Mel Granda
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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 activities with her husband, Nahim Jorge Bonilla, across the entertainment, hospitality, and talent management sectors. Their ventures originated in Montreal before extending to Miami, Florida, where they established Mandrake, a restaurant and entertainment venue.[1][2] In 2023, they also founded Ruido Callejero Music, a record label focused on urban and Latin music.[3][4]
Her recording career began in October 2023 with "After Party", a single featuring Osmani García and Busy Signal. The release reached the top position on the US Latin iTunes chart and secured positions on Billboard's Latin Digital Song Sales and Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales charts, peaking at number 7 and number 13, respectively.[5][6][7]
Her subsequent musical collaborations included "Descodifícame", recorded with Kevin Roldán and Poo Bear,[8] and "Sicaria", featuring Poo Bear and Jowell & Randy.[9] She made her first live appearance at the Vibra Urbana Miami Festival in February 2024.[10]
Biography and career
Melissa Granda was born on August 28, 1987, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her parents are of Peruvian origin.
Granda met Nahim Jorge Bonilla in Montreal. Bonilla is a Mexican national residing in Canada and the grandnephew of Mexican actor Héctor Bonilla. The couple later married and started a family.[1] Their professional partnership developed through activities involving entertainment, hospitality, and talent management.[2]
During their time in Montreal, Granda and Bonilla established an event production company named M.E.L. Productions (Music Events Latino-Americanos). The company organized events featuring Latin American musicians, among them Luis Vargas and Raulín Rodríguez.[1] Their activities also involved arranging Montreal performances by Karol G, Noriel, Darell, and Almighty, in addition to bachata and salsa groups.[1]
The couple's business interests included hospitality and nightlife ventures. Their projects included the restobar Barbe Bleue and the nightclub Ruby WU, which took its name from their daughter Ruby.[1] They later acquired RoseWood, a concert venue where a performance by Grupo Niche earned the Latin Awards Canada award for Best Concert.[1]
In early 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, Granda and Bonilla received a business proposal that influenced their decision to move from Montreal to Miami, Florida. Their relocation provided an opportunity to establish relationships and pursue further activities in Miami's entertainment industry.[1]
Following their move, the couple established Mandrake in Miami Beach. The restaurant and lounge features Nikkei cuisine and became a venue associated with the area's social and entertainment scene.[1][11][3]
Ruido Callejero Music
In April 2023, Granda and Bonilla launched Ruido Callejero Music, a record label created to work with and support emerging Latin music performers.[3][2]
The launch was covered by Billboard Argentina, which identified the couple as music producers and artist managers. Its coverage described Granda's background in music and event production alongside Bonilla's experience in business management and artist representation.[3]
Forbes México subsequently discussed the label's intention to represent the diversity of Latin music by working with performers from different musical traditions.[4] In their interviews with the publication, Granda and Bonilla discussed combining genres including salsa, cumbia, merengue, and reggaeton.[4][9]
Music career
Granda's first official single as a recording artist was "After Party", released on October 5, 2023, through Ruido Callejero Music. The recording brought together Cuban singer Osmani García and Jamaican artist Busy Signal.[12][13]
The Jamaica Star reported that the single climbed to number one on the US Latin iTunes chart.[5] It also secured placements on Billboard's Latin Digital Song Sales and Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales charts, reaching numbers 7 and 13, respectively.[7][6]
In an interview with The Jamaica Star, producer Crawba Genius described the musical direction of "After Party", discussing its combination of Latin sounds and dancehall influences connected with Busy Signal.[5]
Granda released her next single, "Party Nice", on November 17, 2023. The track featured Busy Signal and Maycol Riddim.[14]
On December 1, 2023, she issued "I Do", a collaboration featuring Crawba Genius and Jamaican singer Jah Vinci.[15]
Her January 26, 2024 release, "Descodifícame", featured Colombian singer Kevin Roldán and American producer Poo Bear.[16] The accompanying video was directed by Guillermo Director. Its concept incorporates a reference to The Matrix and presents a storyline in which reality and fantasy intersect.[8]
Granda released "Yo te espero" on February 8, 2024, with Dominican artists Tivi Gunz and Drumz Lt.[17]
On February 18, 2024, she appeared at the Vibra Urbana Festival in Miami for her live performance debut. The event also featured performances by Anuel AA, Rauw Alejandro, Bizarrap, and Arcángel, among other artists.[10]
On March 15, 2024, Granda released "Sicaria", collaborating with Puerto Rican duo Jowell & Randy and producer Poo Bear.[18][9] The music video, directed by Guillermo Figueredo, depicts a story involving two men interested in Granda's character, who does not wish to commit to either of them.[9]
Granda described "Sicaria" as an introduction to a forthcoming EP. According to an article published by Hoy on March 27, 2024, the project was planned for release in 2024, with Poo Bear expected to produce it.[19]
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 |
Each of these singles was released through Ruido Callejero Music and distributed via digital download and music streaming platforms.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 [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 [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 La música latina sigue en expandiéndose por todo el mundo. Forbes México, 26 April 2023 (in Spanish).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 [Signal, Spanish artistes drop Latin-dancehall track]. The Jamaica Star, 13 October 2023.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 [Digital Song Sales: 21 October 2023]. Billboard, 21 October 2023.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 [Digital Song Sales: 21 October 2023]. Billboard, 21 October 2023.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 [video musical «Descodifícame», de Mel Granda y Kevin Roldan]. Zeta, 3 February 2024 (in Spanish).
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 [Granda se une a Jowell & Randy y Poo Bear para interpretar el tema “Sicaria”]. ContraRéplica, 15 March 2024 (in Spanish).
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 [to Vibra Urbana Miami 2024]. Time Out, 20 October 2023.
- ↑ [is Miami Beach's Premiere Spot for the Social Scene]. Miami's Community Newspapers, 1 February 2023.
- ↑ [Party (feat. Crawba Genius) - Single]. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ [internacional! Osmani García de estreno junto a Mel Granda y Busy Signal]. CiberCuba, 10 October 2023 (in Spanish).
- ↑ [Nice (feat. Crawba Genius) - Single]. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ [Do - Single]. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ [- Single]. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ [te espero - Single]. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ [- Single]. Apple Music, Apple Inc.
- ↑ Mel Granda lanzará álbum producido por Poo Bear, productor de Justin Bieber. Hoy, 27 March 2024 (in Spanish).