Listen: Letterkenny teen singer-songwriter Mel Zaich releases debut track

Teen singer-songwriter Mel Zaich is beginning to make her mark on the local music scene through original songwriting.

The 14-year-old Loreto Letterkenny student has released her debut track, Bananas Inside My Brain, on Spotify.

Music plays a central role in Mel’s life. She sings with the Danu Young Women’s Choir and is progressing quickly on guitar, currently working at Grade 7 level.

She performs regularly at school concerts, local community events and the monthly Donegal Youth Club concerts, and also plays informally as a street musician in Letterkenny.

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Bananas Inside My Brain was written by Mel following a music summer camp in July 2025. During the camp, Mel formed a close friendship with another student through their shared interest in music. The experience, which included her first relationship, had a strong emotional impact and later became the basis for the song.

After the relationship ended, Mel spent time reflecting on what she had felt and learned. The song emerged naturally from that period, beginning with a melody and the opening line, “I am bananas, inside my brain.”

Mel said: “Bananas Inside My Brain is my way of being honest about feelings that can feel confusing and overwhelming when you’re growing up. It’s about emotions that don’t always make sense, about learning to accept change, and about understanding that some chapters end even if they were important.

“The song isn’t perfect - but it’s real. It shows how intense emotions can feel at my age, and how music helps me understand myself better. I hope this song helps other young people feel less alone, and reminds them that it’s okay to feel deeply, to be confused sometimes, and to turn those feelings into something creative.”

Mel Zaich’s Bananas Inside My Brain is available to listen to on Spotify and YouTube.