"Kenelis is an alternative spelling of my fathers mothers maiden name. My grandparents fled their homeland in Greece which was at the time being invaded by the Turks. The Great Fire of Smyrna. Approximately 50,000 to 400,000 Greek and Armenian refugees crammed the waterfront to escape from the fire. They were forced to remain there under harsh conditions for nearly two weeks. Knowing the right people my family managed to hustle their way onto a ship that was sailing to England, with brand new passports in the name of Sanson ;) There is also a flower called a Kanellis, which is able to bloom and survive in harsh weather conditions. Kenelis basically means badass." Mel Sanson
Alt Sounds Magazine - The Lowdown - Mel Sanson of Kenelis
The last decent female fronted pure rock and roll, alternative band that had substance to them were The Pretty Reckless. Ever since my sk8r days back when I was a wee teenager, where my daily uniform was some form of baggy hoody, jeans and some Vans, I had a collection of female fronted guitar rockers pumping in through my headphones, from The Donnas to Hole, with a bit of Tuuli too for good measure. I've not come across anyone for a long while who could contend with such raw passion, dripping with guitar riffs and an infectious personality to complete the package. Until now.
Let me introduce you to Mel Sanson of Kenelis.
I had the privilidge to chat with Mel about kids, music, love, passion, girlfriends, family history, the future, fans, Twitter and a bunch more stuff us girls spill the beans on. This is probably Mel's most indepth of interviews where she reveals hereself in a way that you've never seen before!
Click here to read interview in full
Thanks so much RoomThirteen.com ! We <3 you guys xxx 
The 'Move' Buzz!
Kenelis are Room Thirteen's Band of The Month!
March is here, which means it's time for Mothers Day, Easter, spring and most importantly - my birthday. So to celebrate all of these (especially the latter) we need a cool band to rock our socks off and we have found the perfect band in the form of Kenelis.
Mel Sanson, front woman of Kenelis, kindly took the time to answer our questions:
Click for full feature & Mel Sanson interview
Kenelis Feature in Indie Bands Blog
With a performance pedigree behind them Kenelis is able to mix and match with confidence and this self-assured delivery provides a strong base from which the band is able to express their high octane music which settles on the listener with clarity. Developing an ever higher festival and venue visibility which combined with the release of Move in late December 2012 positions them well to gain significant traction during the course of 2013.
http://www.indiebandsblog.com/european-bands/uk-bands/english-bands-uk-bands-european-bands/kenelis-rock-music
Click for full feature
Kenelis Feature in Uplifted Music - 'Move' EP Review & Interview with Mel Sanson
"I am really impressed with the quality of the music on this EP and the level of production and musicianship. Chris Coulter has done an excellent job with the mixing, production and mastering of the "Move" EP. It's extremely professional. Kenelis are a massive band with enormous potential. It sounds like everyone who was involved in the production of the "Move" EP had bags of fun when they recorded it! The whole EP is very infectious and catchy and had me reaching for the replay button many times. This is an excellent release! I recommend you buy this EP if their music is your thing. I predict this band are destined for the big time."
Please tell us more about your band and how it all began and what got you interested in music and how long have you been playing and performing together?
Mel - Well in short, I was in a bar in America and the girls were quite drunk and because it wasn’t a tourist spot, most people had never met an English person before so we pretended I was famous. This lead to the singer/guitarist in the corner of the bar requesting me to play a song!
I’ve been writing songs forever but never thought I would perform them. I played my first ever show right there and then and the crowd reaction was so awesome I’ve never looked back! I put together a band and for 8 years we did really well on the local scene, then the London scene, festivals and Prides, then at our peak the other band members started to have kids and just couldn’t commit any more than doing it just for fun.
Knowing I had so much more to give I moved to Brighton which is where I’ve always wanted to live. I met some very talented session musician's so I am technically Kenelis, but collaborate with the guys I have met to record an EP.
Click for full review & interview
Kenelis Feature in God Is In The TV Zine
"’jealous’ is a searing pop dolly that curdles with fist clenching panic attacking fury all bled through with a shock-a-rola Gung ho garnishing that belies beneath its warring surface a sweetly demurred passion – kind of Breeders meets Belly retooled with a hardcore framing."
Read in Full
Kenelis Feature in Big Cheese Magazine February 2013
When Sally Met Sally Interview with Mel Sanson (Kenelis)
"If you like your music hard and fast with generous helpings of adrenalin, your life won't be complete until you have discovered the rock/punk/metal/grunge powerhouse that is Kenelis! Fronted by Mel Sanson, one of the mightiest rock ladies on these shores (who just happens to be gay - added bonus!), Kenelis recently released their EP 'Move'. The tracks on 'Move' take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions - reflecting Mel's life over last few years, her passionate love of music, and her decision to leave her hometown to start her band up again in Brighton."
"Here's our interview with the talented lady herself:"
Read full interview
http://www.whensallymetsally.co.uk/entertainment/music-and-performance/kenelis-interview-mel-sanson-rock-singer-gay-grunge/
Lesbilicious Top 8 Girls To Watch in 2013
"Kenelis are one of the most underrated rock groups I’ve had the honour of coming across over the past couple of years. What I admire the most is their incredible hard working attitude and their commitment to providing excellent rock anthems that are laced with assertiveness, energy and vibrancy. Their caffeine fuelled tracks are dazzlingly brilliant and offer the perfect recipe for a fantastic live performance. Make sure you catch them this year!"
Read full article
http://www.lesbilicious.co.uk/top-8-girls-to-watch-in-2013s-music-scene/
Rocktologist Audio Interview with Mel Sanson (Kenelis)
Donald Strachen speaks to Mel,backstage at their EP launch at 100 Club about everything that happened in 2012
Listen here
http://www.therocktologist.com/interview-with-mel-sanson-of-kenelis.html
Kenelis Feature in Viva Le Rock January 2013
Kenelis 'Move' EP Review by Punk Prospect
‘Moving To Brighton’ is a strong opener as the dirty guitar riff gives you a feel of how Move’s going to sound. Sanson’s vocals are soft and deceptively sweet on the verse but as the bridge kicks in she ramps up the aggression and belts it out ‘Don’t Kill My Rock’ starts with Sanson telling us just how much music means to her: “I found my way when I learned guitar, I got direction when I sang my lyrics” and carries a solid shouted hook whereas next track ‘Open Your Eyes’ is more
mellow. ‘Open Your Eyes’ starts off with a fierce riff a little like Muse’s famous ‘Hysteria’ (if you haven’t listened to this DO IT NOW). The verse is suitably punk
sounding but when you get to the chorus it takes a melancholy turn with the instrumentation providing a beautiful harmony with Sanson’s vocals. This
beautiful song writing technique is why ‘Open Your Eyes’ is definitely the highlight of Move.
Finally we have ‘GFY’ (I have no idea what this stands for…) which sounds the most likely to become a single. ‘GFY’s infectious pop chorus is met with Sanson’s huge vocals on the chorus as she yells “I want to be a shade of violet like my heart”. Guaranteed to stick in your head, this is a track that shows Kenelis’ potential not only as great musicians but also as contenders to break into the mainstream.
Read Full Review http://www.punkprospect.com/#/kenelis/4574254706
Kenelis 'Move' EP Review by Alt Sounds
"Kenelis’ Move is a 5 track collection of power rock, bursting with caffeine driven riffs, perforating bass licks and explosive beats that encompasses the female led vocals of Mel Sanson. The blend of old school punk, infused with the rebellious nature of traditional rock with a ripping backbone in the form of Sanson’s galvanising vocals makes Move an EP that lifts its glass to all the infectious elements of yesterday’s unruly music scene that’s absent from a lot of what’s sifted through today’s sound waves.
Move is heavy, drenched in distorted melodies and pulsating with flare, a delicious concoction of power rock that makes incredible driving tunes, especially in the shadows of the night. The lyrics are flowing with meaning and disposition, with tracks like ‘Moving to Brighton’ and ‘Open Your Eyes’ perfect examples of the personality behind the words. The rough and ready nature is showcased in Mel’s gorgeous raspy vocals, and the balance between production and the essence of life that you can only usually get from old analogue recording techniques is depicted in a wonderfully gritty way.
The EP is another great offering from the Brighton rockers, showing their evolution from their previous albums, but also having a great deal more to give. We’ve joined Kenelis at a pivotal part of their musical voyage, with a heap of exiting things lying in their path up ahead. Can’t wait to see what they’ll be getting up to in 2013."
Read full article...
http://hangout.altsounds.com/reviews/155296-review-kenelis-move-ep.html
Kenelis 'EP' Launch Review by Planet London
The set came to a close with the remaining three songs from the EP – 'GFY', 'Open Your Eyes' and finally 'Moving To Brighton'. The last based on Mel's move to live in Brighton which has clearly been a highly inspirational event leading to the recording of this EP. The soaring and melodic guitar work at points in this song simply have to be heard to be fully appreciated. Punk – included, garage – included, rock – included; at the end of day, however, I'm not too worried about trying to classify Kenelis as to me, they are quite simply KENELIS, a wonderfully unique band that I am so glad to have stumbled acros
Read full article...
http://planetlondonreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/kenelis-move-ep-launch.html
Kenelis 'Move' EP Launch G3 Feature
Kenelis rock, hard. The girl fronted band from Brighton have been around for a while. This year front-woman Mel Sanson has teamed up with some top-notch local Brightonian musicians to create their EP "Move", released on December 10.
With distinct throw-backs to the riot-grrrl era, Kenelis ain’t messing around. Their brand of no-nonsense, up-front and in-your-face grunge and punk rock may not to be everyone's
tastes: "It’s been taken too far, fuckin’ open your eyes, fuckin’ open your eyes.” But if you like your music hard and fast and want to get up close and personal in the mosh pit, this band's the one for you.
Read full article
http://g3mag.co.uk/index.php/entertainment/music/1187-music-kenelis-ep-launch-
NEWS - Alt Sounds
The Lowdown: Mel Sanson of Kenelis
The last decent female fronted pure rock and roll, alternative band that had substance to them were The Pretty Reckless. Ever since my sk8r days back when I was a wee teenager, where my daily uniform was some form of baggy hoody, jeans and some Vans, I had a collection of female fronted guitar rockers pumping in through my headphones, from The Donnas to Hole, with a bit of Tuuli too for good measure. I've not come across anyone for a long while who could contend with such raw passion, dripping with guitar riffs and an infectious personality to complete the package. Until now.
Let me introduce you to Mel Sanson of Kenelis.
I had the privilidge to chat with Mel about kids, music, love, passion, girlfriends, family history, the future, fans, Twitter and a bunch more stuff us girls spill the beans on. This is probably Mel's most indepth of interviews where she reveals hereself in a way that you've never seen before!
AltSounds: Hey guys, how’s it going?
Mel: So far, 2012 has been outstanding
AltSounds:What have you been up to recently?
Mel: LOADS! Well, in the last 2 weeks I got a band together, wrote a bunch of songs, booked my favourite new producer to record the new EP, attended The L Project press conference, band rehearsals, arranged to do a charity day and I'm currently helping with the line up for Student pride. That's outside of my day job!
AltSounds: If you had to cross breed two animals together to create a super animal that describes your music, what would it be and why?
Mel: A Lion-bird. The wild presence and powerful ROAR of a lion and the sweet cheepy melodies of a rare and magical bird. That also has the ability to squawk!
READ IN FULL
"Keep a close eye on this lot"
Kenelis featured
Kenelis featured
Kenelis featured
"The main stage was the focus of most attention with the delights of rock band Kenelis"
"LGBT Rock fans are in for a treat this summer"
"Last summer we profiled the awesome alternative rock band Kenelis, and now they’re back with a new single, new tour dates!"
"Kenelis were the real reason behind us attending this gig, and were on next with a standing out set of pure anger, aggression and rage.."
"We love... rock band Kenelis"
"they know how to lift a crowd"
"Kenelis rule, mel sanson's lyrics rock"
"It’s powerful stuff, with the spectrum of musical moods packed into just the one song reflecting the singer’s troubled state of mind spectacularly"
"With 'Sick' they take their lead from the angsty grunge then mix it with powerful punk and top it off with lyrics that grab you and don't let go" 12/13 Sick Review
"Good stuff and I think it’s fair to say that Kenelis are one of the bands of the day" 12/13 Guilfest Live Review 2010
"Kenelis have a great front woman in Mel Sanson who managed to keep us all entertained and engaged with her boundless energy on stage"
"driving riffs underpinned by a crunching bass line... under a caustic cauldron of fierce some menace"
"Singer Mel Sanson is a rock powerhouse, thrashing her head from side to side and belting out angst-ridden songs like it’s her last night on stage"
"Farnborough band Kenelis taking GuilFest by storm in the Rock Sound Cave"
"Mel Sanson (lead vocals) has, honestly, one of the most versatile and moving voices I have heard in a long time"
"Kenelis have an insane amount of potential"
"Kenelis are a breath of fresh air for the future of rock music"
"A very haunting yet aggressive rock sound which can at times be very heartfelt and moving'
"Kenelis frontwoman Mel Sanson is far from being a shrinking violet by any stretch of the imagination"
Xfm Unsigned was one of the first Radio Stations that played Kenelis when they first started out
The Helldrive with DJ Alli-Cat have regularly featured Kenelis. Check out their show Tuesday from 3pm-6pm
The Eagle have regularly supported Kenelis with Live Sessions, Airplay, Interviews and Gig Coverage
Online Radio Station. Kenelis featured
Radio Basinstoke have regularly supported Kenelis with repeat airplay, Interviews and Gig Coverage
Radio Station. Kenelis featured
Online Radio Station. Kenelis featured
Independent Musician Radio. Kenelis featured
Community Radio Station. Kenelis featured
Worldwide Online Radio Station. Kenelis featured
Community Radio Station. Kenelis featured
UK Student Radio Station. Kenelis featured
Online Radio Station. Kenelis featured
Online Radio Station. Kenelis featured
Online Radio Station. Kenelis featured
Student Radio that have featured Kenelis in their playlist
Student Radio that have featured Kenelis in their playlist
It's Eclectic! It's Eccentric! It's RadioNowhere!
USA Radio Station. Kenelis featured
USA Radio Station. Kenelis featured
USA Radio Station. Kenelis featured
UK Community Radio Station. Kenelis featured
UK Radio Station. Kenelis featured
Online Radio Station. Kenelis featured
UK Radio Station. Kenelis featured
Spanish Radio/Label. Currently broadcasting 'Sick' on their playlist
German Radio. Kenelis featured