We spoke with Mike Melan about “Blood in Your Kisses” and more!

Q: Hi! Blood in Your Kisses — that title hits hard. Do you remember where that phrase first came from?

A: The song was written around the title, ‘Blood in Your Kisses.’ That phrase came to me and just stuck in my head. It has such a great, dark hook to it. II loved the contradiction in it – the idea of something intimate and loving, a kiss, being simultaneously dangerous and wounding. For me, it was the perfect metaphor for a relationship that was intoxicating but ultimately toxic. It’s about that moment you realise the very thing that felt like affection was actually causing you harm, leaving a stain that’s hard to wash away.

Q: When you finished the song, did you have that “yeah, this one’s different” kind of feeling, or did it sneak up on you later?

A: The heart of the song—the lyrics—was always there, but it took two tries to find its true voice. The first version felt like a sketch; it had the shape but not the soul. I knew it needed more, so I rebuilt it from the ground up: pushing it into a higher key for greater emotional stakes and carving out a melody that you couldn’t ignore. The breakthrough came with the final arrangement. It was like the lyrics finally had their perfect setting, and the song just came to life in a way that felt absolutely right and something I’m deeply proud of.   

Q: The song’s got this mix of grit and emotion — what kind of headspace were you in when you wrote it?

A: Strangely, writing it felt more reflective than raw. By the time I put pen to paper, significant time had passed. That distance was a gift—it allowed me to process the pain and appreciate the complexity of it all. So, while the song is born from a love that went bad, it’s not just an angry lament. It’s a bittersweet homage to an experience that, for all its difficulty, fundamentally changed me. It’s less about the fresh wound and more about understanding the scar it left.”

Q: Were you chasing a certain sound with this one, or did it just sort of evolve in the studio?

A:Absolutely. The vision was always something warm and organic, centered around a full band. I built the foundation on an acoustic rhythm guitar to keep it grounded. Then, we layered in a melancholic pedal steel to really amplify that aching, bittersweet feeling, and used keyboards to add texture and depth. Finally, the harmony vocals were essential—they’re like the emotional heart of the song, wrapping around the lyrics to elevate that sense of longing and memory.   

Q: I’ve heard shades of classic rock and a bit of 90s alt in there — who or what was influencing you around that time?

A: My heart belongs to the ’90s, and that era is a huge influence on my sound. While I appreciated the raw energy of grunge, my songwriting naturally leans towards the more melodic, easy-listening side of alternative rock. At the time, I was deeply immersed in artists like The Wallflowers, Counting Crows, and The Cure – bands that masterfully blended poetic lyrics with accessible melodies. I think you can definitely hear those fingerprints on this recording. 

Q: Every song has that one studio moment that changes everything — did that happen with this track?

A:The female harmonies were the final piece of magic the track needed. We had the core song recorded, but it was missing an essential layer of emotion. The moment those harmonies came in, the entire song lifted. They created this beautiful, almost duet-like quality, where the backing vocal feels like the ghost of the relationship—a memory echoing the main lyric, which perfectly underscores the theme of reminiscing on a lost love. 

Q: Lyrically, it feels personal but not too on-the-nose. How do you decide how much of yourself to put into a song like this?

A: While the song is deeply personal, I’ve always been drawn to lyrics that are more evocative than literal. I don’t aim to be cryptic to obscure meaning, but rather to create space for the listener to find their own story within mine. In ‘Blood in Your Kisses,’ I used powerful, symbolic imagery to tell that story. It’s less about documenting the specific events and more about capturing the universal feeling of a love that was both intoxicating and damaging—and allowing the listener to color in those lines with their own experiences.  

Q: When you first started playing it for people, did anyone interpret it in a way that surprised you?

A: I have heard that, and it’s interesting – some listeners, particularly those outside the alternative genre, did find it quite dark. My intention was always to write a heartfelt ballad, just from a more raw and honest perspective. In retrospect, I can see how the intense imagery contributes to that perception, but for me, that texture was essential. It’s what gives the song its emotional weight and, I hope, what makes it memorable and leave a lasting impression 

Q: The song has this kind of cinematic energy — if it were in a film, what kind of scene do you think it would soundtrack?

A: That’s a tough one, as I’m not a huge movie buff, but I love this question. I think the song could work in a dark comedy or an intense drama. I can picture it scoring a crucial scene where a character has a moment of painful clarity, perhaps right after a betrayal, or as they’re finally gathering the strength to walk away from a relationship they know is poisonous. The bittersweet tone would underscore that mix of heartbreak and resolve perfectly   

Q: Looking back, how do you feel Blood in Your Kisses fits into your story as an artist — was it a turning point, or more like another chapter?

A:Given the sixty-plus songs I’ve recorded, it’s a chapter—but a defining one. This track forced me out of my comfort zone in two key ways: vocally, by demanding a higher range, and production-wise, by requiring a more complex arrangement that took time to nail. That process of stretching and refining makes it feel less like just another song and more like a milestone in my development as an artist    

Q: When you play it live now, has it changed at all? Maybe the way you sing it, or the way it feels to perform?

A: This was actually the second iteration of the song, and the final version is very much a studio creation built on specific textures – the cry of the pedal steel, those keyboard layers, and the female backing harmonies. As a solo artist, a live set has a different dynamic. I’m currently curating a setlist that works in a more stripped-down format, so for now, doing justice to ‘Blood in Your Kisses’ live is a challenge. It’s a song I’d love to tackle when I have a full band behind me.”

Q: And what’s next for you — what’s coming up in the rest of the year that you’re excited about?

A: There’s a lot happening, which is exciting! I’m currently in the thick of promoting my new album, ‘Lightning Strikes at Altitude,’ which features ‘Blood in Your Kisses’ and launched this summer. But I’m already looking ahead—I’m deep into recording my next album for a 2026 release. On top of that, I’m revisiting my back catalog to re-record some older songs and rehearsing for some upcoming solo gigs. It’s a busy and creative time!