Australian songwriter and producer Callum MacDonald, widely known as a core member of daste., is stepping into a new creative era with the debut of his solo project, Monsieur Mellow. While daste. continue work on new material slated for 2026, MacDonald is using this moment to explore a sound that has quietly taken shape over the years — one rooted in feel, groove, and global influence.
The first release under the Monsieur Mellow name comes in the form of “Paris Strut,” a jazz-house leaning debut that introduces the sonic palette of his forthcoming EP, which is already completed and waiting to be unveiled. Rich in warmth and movement, the track draws from funk, disco, reggae, and Caribbean textures, creating a sound that feels loose, lived-in, and guided by instinct rather than polish.
Written after touring across the UK and Europe with daste., “Paris Strut” was born from a period of creative clarity sparked by life on the road. “After returning home from touring Europe with my band daste., the time on the road left me deeply inspired by Caribbean, reggae, disco, and funk. For the first time I felt a clear sense of direction for music that existed outside of the band,” MacDonald explains.
At the heart of the track is a raw, emotive acapella sample from Parbleu’s “Pas de Saints Au Paradis,” which MacDonald slices and threads through understated drums, soft pads, guitar, and bass. Each element interacts with a natural bounce, giving the production the feel of a real band playing together in a room. “This project is about following instinct, world influences, and creating groove-setting music that feels raw and rough around the edges,” he says.
The title “Paris Strut” captures that mood perfectly — a confident, effortless swagger inspired by wandering through Paris with a spring in your step. That same sense of movement and ease forms the foundation of Monsieur Mellow, a project built as an outlet for musical freedom, atmosphere, and rhythm-led storytelling.
With “Paris Strut,” Callum MacDonald sets the tone for a solo venture driven by feel over perfection, groove over gloss, and instinct over expectation, marking an exciting new chapter for one of Australia’s most versatile musical voices.