LISETTE MELENDEZ talks about new music, career, freestyle fans, culture transcript

[Music] what's up everybody how you doing Bobby Simmons in the buildin as you can see in the place to be sitting directly next to me ladies and gentlemen it is the one and only what's up everybody I'm here I made it it's freezing out there and I'm still here with my gloves on thank you thank you thank you you know Milas that we've been talking back and forth off and on some time ago trying to get you here and and the one thing first of all nobody could be mad at is that you are busy you are staying busy from in New York to Miami finishing up this project finishing up this album so I am glad now that you done with it and that you are here to talk about it because we gonna talk about it we gotta talk about it yeah it was a process doing the remix first you know rising original was released in right I thought I was like I'm gonna get my ladies on here because to me it's a message you know it's all about whether its domestic or verbal abuse we've all been in a place where either we've been talked down to or told we can't do this or to do that and I wanted to inspire I think now I have a platform to really have a voice for those that feel that they don't have a voice well definitely we definitely gonna make sure you need to platform and say for you now tell you what you got a few minutes anyways right of course yeah alright ladies and gentlemen the water only Lisette Melendez in the building we gonna talk God will disappear nowhere jacket [Music] welcome back everybody my special guest Lisette Melendez is in the building thank you for joining me and thank you for taking the time to come here to hang out and I'm glad to see that you're back out there doing your thing you know something you are in New York because I can take you back to some days that when you're you know you was recording your music was out there and you was just out and about in New York City in the club's just out there with the people you're like as far as I can remember it seems like you always been a people person are you so that kind of person now today um I you know back in the day I I was kind of in whoa I was very shy mm-hmm and I still am you know I was introverted and I still AM you know that's something that you don't grow out of but I was thrown out there I mean my record came out I was a girl from around the way from a project girl that didn't really have an image I didn't know if I wanted to wear a baseball cap Oh stiletto heels like caught in between but like we talked before when you have machinery behind you and you have a campaigns behind you and labels pushing you you have no time to sit there right you gotta go you know when when they they tell you to go you know and I was doing radio I was doing clubs I was doing promotion I was doing in stores that would they don't really do today right well good mama Papa stores are existing so everything is pretty much digital yeah so we mentioned before yeah so the scene has changed [Music] what do you think about the music industry today because you just said it it has changed drastically it definitely has changed so you think I don't wanna say now that you're back because you've still been around so I know you bet on me it'll come back though I've been here for you I've been here I've been I've been performing I've been doing everything you know for years I haven't I never left the scene I just stopped recording look I'm putting out material because it's it's a lot of financial backing that you need to make anything happen so you know I pretty much shied away from recording me because I didn't know what to do if I wanted to do it's a lot of work it's a lot of learning I have to re-educate myself and on how to release music how to download upload all that you know that goes a long way I had people do that for me before I don't have that any longer and I don't want to have anybody tell me like what I should put out or ANR's and all that because I think with my first album they chose the wrong follow ups as singles you know cuz I didn't have a safe right and I have a say now and it's not about you know wanting to just be the boss of everything I think having a good team behind you that's very important in your vision your vision - yeah speaking of doing during that time in the early days when he was making records tell us the first of all tell us a little bit about how you actually even got started into the music business cuz you just said you were shy but you've stolen to do so how did the world get to know Lisette Melendez well I was always into the street jams remember back in the day Lisa plug-in you know the electricity through the lamppost and all that so I went from Jefferson projects and all they did I remember growing up to music nyehhhh so over the years you know once I became a teen one of my best friends had a boyfriend and his name was Crazy Legs from the rock steady there you go yes all the hip-hop heads you better know yeah rock steady so you know I was caught up in that circle because I used to watch them breakdance and I used to always be in Street jams with with with them you know when and with friends and all and I didn't know anyone in the scene but him and believe it or not we created a girl group together really me and Crazy Legs right so we did start a group and I will go to his house in the Bronx and we will practice and we will sing together and it never panned out you know but through him I met a songwriter and his name was Tom axe but what kind of group was this it was just we didn't even know what we wanted to do we stopped we still sing Atlantic Atlantic Star y'all wanted to be a sappy pop room yeah we didn't know we would just practice you know so the funniest thing is watching him sing you know and then myself I had no direction I had no image I didn't know what I wanted you know but I knew I wanted to sing that's all I knew so that never panned out I met the songwriter and we created another group so now it's me to two guys and myself and we went to Carlos Barrios as a house one time to audition we sounded horrible horrible I mean I think when you do duets and you do a group you have to have that chemistry right yes your voices have to blend they just we're not working so from there you know I kept the movie and Carlos was looking for vocalist to do a song called make noise it was already produced at all and I came in I dropped a vocal for him and it was a big record for New York City for DJ's make noise exactly and then that you know kept me busy a little bit in the club scene made a little name for myself because I was featured on the record it was it was after dark featuring his Emily right and we just kept looking for that one record to put out and we couldn't find anything you know until I dropped a demo for together forever and it was supposed to be for someone else oh really I knew once I dropped that vocal it was magic like this record you know is magical so it didn't work out for him either because he just didn't you know he wasn't he wasn't a singer he was a DJ so he pretty much kept he went his route kept doing what he did and I had the record we recorded it nobody liked it Wow nobody liked it they wanted to change my name they wanted to change my image though I really didn't have one there was a it took like a year a year and a half to get the record science but why do you think it took that long for radio or even DJ's to say okay this record is it's moving well once it was released it was just it it blew up you know but getting it picked up gets getting it signed was a mission much first of all my voice was different hmm if you remember you know back in the day you know you had the cover girls that had a distinctive sound more like a young playful sound and then when I came out listen meléndez but you know I have more of a bass voice I had more of a little grit to the voice and they just didn't get it right you know and then you know my name again I hated my name you know Melendez aye you know just didn't like it back in the day but I refused to change it I was like I'm so what like I had no clue and we try like we you know we didn't know where and what to you know name myself cuz I didn't even have a look I didn't have an image any know you know who I was as an artist so I took a while [Music] what did you consider yourself back then did you consider yourself a freestyle artist or were you more of a pop artist and even till this day they still live I mean are you comfortable being labeled as a freestyle artist I'm comfortable with it I didn't only record freestyle that's one of the reasons why I kind of like I'm not a hundred percent like yes that's all I am because I released goodie goodie which was a massive hit in Japan when it was released in the States here that's when a hot 97 became 97 more hip-hop right so there was no outlet for freestyle you know but goodie goodie was a hip-hop record then I did record it salsa which was algorithm II with Sergio George that does Marc Anthony and all that so I've done a combination of everything you know so when you look at my my history I can go to a sizer counter or salsa club and sing ourselves a record you know promoters ask me you do hip hop you did I do everything you know my biggest genre was freestyle you know that's what they know me first and foremost for so that's why I try to plug in now even with social media I was talking about that earlier I mentioned I'm reintroducing myself to people because a lot of DJ's don't know I didn't make noise yeah they don't know about salsa you know what that I did was Sergio they don't know a lot about you know listen learn that's outside freestyle but you know I would just feed them little by little so they can know what I am what I'm about um you actually were signed to a major company which was exactly yeah fevers had a distribution deal with Columbia and you know everybody started switching then I was with Russell Simmons right your Cohen what's the part of Columbia right yeah so you know then I'm with rappers I'm with you know they didn't know what direction to put you know they didn't know what to do with me when I tell you they really didn't know what to do is because we had so many chefs in the kitchen that by the time it came to me they were like what do we do with this girl no yeah so I mean things do happen for a reason that's the upside that I try to always stay positive and say you know timing was everything as I was getting released they were releasing my record they released my riot exactly at the same time good segue give me your experience of knowing that you were going through this process being pushed behind because all the time and money and dedication was going to and we told my very early you actually was out before Mariah Carey actually did I'm saying how what do you think about that how did you feel I mean give us the real truth about that moment for you was really like y'all trying to get my shine off what y'all doing yeah it was painful because there's nothing you can do when you have a Tommy Mottola right you know that's that's just his wife right no this is the time at the time and he really did what he wanted to do with her Who am I to try to rock that boat um it's painful to get you know shelved as well you know that you're signed to a label for X amount of years and then they don't put out your music or if it comes out they put it literally on a shelf you don't do anything with it yeah so it's it's kind of hard to put hard work into a project that people don't even respect I don't think they took the time to really know who I was as an artist you talk about the people within the company within the company there were a handful that really wanted that loved me but there were many more that just didn't know who I was you know and then when you starts changing the CEOs and the cars in the middle of your project yeah there's a problem because now they don't know about you mm-hmm they're gonna move to who they're signing so they're interesting in a new artist if they're interested in signing anybody else they're gonna go with that one they're not disregard whoever's already project I mean did that make it hard for you knowing that they were shelf in your project to continue on in the music industry yes by far I mean I there were many nights that I would just cry and just wonder ii guess like if am I doing this should I do this am I meant to do it you know you second-guess yourself right you know because your career is in in their hands so what do you do and you're you're bound because you signed to a contract yes you know and I don't have enough money to you know to hire a lawyer to get me off it was just and I didn't want to get off the label because it was Sony and you know some so I'm like let me deal with it it's okay you know and timing is everything yeah but uh you reintroducing yourself not only to a new audience but you re introducing yourself to people who love you and your work with new music I got it right here which we talked about the rise remix please tell us how did you get these other two beautiful fantastic freestyle pop artists in the same zone with you on this record don't ask I don't even know Lisa and Judy Torres yes Lisa Lisa Judy touristy bank is on us as well well you know we've done shows together over the years and Lisa Lisa was a big inspiration me growing up coming from you know my neighborhood we went to the same high school and when I saw this girl and I saw her video and I heard her song and I saw her pistachio her bill and I look like someone that was making moves industry before I even came out that gave me a big boost because I felt like she can do it I can do it you know so she was a great inspiration and over the years we've been doing shows together we run into each other every so often very cool she's very cool Judy's very cool sea bank you know is doing her thing again and at when I decided to do the remix she was the first person I considered okay you know but I was scared honestly the world because I just felt like this girl has double platinum records on a wall you know she's been doing her thing for X amount of years yeah and women are very hard to get together and I grew up very tomboy because all my friends I could never have girlfriends like friends girls because there was always a problem you know I never maintained the brain relationship with friends growing up because I always felt like we couldn't either get along or there was always intimidation there was always something that I never felt support from the ladies but I from the girls growing up so all my friends were boys hmm so I was afraid because I just didn't want to hear the word no you know and not that there was anything wrong with that because she's a busy woman they all are mm-hmm I just didn't want to hear that you know so I was afraid and I want to inspire everyone here don't ever think you can't do it you know give yourself the opportunity and the chance to even if the worst thing they can do is tell you is know exactly you know at least you try I didn't think she was gonna be able to make it she's also an actress she's doing her thing and she actually picked up the phone and said tell me when and where and I'm there I want to do this you know and I was thrown back I gave her the address I pulled up to the studio she was already there there it is you know and I wasn't me I was like wow I was thankful and I felt blessed and that's why I want to inspire anyone and that with male female black white whatever you can do whatever you want yeah you play if we realistically though you know be a realist and put your dream in action yeah definitely now acts of real quick tell you about a little bit about the song to underuse just kicking it off when we start to show off but give everybody a little bit insight about the song you know it's about domestic violence which is something in this day and age we shouldn't even still be seeing or hearing tell us a little bit about the song rise and how you came up with the concept of it well the song to me everyone has been either kicked down emotionally physically mentally I think it's a hard the hardest thing to to feel is mental abuse or mental bullying cyber bullying is a big thing I'm experiencing it as we speak and I'm a grown woman you know and I have my moments that I'm very very sad about it then I turn to feel depressed and something that we don't want to do to ourselves exactly and I don't like to feel bullied in any way and I wrote the song according to what I witnessed growing up I never got physically abused by any relationship only man thank God but a lot of women have and they're afraid to talk about it and embarrassed you know so I chose to tackle that issue with the video and also you know for for bullying just in general you know you can't talk to people a certain way you can't treat people like your less than them you know you see the way the world is going now in place that's why I think it's so important that um you did a record like this just show people that you know it may sound cliche and kind of corny whatever I think we have a point now where if we don't share or show enough love to each other you know we deteriorate well you know and that's why I think it's a beautiful idea and concept and song that you did this and got your other ladies to join you see Bank and Judy Torres and Lisa Lisa to join you on the record to show that um that that unity that women can unite together to change something yeah well be a part because it's it's something that's still going on but help change it you know because none of us you know ask me you have daughters don't want to see anything happened to them or or even like a girlfriend or a friend or anyone you know it's a sad thing to see like you said you grew up seeing it um you kind of fell to yourself you know what can I do or why did not do anything I'm gonna be honest what you're doing this it's even more enough and you know we'll pre would definitely appreciate that doing that spreading the word [Music] let me tell you something let me tell you something I know everybody go through the pressure and like you said that's that's a powerful thing you said when you said who says you have I'm gonna tell you this right now there are people out there who love you there are people who don't even know you love you and me I'm gonna tell you this I know I love you because I've known you for years and I'm a sadist to you I know about the DJ that didn't want to play a record because they didn't like it and I'm gonna say this i'ma say this as a DJ myself who has a wide audience from the 90s even to now it don't matter if we like the record or not there's somebody out there who may like it so it's your job to introduce it to them you don't not play the record because you go I don't like it so I'm not gonna play Oprah if I player and my fans man it don't matter your fans may like it your fans may not like it but there might be somebody who's not a fan of yours who just tuned in to your show who may say yo that joint you played by who was that may open doors so I will say again coming from old school because I used to do work at WBLS you do radio WBLS you always no matter how there are lot of Records I don't like but I play them so I'm going to say this to you now you have my hundred percent support thank you you don't saying though I do like the record but I'm just saying other people if you don't like it do what you can do to support that's what's important and I just want to tell you that now because the fact that I know how brutal people can be thinking that because they did they date us down and it's like listen I appreciate that you order but I need your help can you break this to audience who probably never heard right so you have my support all the way and I will do my best and I'm pretty good you get other DJ's to be involved too because they're poor for us to continue to support each other and get the music back out there and I appreciate that and that's why you know DJ's to me play a big role you know it goes hand in hand like I have to have respect for you too right so I used to come on after Frankie Crocker so I used to work at WBLS so I'm saying I know how important it is for a guy like Frankie crock that lots of Records Frankie Crocker didn't like but he broke it for the audience that's our job to break the music there might be some people out even your own fans might go I don't know is it Melendez how to wreck it out well I like this song rise I heard it on a DJ such-and-such show but they think it well my fans may not like it if I don't like it you don't know that yeah I'm saying it's like you got to be a careful DJ to know exactly how to work a record and I'm only speaking I'm speaking this because I don't want to put you in that predicament I'm just saying me as a DJ who played in clubs Latin quarters you know where's Roxy's anthill WBLS so I'm just saying I know how important it is to break a record so I'm just gonna leave it right there and just let you know that you have my support 100% and like I said before you can overcome you know and I'm not afraid to talk about feelings that's just the way I've been numb but I'm in a great place hmm I just have a date and some days are not good well you know things that you're not good text me I'll text you back well it's enough sense some positive vibes out that's all we gonna do alright that works out there you go ladies and gentlemen the one and only let's set the link gases in the building we'll be back [Music]