Biography:Mel Granda
Mel Granda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Melissa Granda August 28, 1987 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Citizenship | Canada |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, singer, talent agent |
| Known for | Music career, Ruido Callejero Music, "After Party", Mandrake |
| Spouse(s) | Nahim Jorge Bonilla |
| Children | 4 |
Mel Granda (born Melissa Granda on August 28, 1987, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is a Canadian entrepreneur and singer of Peruvian descent who uses Mel Granda as her professional name.
Granda has pursued business and entertainment projects with her husband, Nahim Jorge Bonilla, working in areas that include hospitality, music, and talent management. Their early ventures were based in Montreal before they expanded their operations to Miami, Florida, where they founded Mandrake, a restaurant and entertainment establishment.[1][2] In 2023, they further expanded into the music business by launching Ruido Callejero Music, a record label specializing in urban and Latin music.[3]
Her musical career as a recording artist began in October 2023 with "After Party", a single featuring Osmani García and Busy Signal. The release topped the US Latin iTunes chart and achieved positions on two Billboard digital sales rankings. It reached number 7 on the Latin Digital Song Sales chart and number 13 on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart.[4][5][6]
Among her following releases were "Descodifícame", with Kevin Roldán and Poo Bear,[7] and "Sicaria", featuring Poo Bear and Jowell & Randy.[8] In February 2024, she performed live for the first time at the Vibra Urbana Miami Festival.[9]
Biography and career
Melissa Granda was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on August 28, 1987. Her parents have Peruvian origins.
During her time in Montreal, she became acquainted with Nahim Jorge Bonilla, a Mexican national who lived in Canada and was the grandnephew of Mexican actor Héctor Bonilla. They eventually married and established a family.[1] Their shared professional activities subsequently developed across the entertainment, hospitality, and talent management industries.[2]
One of their early ventures was M.E.L. Productions, an event management and production company based in Montreal. The name is an abbreviation of Music Events Latino-Americanos. The company organized events and performances involving Latin American musicians, including Luis Vargas and Raulín Rodríguez.[1] Its production activities also included concerts featuring Karol G, Noriel, Darell, and Almighty, as well as performances by bachata and salsa groups.[1]
Granda and Bonilla also became involved in the hospitality and nightlife business. Their projects included Barbe Bleue, a restobar, and Ruby WU, a nightclub named in honour of their daughter Ruby.[1] They later acquired RoseWood, a concert venue that hosted a performance by Grupo Niche. The concert received the Latin Awards Canada award for Best Concert.[1]
At the start of 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, a business proposal encouraged Granda and Bonilla to move from Montreal to Miami, Florida. Their relocation marked a new stage in their business activities and allowed them to explore opportunities in Miami's entertainment market.[1]
The couple subsequently opened Mandrake in Miami Beach. The restaurant and lounge specializes in Nikkei cuisine and operates within the city's hospitality and entertainment sector. It has also been covered in reports about Miami Beach's dining and social scene.[1][10][3]
Ruido Callejero Music
Granda and Bonilla entered the record label business in April 2023 with the establishment of Ruido Callejero Music. The label was formed to develop projects with emerging performers and contribute to the Latin music industry.[3][2]
The launch received coverage from Billboard Argentina, which reported on the couple's activities in music production and artist management. The publication discussed their respective professional experience, including Granda's work in music and event production and Bonilla's background in business administration and artist representation.[3]
Forbes México also discussed Ruido Callejero Music, describing its interest in representing different forms of Latin music through artists from a range of genres.
The couple expressed an interest in bringing together musical traditions and contemporary styles, particularly salsa, cumbia, merengue, and reggaeton.[8]
Music career
Granda began releasing music as a recording artist on October 5, 2023, with her debut single "After Party". Issued through Ruido Callejero Music, the song featured Cuban singer Osmani García and Jamaican performer Busy Signal.[11][12]
The single received attention for its performance on digital music charts. The Jamaica Star reported that it reached number one on the US Latin iTunes chart.[4] It also entered Billboard's Latin Digital Song Sales and Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales charts, peaking at numbers 7 and 13, respectively.[6][5]
Producer Crawba Genius spoke about the recording in an interview with The Jamaica Star. The collaboration combined Latin music elements with dancehall influences associated with Busy Signal.[4]
On November 17, 2023, Granda issued her second single, "Party Nice", featuring Busy Signal and Maycol Riddim. The release continued her musical collaborations with Jamaican artists.[13]
Her next release was "I Do", which came out on December 1, 2023. The track featured Jamaican singer Jah Vinci and Crawba Genius.[14]
On January 26, 2024, she released "Descodifícame", collaborating with Colombian singer Kevin Roldán and American music producer Poo Bear.[15] The music video, directed by Guillermo Director, incorporated visual and narrative elements inspired by the film The Matrix. Its storyline explores a combination of fantasy and reality.[7]
Granda released "Yo te espero" on February 8, 2024, alongside Dominican performers Tivi Gunz and Drumz Lt.[16]
On February 18, 2024, she appeared at the Vibra Urbana Festival in Miami, marking her debut as a live performer. The festival also featured Anuel AA, Rauw Alejandro, Bizarrap, and Arcángel.[9]
Her subsequent single, "Sicaria", was released on March 15, 2024. The recording featured Puerto Rican musical duo Jowell & Randy and producer Poo Bear.[17][8] Guillermo Figueredo directed the accompanying music video. The narrative portrays two men pursuing Granda's character, who does not agree to enter a relationship with either of them.[8]
In March 2024, Granda discussed plans for a forthcoming extended play (EP). She described "Sicaria" as an introduction to the project, which was expected to be released in 2024 with production by Poo Bear.[18]
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 listed above were issued by Ruido Callejero Music 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 Nahim 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 Los 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 Busy Signal, Spanish artistes drop Latin-dancehall track. The Jamaica Star, 13 October 2023.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales: 21 October 2023. Billboard, 21 October 2023.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Latin Digital Song Sales: 21 October 2023. Billboard, 21 October 2023.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Estrenan video musical «Descodifícame», de Mel Granda y Kevin Roldan. Zeta, 3 February 2024 (in Spanish).
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Mel Granda se une a Jowell & Randy y Poo Bear para interpretar el tema “Sicaria”. ContraRéplica, 15 March 2024 (in Spanish).
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Guide to Vibra Urbana Miami 2024. Virginia Gil and Falyn Wood, Time Out, 20 October 2023.
- ↑ Mandrake is Miami Beach's Premiere Spot for the Social Scene. Miami's Community Newspapers, 1 February 2023.
- ↑ After Party (feat. Crawba Genius) - Single. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ ¡Colaboración internacional! Osmani García de estreno junto a Mel Granda y Busy Signal. Deneb González, CiberCuba, 10 October 2023 (in Spanish).
- ↑ Party Nice (feat. Crawba Genius) - Single. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ I Do - Single. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ Descodificame - Single. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ Yo te espero - Single. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ Sicaria - Single. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ Mel Granda lanzará álbum producido por Poo Bear, productor de Justin Bieber. Hoy, 27 March 2024 (in Spanish).
