Making Sure The Marginalized Leave The Sidelines

Diana Figueroa for Shifted News

Since moving from Chicago to Berlin in 1995, Melissa Perales has already made a name for herself within the city’s music landscape. She currently works as an event curator and music promoter, having already co-founded three major music events in Berlin: Torstrassen Festival, Music Pool Berlin, and more recently the ‘We Make Waves’ Conference, an inclusionary festival for women, trans, and non-binary individuals in the industry with the aim of connecting existing communities within and beyond Berlin’s borders. During this year’s re:publica, Melissa will be sitting down with three other music activists in the hopes of continuing to develop safer, more community-oriented spaces and platforms for both musicians and music lovers alike.

How did your passion for music start and later, evolve since being in Berlin?

I got into music through film, since I studied film. It came to the point where I was having a stronger connection [with music], and it just kept growing. Since I’ve been in Berlin and became a part of the creative scenes, I realized they all melt into one other. For me, whether it was film or music, it wasn’t so important what, as long as I was making something, creating something and I found a place where I could meet people and create things without a lot of commercial attachment. I thought, “well if you have a good idea, you can do it here.”

What’s it like being an entrepreneur in the music industry?

I took my knowledge of film, put it together with my love of music, and that’s what started it all. In the very many jobs I have, the festivals and the space for musicians I run, Music Pool Berlin, there I discovered my love of also mentoring other people: talking to them, coaching them, using and sharing knowledge and pumping them up. I became a sort of music therapist. Also, seeing the women around me not getting the same acceptance. They were as good as the guys were but not getting to the same space as quickly. I felt like this was something that I could help with because of my position as a decision maker in the spaces and festivals that I organize.

Your panel is called ‘Spot on for the Marginalized!’ - Why is it so important to be an activist within the industry?

It’s always about starting the conversation, but the work has to go beyond that, especially with the interests of the people that will be at re:publica and the people interested in music, which is what’s really nice about the Music & Sovereignty section they’re building up. I don’t think I could’ve done the job I do without using the Internet as my source for everything: whether it’s finding new artists, or communicating with people, getting the information I need or the people I need. I started using MySpace which started my career in the music business and I really started cold finding people and contacting them. With the event at re:publica, I really just am hoping that everyone is able to start the conversation?

Any advice for someone wanting to make waves of change within their own lives as musicians?

Stick to your path, what you believe in, and really go for it, no matter what comes your way. It’s kind of like problem solving: using a network of people, any contacts, and by supporting anyone you can believe in. Find a community, create a community. You have to be as organized as possible, which is really hard to stick to, but stick to your guns when every day is different. Help each other out, and look [out] for other people that you can help, because it’ll help you.