Although currently based in Los Angeles, Adam Melchor hails from New Jersey, where he honed his chops in pizzarias, dive bars, and churches. On Melchor Lullaby Hotline, Vol. 1, all that work comes together in a beautifully soothing 12-track folk-pop record. Many of the songs were previously released as part of the Melchor Lullaby Hotline, a project he started to connect with fans throughout the pandemic. A testament to the strength of his talent as a musician and a storyteller, both polished studio recordings and voice memos feel equally at home on the mixtape.
On “Moon in the Morning,” Melchor wastes no time in showing off his vocal range. Tenderly and expertly shifting into his upper register, he pleads with his lover to consider staying a while longer. The single “Last Time” follows with a message that really resonates during the pandemic. Singing “everytime you go I’m scared it’s gonna be the last time,” Melchor perfectly captures the heaviness of goodbyes when reuniting is so uncertain.
For an uptempo, stomp and holler track, look no further than “Begin Again”. Featuring a rousing sing-along chorus, this song might just convince you to text your ex, so proceed with caution. Another noteworthy moment on the mixtape is “i’m not okay,” a striking acoustic reimagination of the classic My Chemical Romance song.
Adam Melchor is set to celebrate this release with a 10-date socially-distanced tour with Flipturn across the southern US. In the meantime, the weekly Lullaby Hotline Podcast, which features his newest tunes, is available whenever and wherever you need to relax, unwind, and heal.