MELODOWNZ is a Polynesian poet hailing from New Zealand. Born Bronson Price, MELODOWNZ was raised in the melting pot community of West Auckland’s Avondale, surrounded by a diverse palette of culture, ethnicity and walks of life, all of which play a role in his second nature for storytelling.
An artist not to be ignored, gaining recognition internationally and quickly becoming a hometown hero in New Zealand, MELODOWNZ is on a mission to share his wisdom with the rest of the world.
~LIIIGHTSIDE~
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CHECK OUT OUR LITTLE CATCH-UP WITH MELODOWNZ BELOW:
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1. Happy NZ Music Month! How did you initially get into creating music?
I started back at intermediate school. I was really getting into creative writing and story writing in English. Then I got into spoken word poetry and started following Hip Hop. I just started writing and freestyling in school and then started doing rap battles. Eventually I just started songwriting and it became a platform for me to express myself and the things I was going through at the time.
2. Tell us about your inspirations & motivations?
I know it sounds cliche but I get inspired by people and emotions, just living life. Having my brain stimulated everyday keeps me motivated and inspired, especially with people and my surroundings. The like-minded people, people I admire and people who have a lot to say but the knowledge to say it, keep me inspired. But also music, movies, youtube videos, it’s kind of broad.
3. What have you been up to in this lockdown and how has it affected you?
I’ve been trying to stay busy. Like I’ve been doing the ISO-CYPHERS on my Facebook page – I get 3 guests on and we just talk shit and spit some bars. It has been pretty cool and is going quite well. The engagement has been pretty crazy. I’m just trying to stay creative. But at the same time I was supposed to announce a couple of tours before lockdown and those got fully cancelled which I was gutted about because they were going to be pretty big tours. I can’t really speak much on it.
Your ISO-CYPHERS are really good. I’ve seen a few of them. What made you want to get that going?
Oh thank you. My manager and I were talking about ways I can still engage with my people and we decided on just having the ISO-CYPHER or having something that’s live would be a good way to engage. At first I did an instagram live where I was catching up with friends and stuff. That was pretty cool but it was like how do we take this to the next level. Obviously as a rapper you like to have cyphers or freestyles or just share that energy. So we found a way where I can host and have guests and that’s what it is today.
4. What do you think of the NZ music scene?
I think it’s very unique, beautiful and well nurtured. When you look at the American music scene you think of big corporations and labels etc. Whereas the NZ Music scene is just a bunch of everything. You have independent artists, you have the labels and just little hubs of creativity. Especially central, like K’Rd is a beautiful hub with Whammy Bar, Neck of the Wood and Thirsty Dog. All those venues that held that space for people – Just creative spaces in general. So yeah i think it’s a beautiful scene. Everyone kind of knows eachother – Like how I see you at gigs taking photos and that. You kind of just get to know people on a first name basis and it just becomes a thing when you’re out. All musicians kind of know eachother. There’s not really much beef. I know back in the day there was quite hostile rap beef. Now it’s all love. I remember when I first started gigging, I was a teenager and I had a scrap outside one of the venues. But now everyone’s supporting eachother. I know the bros from SWIDT and Diggy, I don’t have to name names but they’re all the bros and I can just call them up. We hang out outside of music. It’s pretty cool.
Yeah like I think all the friends that I have are mainly from gigs. It’s just that thing where you see eachother then get to the point where you start chatting.
I’ll see someone that I don’t know but always see at the same places. You’re aware of these people but you don’t know who they are. Then you see them again and you might find out their name. Then the next time you might lock eye contact and then just do a sneaky like or follow on Facebook and then the next time it’s all like Hey and chatting away. I think it’s cool.
5. Goal board time – where would you like to see yourself in a years time?
I’d love to be more established worldwide. Like obviously New Zealand is a small country and we’re at the bottom of the map (literally). So even if I could just spread my wings a little bit, tour overseas or just get some cool features – I just want to be a bit more worldwide.
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With his first new music of the new decade, MELODOWNZ latest single ‘Fine’ displays the rappers sustaining growth. The gangster groove is a euphoric anthem that contrasts both rap and R&B sensibilities, as Melo embraces the infectiously carefree attitude that defines his name