Melendi

Biography

Ramón Melendi Espina (born 21 January 1979), known mononymously as Melendi, is a Spanish singer-songwriter. His specialties are rock, flamenco, and rumba styles.

Early life

Melendi was born in Oviedo, Asturias. He went to school with Formula One race car driver Fernando Alonso, to whom he dedicated the song "Magic Alonso". Melendi also did racing for a while. He realized very quickly that though he was not made for racing nor studying, he was good at football. He played in the lower ranks of Astur CF, at the time a reserve team for Real Oviedo. Afterwards, he worked as a waiter in several bars, living experiences that would later make up the lyrics of his songs.
In 2001, he joined a group called "El bosque de Sherwood", and soon after recorded a demo with only three songs, "Sin noticias de Holanda×Sin noticias de Holanda2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Mi rumbita pa tus pies3:172Desde mi ventana3:473Sé lo que hicisteis3:494Sin noticias de Holanda4:005Un recuerdo que olvidar2:496Con la luna llena3:487Hablando en plata3:058El informe del forense3:189Vuelvo a traficar3:4810Una historia de tantas4:0111Contando primaveras3:1212Asturias4:0813Moratalá4:1814Mi rumbita pa tus pies (remix)3:4815Con la luna llena (edición vuelta a España '04)3:1916Trae pa'k esa yerba güena3:42", "El informe del forense", and "Vuelvo a traficar".

2003–2006: Career beginnings

In February 2003, Melendi released his first solo album, Sin noticias de Holanda×Sin noticias de Holanda2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Mi rumbita pa tus pies3:172Desde mi ventana3:473Sé lo que hicisteis3:494Sin noticias de Holanda4:005Un recuerdo que olvidar2:496Con la luna llena3:487Hablando en plata3:058El informe del forense3:189Vuelvo a traficar3:4810Una historia de tantas4:0111Contando primaveras3:1212Asturias4:0813Moratalá4:1814Mi rumbita pa tus pies (remix)3:4815Con la luna llena (edición vuelta a España '04)3:1916Trae pa'k esa yerba güena3:42, with twelve songs. In December 2003, this disc was rereleased with two new songs, "Asturias" and "Moratalá". However, he reached true fame when the 2004 Vuelta a España chose his song "Con la luna llena×Con la luna llenaSingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Con la luna llena3:48" as its official theme. In May 2004, he started a small tour around Spain, selling 50,000 copies of his CD, making it a gold album.

In 2005, he released his second solo CD, Que el cielo espere sentao, which has sold more than 200,000 copies. Later that same year, he rereleased the album with three new songs, "El Nano×El Nano29 February 2008 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1El Nano2:49", "La dama y el vagabundo×La dama y el vagabundoSingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1La dama y el vagabundo2:53" and "Carlota×CarlotaSingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Carlota4:23", and a Live concert DVD recorded in Oviedo. He also became a father that year, and received the Onda award for Best Song of the Year for "Caminando por la vida×Caminando por la vida22 April 2008 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Con solo una sonrisa3:502Loco3:383Con la luna llena3:514Por amarte tanto3:405Calle la Pantomima3:086Con tu amor es suficiente3:137Caminando por la vida3:588Firmes3:539Kisiera yo saber3:3910Hasta que la muerte los separe4:3711Billy el Pistolero3:5312Que el cielo espere sentao3:23". In November 2005, he received seven Platinum Discs for his two albums. Sin noticias... received four and Que el cielo... three.
In 2006, it was announced that Melendi would be one of the main stars in the PSP game Gangs of London. Melendi played Mr. Big, an evil gangster. He also wrote the song "Gangs of London×Gangs of London28 July 2006 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Gangs of London3:08" for the occasion, going on to film a video amidst police lights and sirens. The videogame was launched on 1 August of that year in the UK and on 6 September in Spain; EMI stepped in to distribute his CDs worldwide. He also wrote the song "Volveremos" (We Shall Return) for Real Oviedo. The singer is also involved in the production of the film Vuelvo a traficar (I'm Dealing Again). Mientras no cueste trabajo was released on 13 November 2006, in two formats: a normal CD with 12 songs, and a special edition, with 16 songs and a DVD with extras. The disc was rereleased on 29 October 2009, with four new songs, "Firmes", "El rey de la baraja", "La aceituna", and "Me gusta el fútbol×Me gusta el fútbolSingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Me gusta el fútbol2:31".

2007–2010: Curiosa la cara de tu padre and Volvamos a empezar

In 2007, Melendi received the "Best Tour" award from the Premios de la Música ceremony held in Cordoba. He also did an advertising campaign for Canal+ Spain entitled "Me gusta el fútbol×Me gusta el fútbolSingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Me gusta el fútbol2:31" (I Like Football), for which he wrote a song of the same name.
Also in 2007, Melendi stood trial for provoking an incident while under the influence of alcohol on a flight from Madrid to Mexico City that required the pilot to return to Madrid two hours after takeoff. He was released after testifying. Soon after, he was given the "Left Foot" award from Spanish radio station Cadena 100 for this incident.
Currently, Melendi directs his Blue Donkey Music company, helping young singers start their careers. He has offered contracts to four groups, Algunos Hombres Buenos, Rasel, La Dama y Belo, and Los Susodichos. This last group was nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Rock Vocals. Algunos Hombres Buenos left the label in 2008.
On 9 August 2008, he presented his new single, "Un violinista en tu tejado" from his album Curiosa la cara de tu padre×Curiosa la cara de tu padre16 September 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Como una vela3:412Un violinista en tu tejado3:423Un tipo diferente3:524Piratas del Bar Caribe4:045Déjame vivir3:426Mis alas son tus hojas3:387Maldita vida loca3:498En ocasiones veo muertos3:259Que mas puede salir mal3:1210Las cosas del amor3:2311Curiosa la cara de tu padre3:3112Los premios pinocho / La mi mozuca8:29 on Spanish radio station Los 40 Principales. The album was released on 16 September 2008. On 12 December, Los 40 Principales awarded him their award for this album.
On 17 December 2009, he released a new double CD, Aún más curiosa la cara de tu padre, including the original disc and another with nine new songs and links to exclusive content on his website.

2011–2015: Lágrimas desordenadas, Un alumno más and Directo a septiembre

In 2011, Melendi recorded a cover of "True colours" by Cyndi Lauper in Catalan called "Ulls dolços", for the CD of TV3's telethon La Marató.
On 13 November 2012, he released a new album called Lágrimas desordenadas×Lágrimas desordenadas13 November 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Tu jardín con enanitos2Lágrimas desordenadas3Cheque al portamor4Tu lista de enemigos5Aprendiz de caballero6Autofotos7Mi primer beso8La tortura de Lyss9De pequeño fue el coco10Gatos celestes11De repente desperté12Cheque al portamor (acústico)13Tu jardín con enanitos (acústico)14De pequeño fue el coco (acústico). He went on a tour of Spain and Latin America later that same year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his first solo album.
His latest album, Un alumno más×Un alumno más25 November 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1La promesa3:532Tocado y hundido3:323La religión de los idiotas3:294Saraluna7:135Cenizas en la eternidad5:566El amor es un arte4:267Septiembre4:068Colgado de la vecina3:399Tú de Elvis y yo de Marilyn3:4410Posdata4:3611El gordo y el narco3:25, was released on 25 November 2014. Over the four months before the album was released, two songs from the album were released as lyrics videos. One was released as a single ("Tocado y hundido"), and one was released in an acoustic version.

2016–2018: Quítate las gafas and Ahora

In 2016, Melendi issued Quítate las gafas, featuring collaboration with ChocQuibTown. The first single from the album was "Desde Que Estamos Juntos", released on 23 September 2016. The other songs released were "La Casa No Es Igual", "Destino o Casualidad×Destino o casualidadSingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Destino o casualidad4:19" and "Yo Me Veo Contigo×Yo me veo contigo7 December 2017 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Tocado y hundido3:32". On 2 June 2017, he released a remix version of "Destino o Casualidad" with American duo Ha*Ash, along with the music video. On 8 December 2017, he released a second compilation album, Yo me veo contigo, with 11 songs.

2019–present: 10:20:40

In October 2019, Melendi joined as coach of the second Mexican season of La Voz Kids by Televisa.
On 29 November 2019, he released a new album called 10:20:40, featuring collaboration with Cali y El Dandee.

Private life

From the early beginnings of his career, Melendi has been surrounded by a series of constant myths about his life. The most known myths were that he was involved with drug trafficking during his youth and that he had been in jail. There were false reports announcing his alleged death from an overdose or shootings. These myths reached such notoriety that the artist himself made fun of them in a 2004 concert in Zamora.
In November 2007, he was involved in an altercation while intoxicated on a flight from Madrid to Mexico. Because of the severity of the fight, the pilot returned to the departure point two hours after takeoff. Melendi was arrested and then released shortly after.
Melendi's first marriage with Miriam Martinez resulted in the birth of his first child, Carlota Melendi Martinez, in 2005. He was then married to Damaris Abad from 2010 to 2014. In 2014, he met the Argentine actress and dancer Julia Nakamatsu, who later appeared in his music video for "La promesa." He married Nakamatsu in 2019, and they have four children together: Marco, Lola, Abril, and Dakota.
In 2023 Melendi revealed that his grandfather is originally from Camagüey, Cuba.

Artistry

Influences
The artistic beginnings of Melendi were not academic nor formal; he does not have an official musical education, he mentions he started singing and playing guitar at the age of 16. His artistic inspirations are reflections of the artist's background, showcasing elements from the Spanish culture and folkloric genres such as flamenco and Rumba flamenca, Melendi’s biggest artistic inspirations are Joaquín Sabina, Jose Manuel Serrat, and Pablo Milanés. Melendi began his career focusing on the popular styles and rhythms of Spain in the early 2000’s such as flamenco and Pop rock widely present on his debut album “Sin noticias de Holanda×Sin noticias de Holanda2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Mi rumbita pa tus pies3:172Desde mi ventana3:473Sé lo que hicisteis3:494Sin noticias de Holanda4:005Un recuerdo que olvidar2:496Con la luna llena3:487Hablando en plata3:058El informe del forense3:189Vuelvo a traficar3:4810Una historia de tantas4:0111Contando primaveras3:1212Asturias4:0813Moratalá4:1814Mi rumbita pa tus pies (remix)3:4815Con la luna llena (edición vuelta a España '04)3:1916Trae pa'k esa yerba güena3:42”. His musical journey showcases a clear switch as the artist has transitioned from the rhythms of flamenco to more produced and refined pop-rock infused with orchestral elements. The artist himself has recognized the evolution of his music in an interview where he mentioned that it's hard for him to listen to his first albums not because he finds them bad, but because he doesn't recognize himself. He has mentioned that each album represents a specific moment in his life but especially highlights the third album on which he had his first child. The artist mentions that most of his musical references come from the music his parents used to listen to and that he enjoys listening to those artists' interviews and learning where their music comes from. Melendez calls himself a creative person rather than an artist and, as a creative person, he understands the creative process. He writes a song by doing research, asking for different opinions and then he begins the writing process.