Melaku’s ‘The Underdog’ Reminds Us What It Means To Persevere

Melaku's latest single, “The Underdog,” turns personal struggles into a soulful anthem of resilience. 

Rooted in his love for the retro sounds of the 60s and 70s, the song channels smooth piano melodies, understated percussion, and emotive electric guitar to back Melaku’s polished vocals. 

Written alongside renowned songwriter Gary Benson, “The Underdog” began as a reggae track before transforming into a heartfelt ballad—proving that sometimes, change creates magic.

Drawing from his own life, Melaku knows what it feels like to be an underdog. Whether it was battling health issues, navigating life as a mixed-race artist, or breaking into the music industry, he’s faced challenges head-on. This track is a tribute to anyone who’s felt counted out but kept going anyway. As Melaku puts it, “Ain’t gonna break, ‘cause that’s who he is.”

The music video takes the song’s message a step further. Directed by Melaku, the video pairs his smooth performance alongside friend Michael Martinez on piano with clips of athletes once dismissed but later celebrated for their greatness. With its raw simplicity, the video draws you in, letting the music and visuals speak for themselves.

The single is now available on all streaming platforms—perfect for anyone who needs a little encouragement to keep moving forward.

We’re excited to see you out here with another music release, especially the kind of message that “The Underdog” has. What advice would you give to other artists or individuals who feel underdogs in their lives and careers?

Hey guys, good to be back! Thanks for the appreciation of the song’s message. Hmm, what advice would I give… I feel like so many of us can relate to being behind. Social media makes it easy to compare yourself to other people on their journey. But the thing about it is that each of us is totally unique. And what happens for someone else on their life path really doesn’t reflect on where we are on ours. It doesn’t matter your age or how many obstacles you’ve had to overcome. It’s worth it to keep going because you never know what could happen. People love a good underdog story, and the universe does, too.

Your music blends retro influences with modern themes. How do you strike that balance between nostalgia and staying relevant to today’s listeners?

I have to admit, it’s been quite the process to find that balance! I grew up listening to music from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and that music (classic rock, Motown, funk, soul, reggae, and AM gold) informs a lot of my style. I’ve also always known I want to create “Pop” music, so that means staying up to date, to a certain extent, on current music and production styles. So, to incorporate both influences, I use a lot of organic instruments but blend those with subtle layering and synths, as well as modern techniques to elevate the mix. Ultimately, to me, the most important thing is being authentic and making the music I actually want to make…not chasing trends.

You and Gary Benson reworked ‘The Underdog’ from a reggae track into a ballad. What drew you to this new direction, and how did it elevate the message?

Yeah! Gary originally intended to pitch this song to a reggae artist since he had close relationships with many stars. He sent it to me to see what I could do with it, incorporating my retro pop sound. I love reggae, and have a lot of friends in my local reggae scene, but I have my own style that is a fusion of pop, rock, and retro that I am committed to. So, it was a collaborative effort to rework the song, and we went through a couple of iterations to get it right. Since the song is motivational, having it be a ballad that grows in dynamics for the track took the track to new heights and allowed it to really emphasize the story of the underdog’s transformation from struggle to triumph.

The music video features vintage sports clips alongside your performance. As someone who has faced challenges, what personal connection do you have to the athletes you chose to highlight?

So having those vintage sports moments definitely adds to the retro vibe, and ties in some iconic moments out of underdogs who overcame all the odds. Some of the clips are pulled from the greatest classic underdog stories in sports. Other athletes have more of a personal connection to me. Being half black, figures like Tiger gave me hope in being able to straddle worlds. I am half Ethiopian, to be exact, and featuring Haile Gebrselassie is a nod to that heritage. I’ve also had a lot of struggles with my health (and always loved cars), so featuring Niki Lauda’s triumph in F1 after a near-fatal crash that burned his face badly felt powerful to showcase.

Having started your career with internships and songwriting for major producers, how has releasing independent music shaped your artistic growth?

Those early experiences gave me a window into the music industry that I may not have gotten otherwise. I got to experience what it was like pitching songs to major artists, being in writing camps, and getting a behind-the-scenes look at the A&R process at major labels. But ultimately, I am a Leo rising, and I have loved writing songs and being on stage since I was a kid. So, I decided to live my truth and not pretend like I wanted to work behind the scenes, even if that might have led to being an artist in a major. Being independent allows me to have total creative freedom, and I am very freedom-oriented, so that works well for me. It’s allowed me to take my time in crafting my artistic identity, which involves continuing to make crossover pop/rock music with a message and meaning.

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