Mellow Prog Vibes 10 - November 12th 2021
Guest DJ: MELO-T (Ottawa, Canada)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicbymelo | www.facebook.com/ott.prog.vibes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicbymelo/ | www.instagram.com/ottawaprogvibes/

TRACKLIST:
Overflow (feat. HouseXcape)- Kelvin Momo
Groove (feat. Jay-Sax) - Soa mattrix & DJ Maphorisa
Joybells - Gaba Cannal
London Roots (Remix) ft Louie Vega - Scorpion Kings
Gumbaya (feat. Denny Dugg) - Kelvin Momo & George Lesley
Idlozi Lami (feat. PHILA DLOZI, Boohle & Kabza De Small) - Soa mattrix & DJ Maphorisa
Umama Akekho (feat. Nkosazana Daughter & Mas Musiq) - Soa mattrix & DJ Maphorisa
Camagu - Young Stunna
Mystery Lady (Remix) ft. Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa - Masego
Yo Thando (feat. MaWhoo) - Soa mattrix & DJ Maphorisa
Ya Phel Imali (feat. Boohle)  - Soa mattrix & DJ Maphorisa
Sijabule (feat. Leemckrazy) - Soa mattrix & DJ Maphorisa
Wamuhle - Slade ft. Sino Msolo & Tweezy


We are thrilled to welcome Tumelo “MELO-T” Ponalo to our Mellow Prog series this week.

MELO-T can’t imagine a time before music. For as long as the Zimbabwean-Canadian musician can remember, music has always been there as a driving force of creativity and self-expression. As a child, MELO-T recalls being drawn to the rhythms made by the Marimba, mbira instruments and Ngoma drums. 

Now living in Ottawa, @musicbymelo has all but lost the musical sounds and cadence native to his home country. As an established and highly sought songwriter and producer, he unleashes his creative birthright and makes music that transcends both demographics and borders. As a DJ, his original mixes regularly serve as the soundtrack to packed venues and vivacious dance floors.

Inspired by South African DJ Black Coffee and Zimbabwe’s Oliver Mtukudzi and Sango, MELO-T’s music embraces a variety of genres—hip-hop, reggaeton, Latin music, and R&B, to name a few—into one pure and melodic sound known as “Afro Fusion.” Not to be confused with Afro Beats, the increasingly mainstream genre crossing airwaves from Africa, Afro Fusion is a delicate blend few have managed to master. His talent hasn’t gone unnoticed; over the years, his music has earned a spot on the turntables of popular Canadian DJs, including @riseashen, @lifeboogie Trevor Walker, @jdfun, Akpossaul, Ray Ray and DJ Kam.

MELO-T’s unique artistry has been recognized as a significant contribution to Canada’s cultural landscape. He has released several singles, including Playful Tendencies, Oceans Away and Someone to Love, featuring Namara; Reunify, a collaboration with Rise Ashen; Locked Down, inspired by a new South African genre called Amapiano, followed by his heavily anticipated EP Melodies.

One of the rising stars of Ottawa’s music scene and a force to be reckoned with, he gifts us a perfect mellow set this week

Mellow Prog Vibes 10

MELO-T's Soundcloud

ABOUT OTTAWA PROG VIBES

Alain M.'s weekly podcast, Ottawa Prog Vibes, is now in its 7th year and is a recognized presence among Canadian Electronica shows. The show has two goals: showcase progressive DJ's from Ottawa (and Canada) to a global audience, and bring international DJ guests to an Ottawa (and Canadian) audience). 

Alain plays three out of every 10 shows. His mixing has been noted as particularly creative and smooth, a skill that allow his sets to be experienced as seamless stories.

An offshoot series, called Mellow Prog Vibes, is released every two weeks and focuses on more chill vibes, slightly more downtempo, to create a more relaxed vibe. It is curated by OPV resident DJ Boraa, who plays every other episode, with guest DJs playing the alternate.

Ottawa Prog Vibes and Mellow Prog Vibes are broadcast weekly on UK's Saturo Radio, New York's Chill Lover Radio and Ottawa's Blast the Radio.


ABOUT ALAIN M.

Alain M. started dj’ing in his early 20s and played a variety of clubs, big and small, in Ottawa, Montreal and Kingston. From teenage influences in progressive rock, metal and blues, and later New York and Chicago house, Dutch techno and early trance, his style has evolved towards the more melodic, infectiously rhythmic and thoughtful sounds of progressive house, with a particular fondness for Argentinian productions.

Over his 30+ years as a DJ, Alain has cultivated a signature melodic, danceable, and thoughtful style with enough surprises to keep even the most devout listeners on their toes. His live events, organized only a few times annually, are a hypotonic, transformational experience for attendees, putting the Nation’s Capital on the map for electronic music. He has organized and collaborated in a number of events including Levitar, Sunday Meet & Beat, Sit-Down Sessions, Shake my Thursday and Expeditions, attracting a thoughtful crowd who stay mesmerized by his melodic, danceable sets, always peppered with delightfully unexpected sonic elements.

Alain M. is also a guest DJ submitting regular sets to several radio and online outlets. He is a resident on X-Beat Radio (France, Belgium). He was a monthly resident on Abyss Sound Experience on QuestLondon Radio in 2021 and on UK-based Beach Radio between 2021 and 2024.

He has appeared as a guest on a number of shows in several countries including the UK, Argentina, Spain, Poland, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Peru, Turkey, Israel and the US. In Canada, he has been featured as a guest DJ at several events by Ottawa-based Music.Art.Ppl, on CHUO FM’s Vanguard Pulse Radio, on CKCU FM’s Lost In Bass and Mapped Out Radio, on Montreal’s Afterhour radio show and on Toronto’s ION radio show.