Melt Mars Is Ready for Liftoff!

On a sun‑bleached afternoon at the Coffee Bean on the Sunset Strip, Brian Ortiz settles into his chair like someone who’s lived a few lives inside the last six years. As the songwriter, singer, and guitarist behind Melt Mars, he carries the kind of quiet intensity you only get from building a project in the shadows and watching it slowly catch fire. Over iced drinks and the hum of traffic, we talked about disco lasers, vinyl tears, Phone Sex (his new single!), and why 2026 might finally be the year Melt Mars steps fully into the light.

To start off, introduce yourself. What do you do in Melt Mars, and how long has the project been around?
My name is Brian, I’m from Melt Mars. The project has been around for about six years now—since 2019. I’m pretty much the songwriter of the group, as well as the singer and guitarist.

Where are you based, and what’s the local music scene like there?
We’re based out of Orange County. The scene used to be pretty good, especially in the underground, but after Burger Records went under and then COVID hit, things kind of died out. There are still some bands keeping it alive, but overall it’s pretty quiet. That’s part of why I came to L.A. If you can find the scene, it’s cool—but it’s also kind of dead.

What exactly is a “Melt Mars”?
That’s funny. Well, it’s my band. But the name actually came from a joke. When I was younger, I had this group of friends I’d party with, and we’d end up at someone’s house or backyard doing fake rap battles. We’d make up ridiculous stage names, and one day I just blurted out “Melt Mars.” I remember thinking, I actually kind of like that. It stuck around. When I started recording music and needed a name, that one rang a bell. Melt Mars. Fuck it.

You have a new song coming out called “Phone Sex.” Tell me about the song and the inspiration behind it.
For a long time, I’ve wanted to dive into the pop world. A lot of people have told me my music is really depressing—which, fair—but I also love early‑2000s disco and pop. I didn’t want to just make another indie song, because I feel like that’s something a lot of people can do pretty easily. I wanted to challenge myself.

I’ve been listening to a lot of Pharrell, and believe it or not, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake. I don’t think many bands are mixing psychedelic elements with early‑2000s R&B and some ’70s disco. I even put disco lasers in there. It’s fun, it’s danceable, and I wanted to give people something different. I hope it resonates. Not “different” like I’m saying it’s amazing—I just mean it’s not your typical indie track. You don’t really hear bands doing disco or R&B anymore, at least not in the indie world.

Your recent single is “Blood Moon.” What inspired that one?
Honestly, that song was more of a throwaway—not in a bad way. I had taken a long break, and I wanted to test the waters to see if people still cared about Melt Mars or wanted to listen. The song is only about a minute and a half; it’s more like a filler track. But I thought it was good enough to put out there.

Luckily, it did well. I’ve been leaning into the early‑2000s R&B vibe, especially the sex appeal and sensuality in that music. I wanted to focus on that with these two releases. “Blood Moon” is very straightforward—no filter, just exactly what the song is about. Whether you like it or not. And people have been digging it, which is cool for something that started as a throwaway.

You also have a song called “Meet Me in the City.” What’s the story behind that one?
I really like the lyrics on that one. Earlier we were talking about how a lot of my friends from the music scene moved to L.A. to chase their dreams and live in the big city. I started noticing that some people weren’t exactly running from their problems, but they were distracting themselves—going out, partying, getting lost in the nightlife.

That’s what the song is about. You go out, meet people, have pointless conversations, and sometimes the relationships you form aren’t good for you. A lot of people get lost in the city like that. “Meet Me in the City” is basically: Hey, let’s go out tonight, and then you party and regret it the next day.

The Chained Hearts EP was released on vinyl. What was it like seeing your music in that format?
I’ve always wanted a vinyl. I collect records myself. Streaming is cool, but when you actually get to hold a project—see the liner notes, feel the weight of it—it’s more meaningful. Honestly, I mostly did it for myself. I thought, I’ll do a small batch, and if people want to buy it, they can. Luckily, people did.

I cried the first time I played it. Don’t tell anybody.

I think everyone’s going to know now.
It was a sweet moment. I love collecting records, and it feels like vinyl is coming back. Anyone who feels the way I do about music—or just wants something to listen to at home—gets it.

Has Melt Mars ever played live?
Yeah, we’ve played at The Observatory, and I’ve gotten the chance to play here at The Smell in L.A. When I put together a live set, I think of it like a book. You have the introduction, the climax, and the ending. I usually structure it like a mountain: start at the bottom, build up to a peak, then bring it down gently.

It’s harder when you’re a slower band to keep people’s attention compared to a loud punk or metal band. So I try to make it personal but also give people something to dance to.

You mentioned playing The Observatory. What was that experience like?
I’ll be honest—I had taken a long break. Life gets in the way, and I was going through some personal stuff. My band didn’t even know if I was going to make it to the show. But we practiced, it sounded solid, and going into it, it was the biggest venue we’d played at the time.

The show was packed. The band sounded great. It felt amazing to be back in that rhythm and see the audience interact. It pulled me out of the funk I was in. It made me want to play again.

You should play again. The Observatory and The Smell—those are great venues.
Actually, we haven’t announced it yet, but our first show back this year is going to be at The Smell on June 5th. I’m aiming to sell it out. I’m trying to get out of Orange County because the music scene is really in L.A. now. The reception has been good, people seem interested—it’s just about keeping the momentum going.

Here’s a fun one: If the music of Melt Mars were a donut, what kind would it be and why?
Whoa, that’s an interesting question. A donut, right? Can it be a pretzel? I’m kidding.

Okay—definitely the Simpsons donut. Just the way that donut makes Homer feel…I hope that’s how Melt Mars makes people feel. Nice and pink, with a glass of milk. That’s how I like my donuts.

If Melt Mars could open for any band—past or present—who would it be and why?
I’d like to open for Los Retros again. We played a show with them in L.A. and in Orange County, right before he blew up. He’s really good, and I’m glad he’s having a successful career.

When we played with him, we were just starting out. I don’t think we were at our full potential. It would be nice to play with them again and really show what we’ve got now. He liked us enough to say we’d play again… I never heard anything back. I’m just kidding.

Well, if you’re listening or reading this—book them again.
Yeah, hit me up.

Last question: What do you hope the rest of 2026 brings for you and for Melt Mars?
I hope the next single does well. I hope the show sells out. Earlier in the band’s history, I always had one foot in and one foot out. We had some success, people liked the music, but I wasn’t fully committed. I wasn’t networking or taking it seriously enough to get to the next level.

A lot of people have told me they believe in me, and I think I let other things get in the way of what I really wanted—to play music. Now I’m trying to keep the momentum going and believe in myself the way others do. I’ve met people who tell me they like the music, that I have a good live show, and they don’t understand why I’m not putting myself out there more. For a while that made me sad, but now it motivates me.

As for 2026… I don’t really have a strict plan. I like to improvise. Right now the plan is to play the show on June 5th, then play in my hometown in July, sell both out, and build enough buzz that people start paying attention again. Not “Melt Mars is back,” but “Melt Mars never left—we just came back better.”

IN CONCLUSION

As the sun dipped behind the Strip and the afternoon crowd thinned, Brian Ortiz gathered his things with the quiet confidence of someone who finally knows where he’s headed. Melt Mars has lived through false starts, long pauses, and the kind of self‑doubt that can swallow a project whole — but none of that defines where the band is now. Ortiz speaks like an artist who’s done waiting, done hesitating, and ready to step fully into the version of Melt Mars he always imagined.

With new music on the horizon, a renewed commitment to the craft, and a June 5th show at The Smell that already feels like a turning point, Ortiz isn’t talking about a comeback. He’s talking about momentum — the kind that builds quietly until it suddenly feels unstoppable.

If the past few years were about surviving, the next chapter is about rising. And the very fact of the matter is, that Melt Mars Is Ready for Liftoff!

(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Karyn Burleigh of Rock Edge Photography)

Melt Mars on Instagram