Mel Uye-Parker
Mel Uye-Parker is a songwriter, vocalist, and electronic music producer originally from Nottingham, but she spent her formative musical years in Manchester, where she studied music both academically and through its vibrant music scene. Here she refined her distinct fusion of soul, folk, and trip-hop, leading to collaborations with the likes of Yesking (BBE), Rae & Christian (Late Night Tales).
After moving to London, Mel began producing electronic music under the moniker MJIRI. Her debut EP, Sweat, explores both the darker and playful aspects of disco and arrived on Give/Take Records in Spring 2021. In September 2022, Mel collaborated with Matthew Herbert to record vocals for his latest album, Musca (Accidental Records).
Mel produces and performs in two projects. The first is OMOTE, a duo that creates lush, textural soundscapes with hypnotic, irregular breakbeats and heavy dub-infused basslines. The second is House of Molly, which is a diverse mixture of sleazy disco, funk, and soul. In addition to these projects, Mel works with a variety of musicians across a range of genres. She recently collaborated with a Senegalese rapper, drummer, and scratch turntablist for a track called "Nanga Def" that aired on BBC Radio 6.
She is an experienced music educator who has lectured at Berklee College of Music and Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Most recently, she ran the Master's in Creative Music Production at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance. In addition, she is a board member for Create Define Release, a community-driven music platform rooted in the UK underground music scene, and is a certified trainer for Ableton.
In addition, Mel produces for and with several prominent artists within the electronic music scene.