “Is There Anybody There?”

Eora/Sydney singer-songwriter Bryan Estepa has got no time for musical trends. His latest single “Is There Anybody There?” feels like a total throwback to the late 70s, but that music’s classic for a reason. This song, which features guest vocals from Melita, doesn’t try to be anything that it’s not. If you’re still sneaking vinyl from your father’s or grandfather’s record collection, I know you’ll love this one.

Bryan hasn’t released music since “Back to the Middle” in 2021, noting that “The well kinda went dry after that. I’d normally be a little worried but I threw myself into learning a tonne of new concepts on guitar and got obsessed over my instrument like I did in my teens. I kinda forgot about my songwriting for a while. But ‘Is There Anybody There?’ came out of nowhere during that period and it formed pretty quickly. One of those truly inspired moments that as a songwriter that you dare not question.”

“It’s a song about loneliness and how we as individuals are just a miniscule number in the sea of humanity,” Bryan explained. “In those moments of realisation, we might wonder if anyone is there or listening to us.”

If you’re in Eora/Sydney, you can catch Bryan supporting Ashley Naylor Spaceship at MoshPit Bar tonight! Limited tickets are still available through trybooking.

Image used with permission from Chris Familton Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Hearticulate” – Melita

Proving you don’t need the backing or budget of a big record label, Melita has really impressed me with her debut EP Hearticulate. The Eora/Sydney-based chanteuse recorded this EP with her brother Alex Ertler in their home studio. But listening to this slick, neo-soul affair, you wouldn’t guess at its humble origins.

Melita effortlessly blends fresh neo-soul sounds with classic funk, disco, and yacht rock influences. The ethereal “Greeting” is the ideal introduction, putting Melita’s voice front and centre before we settle into the easy groove of the title track. It flows naturally into “Delusional,” which has some of the most relatable lyrics on the EP. Melita amps up the energy with “Crystal Logic,” a funky floor-filling homage to the disco era before easing us back into a gentler groove with “Behind My Smile” and “Saturn Blues.” In some ways “Hold On to My Mind” is a subtle closer, but while it’s got a mellow groove it’s also probably the most musically complex track on this EP. I could hear the influence of artists like Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs come through, but Melita’s interpreted their sounds in such an exciting new way.

Hearticulate doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but it doesn’t need them. Melita’s stunning voice is an anchor, impressing on each and every track. This EP is a great introduction to a fantastic new talent.

Images used with permission from beehive; main image credit: James Tarbotton