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Melissa Axel

Melissa Axel

use name &/or role rather than gender wherever possible (i.e. "Axel/Axel's" or "the lyricist/lyricist's" in place of singular they/them &/or she/her)

Biography

Based in Los Angeles, Melissa Axel is a lyricist / songwriter and creator fueled by the joy of infusing every story with meaning and magic. Be it animation, musicals, TV, or film, Axel weaves words into each project’s narrative tapestry with the instinct of an artist, the skill of a craftsperson, and the care of a close friend.

Passionate about stories rooted in inclusion and belonging, Axel contributed the original song “Fall This Hard” to the award-winning LGBTQ+ film WHO'S AFRAID OF VAGINA WOLF? and co-wrote the end credits songs for the pilot episode of THE MARCHING PRIDE OF CADENCE HIGH and a number of Easterseals Disability Film Challenge shorts, including WHITNEY’S WEDDING (winner BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM, Focus On Ability Short Film Festival).

Axel also wrote lyrics for the animated shorts STAR DATE and CATS OF PARIS, which Axel also created the concept for, and co-wrote the songs for HAIR DAY and SLIGHTLY COMPOSED in DRIVEN: MODERN MUSICALS ABOUT L.A. ARTISTS, a series of mini-musicals that Axel co-produced a concert reading of and served as “script doctor” for a number of the shorts.

As a creative producer, Axel helped develop online variety specials such as SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES, which united the biggest names in film and TV music to raise money for the MusiCares® COVID-19 Relief Fund (a charity affiliate of The Recording Academy / GRAMMY®s). For this show, Axel wrote new lyrics for the LA LA LAND parody “Another Day Inside” and went on to co-write new lyrics to THE GREATEST SHOWMAN’s “This Is Me” for HFPA PHILANTHROPY: EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION virtual grants celebration, of which Axel was also a creative producer, script writer and editor, and co-director of the finale performance by over 50 different youth from HFPA-funded programs.

Experience as a singer/songwriter and producer of film concerts for Disney and more, including A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF ALAN MENKEN, have helped Axel hone a keen ear for quality and a thoughtful approach to collaboration. With a deep love for bringing emotion to life through music, Axel is always excited to write with new voices and share fresh stories with the world.

Professional Experience

  • Regional
  • Concerts/Cabaret
  • TV/Film

Regions

  • LA/Southern California

Interested in touring?

  • No

Maestra Expertise

  • Theatrical Lyricist
  • Songwriter

Affiliations

  • ASCAP