Mel Granda
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| Birth name | Melissa Granda |
|---|---|
| Born | August 28, 1987 |
| Birthplace | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, singer, talent agent |
| Known for | Music career, Ruido Callejero Music, "After Party", Mandrake |
Mel Granda (born Melissa Granda on August 28, 1987, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is a Canadian entrepreneur and singer of Peruvian heritage who is professionally known as Mel Granda.
Granda has worked alongside her husband, Nahim Jorge Bonilla, on business ventures in the entertainment, hospitality, and talent management sectors. Their business activities originated in Montreal and later extended to Miami, Florida, where they established Mandrake, a restaurant and entertainment venue.[1][2] In 2023, the couple launched Ruido Callejero Music, a record label specializing in urban and Latin music.[3][4]
In October 2023, Granda made her debut in the recording industry with "After Party", a single featuring Osmani García and Busy Signal. The track reached number one on the US Latin iTunes chart and entered Billboard's Latin Digital Song Sales and Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales charts, where it peaked at number 7 and number 13, respectively.[5][6][7]
Among her subsequent collaborative recordings were "Descodifícame", featuring Kevin Roldán and Poo Bear,[8] and "Sicaria", featuring Poo Bear and Jowell & Randy.[9] In February 2024, she made her debut as a live performer at the Vibra Urbana Miami Festival.[10]
Biography and career
Melissa Granda was born on August 28, 1987, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Peruvian parents.
She first met Nahim Jorge Bonilla in Montreal. Bonilla is a Mexican national who lives in Canada and is the grandnephew of Mexican actor Héctor Bonilla. Granda and Bonilla subsequently married and started a family.[1] Their joint business interests have involved the entertainment, hospitality, and talent management industries.[2]
While based in Montreal, Granda and Bonilla established an event production company called M.E.L. Productions (Music Events Latino-Americanos). The company organized live events featuring Latin American performers, including Luis Vargas and Raulín Rodríguez.[1] Their event activities also brought artists such as Karol G, Noriel, Darell, and Almighty to Montreal, together with performers from bachata and salsa groups.[1]
Their business interests also extended into hospitality and nightlife. Before establishing M.E.L. Productions, the couple had been involved in ventures that included the restobar Barbe Bleue and the nightclub Ruby WU, which was named after their daughter Ruby.[1] They later acquired the concert venue RoseWood. A performance by Grupo Niche at the venue was recognized with the Latin Awards Canada award for Best Concert.[1]
Around the beginning of 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, Granda and Bonilla received a business proposal that prompted them to relocate from Montreal to Miami, Florida. After moving, they established connections within Miami's entertainment industry.[1]
The couple subsequently founded Mandrake in Miami Beach. Operating as a restaurant and lounge, the venue specializes in Nikkei cuisine and became associated with the city's social and entertainment activities.[1][11][3]
Ruido Callejero Music
Granda and Bonilla founded Ruido Callejero Music in April 2023. The record label was established with the aim of supporting emerging performers in the Latin music industry.[3][2]
The label's establishment was reported by Billboard Argentina, which presented Granda and Bonilla as music producers and artist managers. The publication outlined their respective professional backgrounds, highlighting Granda's work in music and event production and Bonilla's experience in business management and artist representation.[3]
Forbes México also covered the label's plans to highlight the cultural variety of Latin music through artists working across different genres.[4] In discussions with the publication, Granda and Bonilla spoke about their interest in bringing together musical styles such as salsa, cumbia, merengue, and reggaeton.[4][9]
Music career
Granda's first official recording as an artist was "After Party", released on October 5, 2023, through Ruido Callejero Music. The single featured Cuban singer Osmani García and Jamaican artist Busy Signal.[12][13]
According to The Jamaica Star, "After Party" reached the number-one position on the US Latin iTunes chart.[5] The recording also appeared on Billboard's digital sales charts, reaching number 7 on the Latin Digital Song Sales chart and number 13 on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart.[7][6]
Producer Crawba Genius discussed the recording in an interview with The Jamaica Star, explaining its musical approach and the combination of Latin influences with the dancehall elements associated with Busy Signal.[5]
Granda followed her debut with "Party Nice", released on November 17, 2023. The single featured Busy Signal and Maycol Riddim.[14]
Her third single, "I Do", was released on December 1, 2023. It featured Crawba Genius and Jamaican artist Jah Vinci.[15]
On January 26, 2024, Granda issued "Descodifícame", a collaboration with Colombian singer Kevin Roldán and American producer Poo Bear.[16] The accompanying music video, directed by Guillermo Director, includes a reference to the film The Matrix and follows a narrative combining elements of reality and fantasy.[8]
On February 8, 2024, she released "Yo te espero", recorded in collaboration with Dominican artists Tivi Gunz and Drumz Lt.[17]
Granda appeared at the Vibra Urbana Festival in Miami on February 18, 2024, marking her live performance debut. Other performers on the festival lineup included Anuel AA, Rauw Alejandro, Bizarrap, and Arcángel.[10]
Her next release, "Sicaria", arrived on March 15, 2024. The single featured Puerto Rican duo Jowell & Randy and producer Poo Bear.[18][9] Guillermo Figueredo directed the accompanying music video. Its storyline depicts two men who are interested in Granda's character, while she remains unwilling to commit to either of them.[9]
Granda explained that "Sicaria" was intended to introduce an upcoming EP. In an article published by Hoy on March 27, 2024, she discussed the project, which was planned for release in 2024 and was scheduled to be produced by Poo Bear.[19]
Discography
Singles
| Title | Collaborating artists | Release date | Duration | Record label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "After Party (feat. Crawba Genius)" | Osmani García and Busy Signal | October 5, 2023 | 4:24 | Ruido Callejero Music |
| "Party Nice (feat. Crawba Genius)" | Busy Signal and Maycol Riddim | November 17, 2023 | 2:55 | Ruido Callejero Music |
| "I Do" | Jah Vinci and Crawba Genius | December 1, 2023 | 3:19 | Ruido Callejero Music |
| "Descodifícame" | Kevin Roldán and Poo Bear | January 26, 2024 | 3:07 | Ruido Callejero Music |
| "Yo te espero" | Tivi Gunz and Drumz Lt | February 8, 2024 | 2:28 | Ruido Callejero Music |
| "Sicaria" | Jowell & Randy and Poo Bear | March 15, 2024 | 3:24 | Ruido Callejero Music |
All the singles were released under the Ruido Callejero Music label and distributed through digital download and music streaming platforms.
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 [Jorge Bonilla se destaca en el mundo del entretenimiento]. El Nacional, 29 March 2023 (in Spanish).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nahim Jorge Bonilla y Melissa Granda: Emprendedores y Productores de Música que Impulsan la Carrera de Nuevos Talentos. Univision, 5 April 2023 (in Spanish).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 [empresarios Nahim Jorge Bonilla y Melissa Granda unen fuerzas para lanzar un sello discográfico]. Billboard Argentina, 10 April 2023 (in Spanish).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 La música latina sigue en expandiéndose por todo el mundo. Forbes México, 26 April 2023 (in Spanish).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 [Signal, Spanish artistes drop Latin-dancehall track]. The Jamaica Star, 13 October 2023.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 [Digital Song Sales: 21 October 2023]. Billboard, 21 October 2023.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 [Digital Song Sales: 21 October 2023]. Billboard, 21 October 2023.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 [video musical «Descodifícame», de Mel Granda y Kevin Roldan]. Zeta, 3 February 2024 (in Spanish).
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 [Granda se une a Jowell & Randy y Poo Bear para interpretar el tema “Sicaria”]. ContraRéplica, 15 March 2024 (in Spanish).
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 [to Vibra Urbana Miami 2024]. Time Out, 20 October 2023.
- ↑ [is Miami Beach's Premiere Spot for the Social Scene]. Miami's Community Newspapers, 1 February 2023.
- ↑ [Party (feat. Crawba Genius) - Single]. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ [internacional! Osmani García de estreno junto a Mel Granda y Busy Signal]. CiberCuba, 10 October 2023 (in Spanish).
- ↑ [Nice (feat. Crawba Genius) - Single]. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ [Do - Single]. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ [- Single]. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ [te espero - Single]. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ [- Single]. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ Mel Granda lanzará álbum producido por Poo Bear, productor de Justin Bieber. Hoy, 27 March 2024 (in Spanish).