Meet Mel Washington | Singer/Songwriter/Producer & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mel Washington and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mel, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I used to work all of the time. With very little reward, I might add. But I believed in hustling. In paying my dues. As I’ve gotten older, I realize that I have let so much time pass me by without taking time to stop and smell the roses. A very amazing person entered my life just over 5 years ago and really helped me put things in perspective. I’m reminded of the question Jesus asked, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It’s been a long road to here. It’s been full of frustration, disappointment, A LOT of failure, and a ton of pain. But it’s also come with joy, happiness, reward, and fulfillment. The biggest lesson I’ve learned in my career along the way is to be prepared and the biggest lesson I’ve learned in my personal life is the things that there are things that I enjoy and there are things that bring me joy. Separating the two has been the most beneficial thing in my adult life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Charleston is full of rich history, beautiful scenery, and the best food you’ll ever eat! If a friend were coming and they’d never been here before, I’d have to show them either Folly Beach (stops at Bert’s Market, Chico Feo, and Low Life) or to waterfront park. You can’t come to Charleston and not see the water. I think I’d treat them to lunch on the patio at The Royal American at least one of those days, or to a delicious burger at Big Gun. I’d have to take them to my favorite French restaurant, Felix, at least one of those times and maybe even check out the Greek food at Stella’s. Now, if it’s seafood they are in the mood for, we’d definitely try out The Darling Oyster Bar and potentially The Establishment. For hangs and great cocktails, I’d be sure to take them to The Blind Tiger, Bumpa’s (also the best and ONLY scotch egg on the peninsula), or Big Johns, and then drag them out on a Wednesday night to Country Night at King Street Dispensary, where I play country songs for a few hours every week. Hampton Park is a beautiful place for a walk as is Pitt Street Bridge. I can’t let all the secrets out of the bag, but these are some of my favorite places in Charleston!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a huge shoutout to a person who has really taught me the ropes of the songwriting craft and the songwriting industry. His name is Wyatt Durette. With accolades for days and songwriting credits for Zac Brown Band, Luke Combs, and many others, not only has he taught me the skills of writing hit songs but how to navigate the industry and broaden my horizons with challenging situations and awareness to investment opportunities.

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Image Credits
Dylan Dawkins