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Mehlani Payton, going by the stage name Mehlani, is getting ready for the release of her single "Down Bad" which will hit streaming platforms on Saturday, Feb. 25, as stated in an exclusive interview with Daily Voice.
The single is stylistically similar to her first release, "Boyfriend", which was released when she was just 15, giving listeners an upbeat pop-rock tune.
The singer-songwriter opened up to Daily Voice, detailing her experiences that led her to really push to pursue a career in music.
"I'm starting to see what I want for my future", the Old Mill High School student proudly proclaimed, continuing, "the pace of my music will be a lot different moving forward and I've realized what my calling is and what my purpose is".
Mehlani's path wasn't always so clear; however, as the singer-songwriter struggled with wanting to please others before herself, discouraging her from following her dreams to pursue something more reliable.
"I looked into being a dermatologist or psychologist" Mehlani said about her career focus, continuing, "being so young and having people tell you that you can't be successful at something, and that your chances at something are slim can be really discouraging".
Despite the discouragement, the teen persevered, nearly completing her first EP while maintaining a 4.2 GPA.
"Growing up in an Asian household, the pressure was intense to maintain my grades", the singer said. "My mother would always let me know when I had to pull myself together and she has always been really supportive".
Students and teachers at Old Mill High School have also shown their support, participating in a scavenger hunt about her newest single to help promote the release.
"My friends would take selfies with the QR codes hidden around the school and post them on their social media which has been really supportive", Mehlani said.
The teen's perspective on the direction she wants her career to go has changed the most within the last few years, after she had to pick up the role of being both a child and mother after her own mother was deployed for ten months in the US Navy.
"I was latching on to things and people that were not good for me and thats where a genre shift kind of happened", stated Mehlani.
Mehlani has since started focusing on writing ballad-type songs that together tell a story, often focusing on self-image and confidence, which is a jump from her previous pop-rock sounds.
Mehlani got her start as a singer-songwriter at just 12-years-old, when she completed her first song, and was later gifted a piano keyboard, which she used to continue to write and learn about music.
The Old Mills High School senior has since learned how to play the guitar, bass, and is starting on drums, hoping to eventually produce her music on her own.
"i don't think a small town should stop you from doing something," Mehlani said. "it's really about determination and not your location".
The teen has applied to both Berklee College of Music and Harvard, with plans to move to Boston to pursue a career in music after graduation.
"I want to be transparent with my music and encourage other people to find an outlet that is healthy".
Mehlani's single "Down Bad" will hit all major streaming platforms at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 25.
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