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• Says, I’ve had the microphone in my hand since I was 5
By Agatha Emeadi
Tolu Oyedele, more popularly known as Mel Rouge, is a British-born singer, songwriter, filmmaker, producer and director. With a BSc and MSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London; she founded and became the lead producer of her own production company, Big Lead Africa. In 2024, she produced her debut movie in Nigeria, a short film entitled Toll Free
In this interview with Sunday Sun, she speaks about herself, her arts, and why she went into music and filmmaking after earning degrees in the sciences
You are known as Mel Rouge. Some don’t even know your real names?
My birth name is Tolu Oyedele, but the world knows me as Mel Rouge. On the business side, I am the founder and lead producer of Big Lead Africa.
What would you say about your background?
I graduated from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London. I hold a BSc and an MSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. People always trip over that. They look at me, look at my art, and they cannot reconcile the heavy science with the creativity. But for me, both are the same because they require one to experiment, be fearless, and to see what happens when things collide. The academia trained my brain. But music, film, and performance are my God-given DNA. I do not believe in boxes. I am good at both.
How did you come about your stage name ‘Mel Rouge’?
Music has always been woven into who I am, so Mel came from Melody. But I needed something bold, cinematic, and entirely unapologetic to go with it.
I love colour red for its raw expressiveness, passion, power, and fire. I chose Rouge to give it a sharp, high-fashion and European edge. ‘Mel Rouge’ is the perfect intersection of my worlds. It balances the soft, beautiful flow of music with the striking elegance of a woman who is not afraid to make a statement.
Could you tell us a bit about your growing up days and the schools you attended?
I am a proud blend of two incredibly powerful worlds. I was British born and raised, but my roots are deeply Yoruba, Nigerian. Growing up was this rich, global tapestry, the structure and sharpness of London life met with the unapologetic culture, brilliance, and drive of my Nigerian heritage. It completely shapes how I navigate spaces today.
On the academic side, I went the elite route. I graduated from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London which is a prestigious Russell Group institution. That intense, high-level scientific background gave me the rigorous analytical discipline that I now bring into the boardroom of my production company.
What was the attraction into music?
Music was not a choice. It was literally the air in my house. The attraction was pure energy. I realised early enough that music is magnetic and a universal language. It lets you say things that regular words just cannot say. When one sings, one can shift the temperature of an entire room and connect with people on a soul level. I fell in love with that power immediately.
Would you say music a recurrent decimal in your family?
Yes, it is standard. I completely inherited my musical passion from my mum. She was deeply embedded in the choir and the gospel circuit when I was growing up. Watching her command spaces through her voice was my very master class. It is a generational inheritance, for sure.
When did it dawn on you that you could find expression for your visual works in music?
I have had the microphone in my hand since I was five years old. I went from the church choir to the school choir, and then it just scaled up organically. I have performed at the Royal Albert Hall, the House of Lords, and even before royalty. Singing has just been my normal baseline for as long as I can remember, music naturally became the visual, sonic landscape for everything I create.
How would you balance showbiz and everyday life?
One does not balance it; instead stay grounded. Showbiz can be a lot of noise, but my art comes from a very pure intentional place. When your lyrics and stories are real, it is not an act, but an extension of who you are. I protect my peace, I anchor myself in my truth, and I let the showbiz side just be the platform where I share it.
Do you want to make music only in the meantime and flow with whatever life brings to you?
No, I do not intend to do that. I do not just flow with life; I build. My identity has evolved beautifully. Music is a spectacular piece of my soul, but it is not the only lane I run in anymore. I am a filmmaker, a director, a producer, and a businesswoman. I look at my films and my music as different chapters of the exact same book.
I am a multi-hyphenate creative businesswoman. I am a singer-songwriter, a filmmaker, and a producer. I completely reject the idea that I have to pick a lane. I do what I want, how I feel it, when the vision demands it. If a story needs a song, I write it. If it needs a lens, I direct it.
What was your parents’ reaction when you abandoned Chemistry for the Arts? Because many parents want their children to be doctors, lawyers and so on
The stereotype is very real. Every traditional African household wants a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer. And to be fair, I actually gave them that security first. I hold my degrees in pharmaceutical chemistry and spent a little time in the corporate world. But I have always been the child who walks to the beat of her own drum.
When I made the pivot to music and film, there was no dramatic rebellion. It is because of my background, my parents knew I was not just drifting, they saw my work ethic. They wanted me happy and fulfilled, but more importantly, they knew that whatever path I choose, I treat it like a master class. I do not just ‘do’ arts; I build empires with it. They respect the vision.
Like I said, I have been doing this all my life. But because I am also highly academic and spent time proving myself in the corporate world, they knew that when I finally pivoted to entertainment full-time, it was not a hobby. It was a strategic, passionate takeover. They have been incredibly supportive.
What music, what else do you do?
Beyond the music, my film and advocacy work through Big Lead Africa has taken on a massive global life. My recent film project, created in collaboration with the British Council, has done incredible things. It won multiple awards, toured Barbados, AFRIFF, BFI and was licensed by Ebony Life.
Another major part of my mission is using my platform to raise awareness for mental health. I believe storytelling is a powerful tool to bring those conversations to the forefront, and I am deeply committed to using my voice to advocate for that change. And honestly, we are sitting on a goldmine right now.
What advice do you have for young girls who might want to be like you?
My advice is simple. Never let anyone box you in. Be ever-evolving. You can be a scientist today, a filmmaker tomorrow, and a mogul simultaneously. Do not let society talk you out of your multi-dimensional magic.
Curate your circle like an executive. Choose your company with extreme wisdom; the people around you can literally alter the trajectory of your life. Surround yourself only with those who force you to level up.
Never look for validation. Do not let anyone talk you out of your dreams. Never!
