Melina KB is a musical theater-pop artist originally from the Boston area and based in Nashville, Tennessee. Inspired by productions like Wicked and RENT as well as artists like No Doubt, Paramore, and Taylor Swift, Melina has carved out a unique lane blending pop hooks with the drama of musical theater and creating an immersive world around her music.
In this artist spotlight, Melina discusses how she stayed true to her identity and continued to develop as an artist after her breakthrough song, “I’ve Had Enough,” went viral on TikTok.
Experimenting with Emulation
Growing up, Melina honed her performance skills through theater and acapella. There she not only found a musical community but a future producer, her acapella teacher, Tim Bongiovanni.
Melina’s first song, “Let Me Explode,” came after multiple sessions in which Bongiovanni experimented with different arrangements and mixes, iterating on the sounds of then rising pop stars such as Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande.
“We were going through just trying to make me sound like pop artists on the radio,” Melina said. “And every single time I thought, this sounds incredible, Tim is so talented; but it didn’t necessarily sound like me. And that was where that search for my own artistry came to be because I was like, okay, this doesn’t feel natural.”
Finding Her Own Voice
Frequently, there were moments in her early songwriting when Melina wanted certain elements to sound more dramatic — through arrangements and vocal styling, songs started sounding more theatrical.
“Once I leaned into big, cinematic sounds and theatrical storytelling, that’s when people started saying, ‘this belongs in a Disney movie and that was when it clicked,” Melina said. “I don’t feel like I’m the first to do it, there are incredible artists like Queen, Panic at the Disco, Fallout Boy—there are artists that blend that line. But it came really naturally to lean into those things and use musical theater as a reference.”
Throughout Melina’s progression as an artist, she’s balanced comedy with serious topics—something she looked to theater for guidance on. “I’m so impressed and empowered by the art of so many musical theater composers. I feel like they make certain portions of a song really compelling in a different way,” she said.
Going Viral
In 2021, Melina KB’s song, “I’ve had enough” — a feminist anthem empowering survivors of sexual assault — went viral on TikTok, spurring on 120,000 videos and receiving over 45 million streams.
“I wanted to put that out to be brave and provide something people could relate to on a topic that not a lot of people were speaking up about musically. I was thinking about how to represent that spiral of anger, rage, and frustration with the injustices of a system that doesn’t support, hear out, or believe survivors.
Processing this moment was intense for Melina who found an audience of millions identifying with an experience that had left her feeling isolated and misunderstood for so long.
“While it was devastating to see so many people related, it was also really empowering because we were taking our voices back,” Melina said. “We were unifying. Social media has allowed us to connect with people outside our direct circle, especially when we don’t feel fully understood.
Navigating Virality as an Independent Artist
“[Virality] is really hard for anyone who’s a young adult, and still figuring out who they are, and what they want to stand for, and what they want to say, and how comfortable they are with sharing things,” Melina said.
Long before giving a music career any strategic thought, Melina was met with millions of fans listening to a vulnerable and heavy song. She was 18, just starting college, and was suddenly in the spotlight.
But instead of letting ambitions for stardom distract her, Melina stayed committed to experiencing college and the start of adulthood. “I’m glad that I afforded myself the time to make mistakes going through classic college experiences—and through that, I experienced things I could write about. Some of my favorite songs I’ve put out and released, I don’t think would have ever come to be if I had just completely given up on the portion of living my life and being a human,” she said.
Being Consistent with Branding
Throughout her career, Melina has balanced authenticity with a distinct and consistent branding.
“I try to be really intentional about world-building and creating something I can show the world that so clearly tells them who I am by just that quick clip,” Melina said.
That process has involved a lot of self-reflection and taking the time to unplug. “Leaning into branding has really been a process of thinking about what I like. When no one is around, what am I drawn to? We’re all so easily influenced by everything, but I really try to take time by myself—for instance I’m on an airplane—wifi off—what am I thinking about? And I’ll write it down.”
Melina’s a conscious consumer of media too—taking note of what resonates with her in other artists’ photoshoots, videos, and branding. Those notes help Melina communicate her vision to creative collaborators by drawing on references, examples, and concepts she knows will translate and click with her brand.
“I watch music videos and always think I like this or that. So then I go to the videographer, and I’m like hey, what do you think about this? And then we come up with our own thing out, our own vision, using elements of things that I’ve clearly gone through and selected,” Melina said.
Conclusion: Staying True While Building a Career
Melina KB’s journey shows the power of leaning into authenticity, even in the face of viral success. From experimenting with different sounds to ultimately embracing her theatrical-pop identity, she’s proven that finding your voice is just as much about what doesn’t feel right as what does. Her viral moment with “I’ve Had Enough” not only amplified her platform but also connected her to a community through vulnerability and courage.
For artists, Melina’s story underscores a few important lessons:
- Experimentation leads to clarity — trying on different influences helped Melina discover her authentic sound.
- Virality is just the beginning — staying grounded and intentional is key to turning a viral moment into long-term artistry.
- Branding is personal — the most effective creative direction comes from self-reflection and knowing what resonates with you. It’s also difficult to isolate ourselves from external influences, so mindfully noting what resonates can help you clarify your own vision.
At the heart of Melina’s career is her ability to balance artistry with honesty, building not just songs but worlds that invite listeners in. Her path is a reminder that true growth as an artist comes from staying curious, intentional, and unapologetically yourself.