Melon

Dutch DJ and producer MELON conceals his true identity behind a vivid anime-style mask modeled after a cheerful slice of melon. His body of work centers on upbeat reinterpretations of mainstream pop and dance tracks. The project's debut arrived in 2023 as the expansive 51-song collection This Is MELON, Vol. 1 [Dance], whose contents also surfaced in accelerated and decelerated editions aligned with prevailing internet trends.

MELON maintains ties to Strange Fruits, the Dutch dance imprint established by Steve Void that began issuing original material in 2017, frequently adorned with produce-themed visuals. Strange Fruits Music and its Dance Fruits Music offshoot subsequently turned to EDM reworkings of well-known songs, among them the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" and Alice Deejay's "Better Off Alone." Both tracks appeared on the 2021 compilation Strange Fruits Music, whose artwork displayed a luminous melon visage. Over time the MELON concept evolved into a fully realized character, culminating in the 2022 original single "Hello Hello," a collaboration with INNA. The same 51-track This Is MELON, Vol. 1 [Dance] surfaced that following year and encompassed covers drawn from Avicii, ABBA, Justin Timberlake, and additional hitmakers. Extended mixes joined the sped-up, sped-up nightcore, and slowed + reverb variants already noted.