A confident, mood-driven debut inspired by life on the road.
Photo credit: Monsieur Mellow – Official
Australian producer and songwriter Callum MacDonald, best known as a member of R&B/soul group daste., steps into new territory with the launch of his solo project, Monsieur Mellow. The debut single, ‘Paris Strut’, is out now.
Written in the wake of a UK/EU tour with daste., ‘Paris Strut’ captures a sense of momentum and rediscovery. “The time on the road left me deeply inspired by Caribbean, reggae, disco, and funk,” MacDonald explains. “For the first time I felt a clear sense of direction for music that existed outside of the band.”
The track blends elements of jazz-house, funk, and soul, centered around a raw acappella sample from Parbleu’s ‘Pas de Saints Au Paradis’. Layered with soft pads, live-feeling drums, guitar, and bass, the song evokes a band playing together in real time — warm, loose, and instinctive.
MacDonald, who produced, mixed, and designed the artwork for the release, says: “This project is about following instinct, world influences, and creating groove-setting music that feels raw and rough around the edges.”
‘Paris Strut’ also sets the tone for Monsieur Mellow’s forthcoming debut EP, which is already completed.
Listen to ‘Paris Strut’ below and grab your copy here.
