Melione, aka DJ Mel, is a Los Angeles-based hip-hop artist, DJ, and emcee. For Melione, family, perseverance, and a willingness to step onto the stage before she felt ready shaped her path to becoming an artist and performer. From her mother’s remarkable courage to her own determination to keep pursuing music through life’s hardest moments, every chapter has helped shape the artist and entrepreneur she is today.
Becoming a DJ
Melione grew up in Orange County, California, shaped early on by her family’s history and a love of music that took root in childhood. Her mother’s courage, her brother’s influence, and a defining moment on a middle school stage all helped set her on the path to becoming a DJ and musical artist.
Courageous roots
Melione’s mother arrived in America with no English, no job, and no money, having crossed the ocean to escape communism. Just weeks before she boarded, her sister was murdered along with Melione’s cousins while trying to flee on their own boat. Then came a choice that would shape generations. A few weeks after that loss, Melione’s mother took the risk anyway, betting everything on hope. “My mom means everything to me,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my mom and her bravery.”
Her big brother Jimmy introduced Melione to music at an early age. By age 9 or 10, Melione was writing, starting with poetry and then setting words to instrumentals. In seventh grade, although she was the shy new girl at school, she knew she could rap and took a chance by signing up for the talent show.
Backstage, minutes from showtime, she learned her CD was scratched. “They say, ‘fake it till you make it,'” Melione recalled, “and if you wait till you’re ready, you’ll always be waiting.”The curtains opened, and she didn’t hold back. Before long, the audience was rapping right along with her. From that moment, a love of performing was solidified. “It’s just a moment I will never forget,” she said.
Perseverance and passion
Years later, Melione moved to Los Angeles to chase her dreams, but the pursuit began to blur. Her job began pulling her attention away from the very reason she’d come. Then, while hanging out with the three people she was set to live with, one of the men drugged her. She spent five days in intensive care. Doctors found bleeding in her head and warned that she could be bedridden for six to nine months. Melione needed to move back in with her family in Orange County to recover.
That painful detour opened a door, though. The recovery gave her time to pour herself into her first album, titled “Me.” What followed was a leap of faith, and it wasn’t easy. For a stretch, she slept in her car, worked in the studio, and showered at a 24 Hour Fitness. Both of her parents were out of work, so any extra income she earned went to helping them. Reflecting on this, Melione said, “But I’m very grateful for the journey; it makes me appreciate where I am today.”
The lessons of that road trace back to the woman who raised her. “From my mom, I’ve learned to be resilient,” she shared. “I’ve learned to be strong and hardworking.” Asked to name her proudest accomplishment, Melione doesn’t point to a single song or performance but to staying the course. “My most important accomplishment would probably be me still pursuing my dreams,” she said. “I think it’s very hard to make a living doing what I love, and I’m very proud of it.”
Using GigSalad
DJ Mel has been a GigSalad member since 2020, consistently earning Top Performer status along with a stack of five-star reviews. From kids’ birthday parties to corporate events to cocktail hours, she’s spun her way through nearly every type of event with expertise. Find out how GigSalad has supported her business, from booking gigs to hiring her own vendors.
GigSalad: How has GigSalad made it easier to do what you love?
DJ Mel: GigSalad has made it a lot easier. People can reach out to me. I’m able to connect with others and get gigs that I wouldn’t get otherwise if it weren’t for GigSalad.
GS: How does GigSalad make the booking process easier?
DM: I’m able to communicate with clients, message them, call them, and set the price. I get a deposit, so they make that process easier.
GS: How is GigSalad different from other booking sites?
DM: I feel like it’s easier to communicate with the clients. You don’t have to actually set the price right off the bat. I don’t always know necessarily what the client is looking for. So with other sites, you have to set a price before even talking to the client. They also take a higher fee. GigSalad doesn’t do all that.
GS: What else would you like people to know about GigSalad?
DM: GigSalad has amazing customer service. So if you have any questions or you’re stuck on anything, you can call them and reach them. A real person picks up, and they are super nice and helpful.
GS: Have you ever hired anyone through GigSalad?
DM: Yes, I’ve used GigSalad to hire people, including magicians and face painters. I’ve definitely hired people for my own parties because I can’t do it all! I can try, but if I put the bunny in, that bunny’s still gonna be there, and he’s gonna try to bite my finger.
✨ Looking for more inspiration and tips? Check out last month’s People of GigSalad spotlight with Balloon Twister Kelly Love!
DJ Mel’s story is ultimately about more than music; it’s about what can happen when you keep choosing your passion, even when the path takes an unexpected turn. Today, she’s built a career doing what she loves, creating memorable experiences for clients and continuing to grow as an artist and business owner. Her journey reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful success isn’t reaching a particular destination, but having the courage and resilience to keep moving toward it. 🎧💜
Matt Holland is a Customer Happiness Agent at GigSalad. With 10+ years of experience performing as a jazz drummer, he has gained insights into the life of a gigging musician as well as what makes an event go off without a hitch. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, cooking, and watching the newest TV shows with his wife.