In Conversation: Melanie Herrera

On April 2, 2026, pop singer-songwriter Melanie Herrera released her latest single, "Whatever's Left." After building a steady following on social media, this highly anticipated single explores the complexities of divorce through the eyes of a child with a poetic tone. Read Slipfast's conversation with Melanie below.

Written by Kayla Barnak

Slipfast: Where did you draw inspiration from when writing “Whatever’s Left?”

Herrera: I got it in my head that divorce as a child feels like a painting being left in the rain ("what can we do when the colors bleed?") – a finished work of art that suddenly got destroyed. I tried to write this song a few times until one day it truly just came out at the piano. Sonically, I was attracted to the way "Drunk on You" by Oh Wonder makes you feel – the intensity of the drums and that muted piano. I was also listening to Erin LeCount at the time – we really liked the harp elements in "Marble Arch."

Slipfast: How did the cover art come to be? Were there any specific lyrics within the song that tie into it? 

Herrera: This song is about feeling out of control when it comes to the specific grief of being a child of divorce. I had originally envisioned splashing around in a creek for this (water was something I really wanted to include, which we did with some of the video visuals), but we were shooting upstate, and because of recent rains, we had to change the approach due to safety issues. My director, Nora Unkel, had a vision for dancing at dusk with petals falling all around; I thought it was a great substitute that created a similar feeling to my initial idea. All of the photos for this song were taken as we filmed by Armaan Virani – the cover ended up being a lucky shot in the middle of a take. It was raw emotion and truly just a beautiful image!

Slipfast: This song is so perfectly detailed and the perfect balance of emotional and raw. What is the main message you hope listeners take away from the track? 

Herrera: Grief from being a child of divorce is very real. And for many of us, it follows us as we grow. When you go through something that alters the foundation of your life, especially when you're a kid, it can feel hugely overwhelming. Sometimes we don't know how to process the feelings that arise (we were only children, after all, and that particular fact was out of our control). So with this song, I want to put words to emotions that I couldn't describe at that age. Hopefully, it can help other people out there as they process their own similar experiences.

Slipfast: You recently released your EP in February of this year. Is the single a continuation of the EP story or the start of a new chapter?

Herrera: So streaming platforms are a little tricky that way. What is out right now is not an EP, but is, in fact, the waterfall release of my debut LP, which will be released at the end of May!! All of these songs are part of this story, which I'll talk more about in the coming weeks.

Slipfast: How does this single set the tone for future releases, and can you share any details? 

Herrera: My upcoming project explores the multifaceted nature of life and how a life fully lived is one at the center of magic, sadness, mystery, grief, joy, and, fortunately,  love. 

Listen to "Whatever's Left" on Spotify

This interview has been edited for both clarity and length