Q&A With Harpist Melegie | Inspiring Artists
- Swan Lake Lifestyle
- Aug 1, 2023
- 10 min read
Melegie is a Boston-based harpist with a unique vibe and some amazing musical talent! She always dreamed of playing the harp, and worked hard to reach her goals of harp playing as an adult- even gaining a loyal following of Melegie music fans who continue to cheer her on! Keep scrolling to learn about this inspiring musician's story, music tips, and more.
About Melegie
Q: Please introduce yourself!
A: Hi! My name is Melanie. I am an artist and musician living in Boston. I love anything expressive and whimsical. During the pandemic I started posting harp videos online under the name Melegie, and people really took to it. Now making content and harp videos is a part of my everyday life, and I love it! My two cats, Figaro and Jupiter, sometimes help me too!
Q: What is your music background in music/the arts?
A: I have always been drawn to the arts. Drawing has been a huge part of my life ever since I picked up my first crayon. Growing up, money was tight, but my parents placed great importance in the arts and music lessons. I was lucky enough to take classical piano lessons. I had a wonderful teacher who encouraged the creative spark in me to grow.
When we are little, having an inspiring teacher can make all the difference in our lives. Growing up I discovered I had a learning disorder and deficiency in math, but my passion for art and music grew stronger and stronger. In high school, I was singing opera and painting for hours after school! Despite having a learning disorder, I excelled in the arts. Before I bought my harp, I had never touched one before, but I knew it was something I wanted to pursue. It’s never too late to grow! To me, art isn't just a part of life. Art IS life.
Q: Why did you start playing the Celtic harp?
A: The sound of the harp has captivated me for as long as I can remember. Compared to the larger concert harp, I feel the Celtic harp is more organic and closer to nature. There is an ancient, foggy and mystical energy to it. When you are listening to a Celtic harp, fairies seem to become real — you are whisked away into an enchanted world that is lush, green, ageless and timeless. The forest's ancient spirits whisper secrets from the trees only you and the harp can hear.
Music Advice
Q: What advice do you have for musicians learning to play and sing at the same time (you make it look effortless!)?
A: Ha! I'm glad I make it look effortless. To tell the truth, I cheat a little: the songs where I am singing have a very simple harp accompaniment. It allows me to commit the music to muscle memory, and I don't have to think as I play! I'm able to let loose and get lost in the singing. Being able to sing and play harp is something I am continuing to work on, for it's where I feel "most" in my element — totally connected to my human essence. This is one of my favorite flow states, and I am so excited to continue getting better at it!
Q: What tech do you recommend for musicians looking to post their music? Are there any certain microphones or cameras you suggest?
A: I'm not an expert, nor have I experienced many other setups, but personally I use an Audio-Technica AT2035 microphone for recording audio. And I've used both a Fujifilm X-T30 and a Sony Alpha a6400 camera for video. Before that, I used the Photo Booth app on my computer. We all come from humble beginnings! 😂
Q: Buying a harp is a big investment which may deter some aspiring musicians, could you tell us how you chose the harp you purchased and if it has a name?
A: When I finally graduated college, a big milestone to me due to my learning disorder, I wanted to reward myself with something really, really special. I had always loved the sound of the harp and wanted to learn it, but couldn't afford it growing up. Once I finished and paid my way through college all by myself, I had finally conquered the lifelong challenge of school! I wanted to give myself a special reward, something from me, for me, and deep inside I felt it was time to research the harp.
I heard about the Harpsicle: a small, portable, and beginner-friendly harp. It seemed like a less risky commitment. I actually ordered it through amazon, and when it arrived I was so excited and eager to learn I put up fliers around Boston looking for a harp teacher. I was lucky that I actually got a response from a student at New England Conservatory. She was wonderful and taught me how to hold my instrument, how to manipulate the strings (I still have this Harpsicle today, I use it when I am going on trips or playing outside).
After playing some of the bigger harps at the conservatory, I fell in love with the deep and full sounds. She convinced me to get a full sized lever harp, and I'm very lucky that there is a harp shop not too far from where I am. There, I played my Dusty Strings FH34 in gorgeous bubinga (African rosewood). A lot of harp purchases come with payment plans, I was happy to discover, and gave myself a couple years to pay it off. If you have ever been interested in taking up the harp but deterred by the cost, please know that you shouldn't let the financial side stop you — there are many many options. Programs like this make it possible for many people to own their own harp. They even have a wonderful rental program (the store is "The Harp Connection" in Massachusetts).
Q: It can be a harder to find music for lever harp compared to other instruments, how do you go about sourcing sheet music?
A: It really is a lot harder to come by! But it also poses a wonderful challenge. It's fun to try to take on a song that might have never been played on the Celtic harp before. And what makes it so fun is that in many cases, the music is already out there — in piano form! Have you ever looked inside a grand piano? You will see long strings. Much like the strings of a harp! Essentially, the harp and piano are laid out in a similar way, and there’s even a large cast iron frame in the piano called a “harp”!
Piano sheet music often has the melody and accompanying chords, just like harp sheet music! A lot of songs and covers that I do I actually just play from piano music, with some added harp flair, of course! So as harpists, we're really quite lucky with the versatility of our instrument! Harpists are usually very good transcribers too, and often play just by ear or with improvisation.
Q: What does your approach to music practice usually consist of?
A: I tend to shift into discipline-musician mode when I'm intent on practicing a piece. I will slowly work through difficult passages, deconstructing the challenging parts and building them back up again until I know it well. Despite being a generally free-spirited musician, I really enjoy disciplined practice sessions. I think the most rewarding thing in the world is witnessing your own growth, even within a 5 minute practice session! Mastering a piece of music that you initially struggled with is one of the most exhilarating feelings in the world. Even small progress is exhilarating. I think being able to observe our own achievement is one of the greatest parts of being human.
Music Inspiration
Q: What do you hope to accomplish by sharing your music with others?
A: Honestly, just the chance to lift the spirits of someone who has had a rough day makes it worth it. What motivated me to continue creating content was the kind feedback of people who appreciated my music, giving me the realization that I was making a difference in regular people's lives. I would get the kindest messages on the daily, telling me in the most thoughtful ways what my music meant to them, and I realized that that was my ultimate feeling of fulfilment — knowing that I was making a difference in people's lives.
Nowadays, I get so many messages that it's impossible for me to check them all daily, so I am trying to work out a way to continue interacting with these wonderful people who value and enjoy listening to my music. It's all a process! Another note: many people may not know this, but I am neurodivergent, and have very severe ADHD (inattentive type). Growing up in a school system that placed so much importance on memorization was very difficult, but I struggled through it and never gave up.
What makes my success at this instrument possible is that I am not a stranger to "failure" and struggle, so during the really difficult times where I was frustrated and thought I was not progressing, I didn't give up. "Failure" doesn't exist — it is all just growth and learning. And though my learning disorder made adapting to standard schooling and testing methods difficult, it taught me to persevere. And learning how to persevere is a very valuable life skill.
I hope to especially inspire those who have been told they were different or not as smart, because we are smart — we just have different skills that we can teach the world. And that is ultimately how you can make the world a better place. You hold a world within you. I want to show other neurodivergent people who have been told all their lives there is something wrong with them it isn’t true, and the rest of the world can see this as well. With love and support, every human is capable of amazing feats!
Q: In addition to video game music and folk music, you also play some ancient songs, like Seikilos Epitaph. What inspires you to share this kind of historic music with the world?
A: I have a broad interest in the history of music and where it comes from. Music captures the stories and emotions of humanity. We aren’t that different from humans a hundred thousand years ago. Music unites us all — it wasn’t recorded or written down, but oral traditions and musical artifacts show us that it’s always been part of human culture. Music connects us across thousands and thousands of years of life, and is something we can all share and enjoy.
Q: Do you feel like your heritage helps connect you to the music you play?
A: In some ways, yes! But anyone can play music and not all of what I play is related to my heritage. It does feel special knowing my ancestors in the British Aisles probably listened to the same song or same type of song on similar instruments. I am of British Aisles and Viking descent, and after that, was one of the first settlers of the New World in Jamestown 1607, and other family members came here on The Mayflower (Mary Chilton, who was the first woman to step onto Plymouth Rock! She was 12 years old).
I am also descended from Rebecca Nurse, a famous Salem witch. I have a lot of New England/Boston blood in me! Despite all that, I still dislike the cold! I also have ties to old Appalachia, where I like to link my love of folk songs (especially American folk!) In general, I love folk songs, because they tell a story of where we came from. It's also a wonderful way to celebrate other cultures.
Q: How does music empower you?
A: Creating music gives to all. It gives to yourself, but it also gives to the world. By giving yourself the gift of music, you are simultaneously giving it to the world. You never know the lives you might touch, the people you might inspire. Music is synchronous with ourselves. This is what makes it different from traditional art. It is closer to the human experience: it exists for a moment, as we exist. It has a beginning, a life, and an end. Traditional art is, instead, a footprint. A fragment of something once created that will continue to exist long after we are gone. There is something very intrinsically human to music.
More About Melegie
Q: You have such a creative style, what would you call your aesthetic?
A: Hmmm, I’ve definitely embraced alternative styles throughout my life. I think I would describe the Melegie aesthetic as "cute-alternative-girly-dark-whimsical-punk". I like to blend a lot of different styles to change it up, so sometimes it’s hard to define as a cohesive concept. I incorporate style from renaissance fairy to goth witch to gamer e-girl. But overall, my styles tend to be on the alternative spectrum.
Q: Your videos often feature great costumes that go along with the theme, how long does it take you to put together these outfits?
A: To be honest, I base most of my decisions on what I'm feeling in the moment. Most of my outfit choices are raw and spontaneous! Some outfits take more planning when I am taking on a pre-existing character, like a video game character, and the time to put those together can vary quite a bit!
Q: As a musician, what milestones do you hope to reach in the next few years?
A: I would like to start livestreaming soon. Along with livestreaming, it would be awesome to travel the country (or world!) and perform live for people. Right now, I am trying to figure out the best way to continue growing on the harp and balance my growing internet world. I get many messages a day, but they have become impossible to keep up with. It breaks my heart when followers tell me they miss talking to me, because I miss talking with them, and it was my favorite part of Instagram when I first began. But this is all a process, so I am optimistic we will find a solution in the future!
Q: Where can readers go to listen to your music?
A: I am most active in posting my music on Instagram. I also have a YouTube channel and a Patreon for those who want to help support me and receive some additional extras (as well as messaging priority)! I have been asked about Spotify, and that is something I am excitedly considering for down the road.
Q: Anything else you would like to share?
A: Learning a musical instrument is a wonderful gift to yourself and the world. I encourage everyone who has ever considered it to try. It is very hard work, but like taking our first steps as babies, all progress comes from hard work. We learn more about ourselves and the world through music. I would like to act as an example that you don't need to be playing an instrument your whole life to accomplish something — there is no right or wrong time.
There is just now, and the curiosity within yourself. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to play an instrument or try something new, please, right now: go for it! What they say is true: Don’t give up on your dream. Find and go after the thing that makes you happy, and you will be making the world a better place. Also, nurture that childhood sense of wonder. Never let that spark die.
A very special thank you to Melegie for participating in this interview to inspire others! You can follow her on Instagram at: Instagram.com/_melegie
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