Melissa Perales

Melissa Perales is a Mexican-American music curator, promoter, and cultural connector based in Berlin. Active in the city’s independent scene since the 1990s, she has spent more than two decades building sustainable bridges between artists, audiences, and institutions. Her work centers inclusion, transcultural exchange, and the amplification of marginalized voices.

A co-founder of Music Pool Berlin and Supertape-Berlin, Melissa has curated and produced numerous festivals and series—including Torstraßen Festival, We Make Waves, Night School Berlin, and DURCHLÜFTEN at the Humboldt Forum. Her newest project, Café Chocolat, continues her commitment to community-rooted, artist-centered programming.

Drawing on long-standing networks across Europe, the Americas, and Africa, she facilitates meaningful cross-border cultural dialogue and fosters collaborative spaces that reflect Berlin’s musical diversity.