Mel at WCMF: I am really happy to have come this far

“To be here with my own name, my own performance, that shows growth and I am really happy to have come this far.”

This is what Dominican artiste, Melinda Ulysses aka ‘Mel’ told the media during an interview shortly after her performance at the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) on Saturday night.

“I felt a good energy, I didn’t feel like I needed to get off the stage…I think the energy was good and they [crowd] had a good time,” she remarked with regard to the response from the audience adding that it’s a new feeling to be accepted.

“I remember days when I had to beg a DJ to play my song, right now it doesn’t happen anymore,” Mel stated.

She has achieved some success in the French islands where she said a number of her songs have received exposure and where she has done the most performances.

“I had more shows over there than anywhere else…,” Mel said.

The young singer whose popularity has been on the rise, called on those in authority to support the local artistes and put things in place to enable their success.

“If you don’t improve your part, if people with the powers to make things happen, don’t make things happen, they [artistes] are going to have no choice but to leave.

“I struggled here for years; it prepared me for where I am now…” she pointed out.

She said opportunities should also be provided for dancers and artists and cautioned that “if you don’t put things in place for them, you are going to lose them to other people.”

Her advice to young artistes is to never give up.

“You never know when someone will come knocking at your door,” she said, adding, “If you say it’s going to happen, then it’s going to happen.”

Meantime, Mel has promised her fans and patrons alike, “greater things” to come as new opportunities keep coming, she revealed, including a couple of deals in the pipeline.

“I design my own outfits so I am going to take that to the next level,” she added.