Mel Sanson
Biography
Ghost (single)
White Lillies (ALM Single)
Auxesis
Kenelis
Store

Mel Sanson

Mel Sanson
Biography
Ghost (single)
White Lillies (ALM Single)
Auxesis
Kenelis
Store

Mel Sanson Sticker, Badge Tattoo Bundle

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5 x White Logo Stickers | 5 X Black Logo Stickers | 2 x Temporary Tattoos | 2 x Badges |

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Mel Sanson is an English musician and singer-songwriter most notable for performing lead vocals and guitar with Rock band Kenelis and Murder Ballad duet ‘White Lillies' with Fairuza Balk and her band, Armed Love Militia. She is currently writing and recording for her solo project.

Early Life

Mel spent her high school years in Camberley, Surrey. Having originally learned to play the piano, Mel switched to drums during her time at Tomlinscote Secondary school where she performed drums and percussion in a number of musical productions including The Wizard of Oz and Cabaret. This lead to further shows at Camberley Theatre where she was the only minor to perform in the band pit. Also in her early to mid teens Mel toured the UK and Europe as drummer and percussionist for the Surrey Health Wind Band.

Kenelis - 2005-2015

Kenelis is an alternative spelling of Mel's grandmother's maiden name. Her grandparents fled their homeland in Greece which was at the time being invaded by Turkey. 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 her family managed to hustle their way onto a ship that was sailing to England.

2005-2010

The first few years band members Mel Sanson, Andy-Seabrook Harris (guitar), James Chilton (guitar) Andy Henry (bass) Sam Franklin (drums) rehearsed and performed at as many local shows as they could to find and discover their sound and tighten their live performance. In 2008 the band shared the stage with Ghost of a Thousand & Fightstar at Guilfest’s 2008’s Rocksound Cave.

In January 2009 the band released their first album Remember How It Felt, produced by Angus Cowan. Releasing via their own DIY Label Black Grass Records, physical copies of the album were available at Guildford HMV. The band held their album launch at The West End Centre, Aldershot and performed favourites from the album at Brighton Student Pride and Guilfest 2009 - Rocksound Cave with Hundred Reasons headlining the stage.

The following year in 2010, the band played numerous Pride stages all over the UK including Brighton Pride, Cardiff Mardis Gras, Birmingham Pride, Sheffield Pride, Nottingham Pride and Suffolk Pride

2011-2015

With members of the original line up no longer able to commit to shows and tours, Mel left the Hampshire/Surrey area and moved to Brighton in 2011. Due to Kenelis being her family name Mel continued to write and perform as Kenelis with local Brighton musicians. Originally playing acoustic guitar and keys in early Kenelis, Mel tought herself electric guitar to become the rhythm guitarist of the band.

In 2012 the new Kenelis EP MOVE was released on Mel's own label, Sanson Records. Produced by Chris Coulter. Show’s included Indigo2 at The O2, Greenwich, Ep track ‘GFY’ on Balcony TV in the summer followed by the band’s EP launch at The 100 Club - 7th December 2012. Kenelis continued to perform regular shows on the London Underground scene as well as continuing to play Pride and festival stages including supporting Arcane Roots an Soulfly at Guildfest Big Cheese Cave, until their final shows at Brighton and Hove Pride and Under The Bridge supporting Republica.

In 2013 Kenelis won Brighton Music Award - Viewers Choice where Mel met lead singer of Republica, Saffron Sprackling.

LGBTQ+ Activism

In 2012 Mel appeared on the 2012 charity single 'It Does Get Better' created by The L Project. The single benefitted LGBTQ charities and was written in response to the suicide of LGBTQ teenagers.‘It Does Get Better’ not only had chart success but won Outstanding contribution to the LGBTQ Community - 2012

Passionate about LGBTQ rights and lack of alternative music being given visibility at Pride music festivals, Mel volunteered to be the Artist Liaison and Promoter for live music stages at Brighton and Hove Pride 2012, Brighton and Hove Pride 2013 and Brighton and Hove Pride 2014

Auxesis

The band began in 2016 when singer/songwriter Mel Sanson started writing songs with lead guitarist Jack Rowan. Fuelled by a mutual interest heavy distortion, hard riffs & beautiful delicate melodies in alternative time signature's, the two began recording original material & self recorded a 4 track demo. Alec Greaves joined the band on drums and the 3 piece went into the studio with Mark Roberts and recorded their debut EP, Swallow The Sun. Shows included The Cowley Club, The Quadrant, Sticky Mike's Frog Bar in Brighton and The Black Heart in London. The band's final show was on 3rd September 2017 at the Prince Albert in Brighton.

The band released Zombie and Rebels & Lost Souls via Bandcamp however the 2 remaining songs on the EP are exclusive to the fans who bought their merchandise bundles.

Armed Love Militia (with Fairuza Balk)

In 2017 Mel starting writing dark melancholic grungy folk songs. Around the same time her friend Fairuza invited Mel to be part of her Armed Love Militia music collaboration project. Fairuza sent Mel an Appalachian folk/murder ballad style song called ‘White Lilies' and thought it would sound really great with some harmonies.

Mel flew to LA in September 2017 equipped with her mobile studio and recorded the track with Fairuza live in one take in downtown LA. 'White Lillies' is the leading track on the band’s debut EP, Raw Live Lo-Fi. Available in physical form only until 7th May 2021 when the EP was released online under the band’s own label, Moto-Bun Records.

Solo Music

In 2017 Mel recorded her debut single Ghost with Ty Stevens at The Outhouse in Los Angeles. A slowcore song about grief, Ty suggested recording the song in one take to keep it’s raw emotion. Mel spent the following years writing and recording with new music to be released in 2021.

Discography

Nobody See’s Me (But You) - Single 2007 - Kenelis

Drained - Single - 2008 - Kenelis

Remember How It Felt - Album 2009 - Kenelis

Jealous - Single 2011 - Kenelis

Fake - Album 2011 - Kenelis

Move - EP 2012 - Kenelis

Ghost - Single - 2018 - Mel Sanson

The L Project - It Does Get Better 2012 - Colaboration

Armed Love Militia - White Lilles with Fairuza Balk 2021 - EP lead track - Colaboration

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