Washington D.C. → Los Angeles

MELANIEHalfkenny

a star in the making

Actress. Recording artist. Funk × rap × country & western — captured live on three cinema cameras by the Dakar Apprenticeship crew.

Watch “Put It On You”

The LA Arrival

01 · The Story

East Coast voice. West Coast stage. One story, told with lived experience and lyrical precision.

Melanie Halfkenny seated for her interview with Dakar crew member Kevin Aguirre

In conversation with Dakar’s Kevin Aguirre · LA 2026

D.C.

Born & raised in the DMV

Washington D.C. native. East Coast grit, gospel-deep roots, and a work ethic sharpened block by block.

2011

The studio years

Recording since 2011 — a soul and R&B catalog where the voice was forged, one session at a time.

2019

Queen & Slim

Her breakout on screen — playing Naomi in the acclaimed film. Hollywood took notice.

2026

The LA arrival

From the East Coast to the West — an evolution shaped by grit, growth, and creative fearlessness. The coming-out moment.

02 · The Sound

Three worlds. One voice.

The early catalog lived in soul & R&B. The sound she brought to Los Angeles fuses funk, rap, and country & western — a voice, a presence, a moving storyboard.

The Records

Recording since 2011

EP · 2017

In My Feelings

The soul & R&B chapter — where the voice was forged.

Album · 15 tracks

Element

A fifteen-track statement of range.

Single

In the Morning

Single

Love Me

Single

Play It

Drag · arrows · ← →

Latest Releases

Full discography

ListenLast Samurai (Single)ListenGot The Gun ListenElement (Album)

The Official Video

“Put It On You”

The official video — press play right here, or open it on YouTube.

Watch on YouTube

The first project release is coming

Be on the list the moment it drops — plus first word on new dates at The Mint.

Watch “Put It On You”

03 · On Screen

The camera found her first.

Queen & Slim

2019 · as “Naomi”

Her breakout — the acclaimed Universal Pictures drama. A DMV native stepping onto the biggest screen — and bringing that same cinematic presence to every stage she touches.

Finding Destiny

Feature film credit.

Super Turnt

Feature film credit.

Full filmography on IMDb

New Film

Speechless — now in trailer

Watch the trailer, browse the full filmography and press — all on the film page.

Film & Press IMDb

04 · Live — The LA Arrival

Two nights. One city put on notice.

Live Vibes Thursday

January 8, 2026

The Coming Out Promo Party

Eastwood Night Club · Koreatown, Los Angeles

Her first Los Angeles performance — a defining debut. A 45-minute set backed by a live band and a powerhouse background vocalist. Not just a party: a launchpad.

Volume 2 · Live Band

February 7, 2026

The Melanie Halfkenny Experience

The Mint · Los Angeles

The encore hit different. Film-and-television presence brought straight into the music realm — cinematic storytelling, a killer live band, and a room fully locked in.

Official show poster — The Melanie Halfkenny Experience, live band, The Mint LA, February 7 2026

Upcoming tour dates at The Mint, Los Angeles
The release of her first project
A supporting feature film currently in development

05 · The Band

A killer live band that set the room on fire.

Jose V on bass and Aisha on drums behind Melanie Halfkenny on stage

The rhythm section

Jake Biller on guitar alongside the background vocalist at The Mint

Strings & voices

Jose V

Bass

Ant

Keys

Aisha

Drums

Jake Biller

Guitar

With every performance, Melanie and her band find a stronger rhythm together — peaking at just the right moment as her Hollywood ascent continues.

06 · Gallery

Every frame is real.

Shot live in the room — Eastwood Night Club and The Mint LA — on a three-camera cinematic setup by the Dakar Apprenticeship crew.

Melanie Halfkenny in her signature fur hat and black-and-cream fur coat, leaning against a reclaimed-wood and brick wall — Eastwood LA, photo by Joren Photography

Melanie Halfkenny belting into the microphone, fur hat backlit by amber stage light — photo by Joren Photography

Melanie Halfkenny onstage in full fur ensemble with the live band behind her — photo by Joren Photography

Melanie standing tall in the fur coat in front of the lit EASTWOOD venue sign — photo by Joren Photography

Melanie Halfkenny seated regally beside the white LA marquee letters in head-to-toe fur — photo by Joren Photography

Melanie Halfkenny mid-song at the Eastwood debut with the live band behind her — photo by Joren Photography

Full-stage view of Melanie Halfkenny commanding the Eastwood Night Club stage with her band — photo by Joren Photography

Tight editorial portrait of Melanie Halfkenny in the fur hat and coat against reclaimed wood and brick — photo by Joren Photography

Melanie Halfkenny in fur hat against a textured brick wall, sleeve tattoos visible — photo by Joren Photography

07 · Behind the Lens

Documented by the Dakar Apprenticeship crew.

Invited by Melanie’s management, the Dakar Apprenticeship crew executed a three-camera cinematic setup at both Los Angeles shows — capturing every beat, reaction, and intimate moment of the night.

Beyond the spotlight, the shoots doubled as real-world training: apprentices gaining hands-on reps in production, camera ops, and live-event storytelling in a high-stakes creative environment. Press play for the behind-the-scenes film — the concert, the interview, and the crew that captured it all.

Read the story on dakar.institute Watch on YouTube

Behind the scenes — filmed by the Dakar crew

The Dakar Apprenticeship camera crew with their cinema rigs on location

Off Stage

Shop My Favorites

Beauty, food, wellness, and everyday perks I actually use — curated discounts in one place.

Explore the list

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08 · Follow the Ascent

Don’t say we didn’t tell you first.

@melaniehalfkenny

Management — Madisun Leigh & Jermain Hampton

First word on new dates & the first project release

Bookings & Press

For bookings, press, and collaborations, reach the team — Madisun Leigh & Jermain Hampton — via Instagram.

Contact the Team

MELANIEHalfkenny

East Coast voice. West Coast stage. One story, told with lived experience and lyrical precision.

Born & raised in the DMV

The studio years

Queen & Slim

The LA arrival

Three worlds. One voice.

The Records

In My Feelings

Element

In the Morning

Love Me

Play It

Latest Releases

“Put It On You”

The first project release is coming

The camera found her first.

Queen & Slim

Finding Destiny

Super Turnt

Speechless — now in trailer

Two nights. One city put on notice.

The Coming Out Promo Party

The Melanie Halfkenny Experience

The momentum is just starting

A killer live band that set the room on fire.

Jose V

Ant

Aisha

Jake Biller

Every frame is real.

Documented by the Dakar Apprenticeship crew.

Shop My Favorites

Don’t say we didn’t tell you first.