“More often than not I’m just enjoying the process, as well as what comes out of it.” We really felt these words by Monsieur Mellow during our conversation. Because especially when making music — and maybe in life in general — there is something beautiful about not trying to control everything all the time. About letting go a little, diving fully into the moment, and allowing things to happen naturally. Sometimes the process itself already becomes the reward, while the final result is simply the beautiful extension of it.
“Right now, life feels full of colour and opportunity.”
His new EP Dreaming In Colour is truly a joy to listen to. It’s the kind of record that gently pulls you into its own world, just like the title suggests. Warm like sunlight on skin, cinematic without trying too hard, soulful, flowing, and filled with this beautiful sense of ease. Music for late afternoons, quiet reflections, long drives, or simply getting lost in your own thoughts for a little while.
Known as a core member of Brisbane outfit daste., Callum MacDonald explores a more instinctive and raw side of himself through his solo project Monsieur Mellow. “I’d rather the tracks be guided by feel and energy than a flawless take,” he tells us during our conversation.
We spoke with him about trusting intuition, slowing down, moving to London, collaborations, personal growth, and how life lately feels “full of colour and opportunity.”
photography by Lauren Whitehill
Callum MacDonald, hello and welcome to our interview. (smiles) Monsieur Mellow is your name for your solo project — what’s behind the name?
There isn’t a huge amount of lore behind the name. Once I had a few demos ready, I still wasn’t sure what to call the project. I was away playing shows with my band daste., and my bandmate Tyler and I got chatting about it. He said, “I always thought you’d go with ‘Monsieur Mellow’,” which happens to be my Xbox handle. In that moment, I realised he was absolutely right.
I really love the new EP. From the very first track I felt good, almost like being inside a movie. Is that something you aim for when creating music?
Honestly, no. I don’t really aim for anything when I’m making the music, however, I’m well aware the music always becomes quite cinematic and people always tell me this as well. It’s cool to hear and I understand it, but it’s not something I aim for.
The Monsieur Mellow project feels different from your work with daste. — what does this alias allow you to express that you couldn’t before?
I feel completely free to express myself in daste., there’s never a sense that I’m holding anything back. The difference with this project is more in how the songs come together. With the band, there’s a really refined process where we shape everything until it feels as close to perfect as possible.
With Monsieur Mellow, I lean more into rawness and instinct. I’m not chasing perfection in the same way. I’d rather the tracks be guided by feel and energy than a flawless take. I think that approach gives the recordings more of a live, immediate quality.
“I’m less concerned with how others see me, and more focused on just being who I am.”
“Dreaming In Colour” is also such a beautiful title. I feel like I understand the intention behind it — that you’ve come closer to yourself musically in recent times. Would you say that’s true?
Absolutely. I feel this across all the projects I’m involved in. I don’t need as much time as I used to to get something to a place I’m happy with. I think I’ve really grown as both a producer and a writer, and with that has come a big wave of confidence.
The anxiety still shows up from time to time, but more often than not I’m just enjoying the process, as well as what comes out of it. I also feel like the title Dreaming In Colour reaches beyond the music itself.
The album cover is in black and white, almost like a contrast to the title. How important are visuals in your overall artistic world?
If I’m being honest, I don’t put too much thought into the visuals. It might’ve been nice to create something that really captured the idea of Dreaming In Colour, but I tend to just go with artwork I think looks cool and remind myself that the music is what matters most to me.
That might change as the project grows, but for now I don’t place a huge amount of importance on the visual side of things.
“Slow Down” is another beautiful title and song. We had a previous issue about the art of slowing down, and it really resonates. (smiles) Is that something you’ve learned — to be more present in the moment?
It’s something I’ve really come to learn over the past couple of years. Maybe it’s just part of getting older, but I feel far more in tune with myself now. I’m less concerned with how others see me, and more focused on just being who I am. In a way, that’s led me into the kind of life I’d always hoped to be living anyway.
That shift has shown up both musically and personally, and it’s made getting older feel a lot less daunting and much more exciting.
“I’d rather the tracks be guided by feel and energy than a flawless take.”
Collaboration also plays a role on the EP — what kind of colours did working with artists like Taj Ralph and Jackson James Smith bring into your world?
I think it brought in the colours I always felt the songs needed. I’ve been a fan of both of those guys for a long time, and when I made the demos they ended up contributing to, I had a feeling they’d fit the vision perfectly. It’s been amazing to see that feeling was mutual and completely right.
I definitely want to keep collaborating too; there’s nothing more rewarding than hearing someone you admire bring something of their own to your track.
You said the music reflects where you’re at in life — so tell us, what does this phase of your life look like right now?
I recently moved to London, which has been one of the biggest decisions of my life and something I’ve dreamed about since I was a teenager. Since arriving, everything’s really started to fall into place. I’ve built a great community of friends, both within the industry and beyond, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more fulfilled.
My partner and I are also expecting a baby toward the end of the year, which has been one of the most exciting experiences of my life so far and has added a whole new sense of perspective to everything.
Right now, life feels full of colour and opportunity, with plenty of challenges that I’m genuinely excited to take on.
And lastly, what is the most important thing in life for you at the moment?
I’d say it’s my partner and our little one on the way. It’s what I wake up thinking about, what stays on my mind, and what excites me every day. I can’t wait to see how the experience shapes the rest of my life, especially my music, as I feel like it’s going to shift my whole perspective and naturally find its way into what I create.
Check out the Dreaming In Colour EP here:
bfan.link/dreaming-in-colour-ep
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