“This particular single is about recognizing the blessing of a partner,” said local Americana artist Mel Washington of his newest song, “Been to Myself,” released Aug. 6.
“The chorus is reflective — ‘You’ve been better to me than I’ve been to myself. I don’t need to go looking for nobody else’ — and it’s also an affirmation. I find in my partner everything I desire and need as a person.”
“Been to Myself” is the third release from Washington’s upcoming album, Feast or Famine, which features local musicians Christian Chidester and Dylan Dawkins.
“It’s Southern — there’s some rock songs, some country songs, some folk songs,” Washington said of the new record. “It’s cohesive in the fact that it sounds like the South. I’m a Southern boy, I was raised here in Charleston. And while I have influences from all over, I wanted to make sure it sounded like me.”
After playing in local four-piece All Get Out, Washington did a stint in Nashville as a music publisher. His first solo endeavor was 2013 LP, Houses.
He made his way back to Charleston to focus on producing, working with Sondor Blue on the rock outfit’s first EP in 2016, and with City on Down, which is now rearranged as Greg Keys & Co.
When he started writing with local country musician Wyatt Durette in 2020, the material piled up as he was in the studio with Wolfgang Zimmerman arranging Feast and Famine.
“We’ve already started recording the next thing.”
Catch Mel Washington downtown at Bumpa’s Aug. 26.
Stay cool. Support City Paper. City Paper has been bringing the best news, food, arts, music and event coverage to the Holy City since 1997. Support our continued efforts to highlight the best of Charleston with a one-time donation or become a member of the City Paper Club.