Late Again is having a particularly busy moment. On September 4, 2026, the Brooklyn-based dream-pop project released I Dreamt I Was Awake, a six-track EP that pushes Rafael Melo’s hazy indie sound further into Brazilian rhythms, synths, jazz and cinematic textures. The release follows a growing run of singles, packed East Coast shows and more than 2 million Spotify listeners reported across the project’s three EPs.
But Late Again isn’t really a traditional band. It’s the musical alter ego of Rafael Melo, a Brazilian-born multidisciplinary artist whose career has also included advertising, filmmaking and successful indie game development. His music feels like a meeting point between São Paulo’s musical traditions and Brooklyn’s restless creative energy.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name / Real Name | Rafael Melo |
| Stage Name | Late Again |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Current Age | Not publicly disclosed |
| Birthplace | Camburi, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian; Brooklyn-based |
| Ethnicity | Not publicly disclosed |
| Profession | Musician, songwriter, multimedia artist, game designer |
| Genre | Dream pop, indie pop, alternative, psychedelic pop |
| Estimated Net Worth | Not reliably reported |
| Height / Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Relationship Status | Not publicly disclosed |
| Based In | Brooklyn, New York |
Some biographical information, including age, physical measurements, relationship status and net worth, has not been publicly verified. Rather than invent figures, Celebs.Wiki lists them as undisclosed.
Early Life & Background
Rafael Melo grew up in Camburi, a small beach town on the coast of São Paulo. At eight, he moved to Santos, and at 17 he moved again, this time to São Paulo. At 26, he relocated to New York, eventually making his home in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Music arrived unexpectedly. Melo has explained that he started writing songs after being dumped for the first time at 13. He inherited an old nylon-string guitar from his late uncle and began experimenting with melodies. No one else in his family was a musician, so discovering that he could create music became a surprisingly important part of his teenage life.
His influences are unusually broad. Brazilian Tropicália, Japanese city pop, New York jazz, British indie rock, old MTV and even his father’s country music all found their way into his creative vocabulary. Film, video games and advertising also became important influences.
That mixture helps explain why Late Again feels bigger than a straightforward bedroom-pop project.
Career Journey & Breakthroughs
Before Late Again became his main musical outlet, Melo built a substantial creative career outside music. He entered advertising as a writer at 17 in Brazil, eventually working on major campaigns and collecting awards at events including the Cannes Lions, Andy Awards and Shorty Awards.
He later became involved in indie game development through Sad Socket, a studio he co-founded. The studio’s games sold more than one million copies, while its title 9 Kings became a prominent indie release and received a Gamescom Game of the Year nomination in 2024.
Late Again emerged publicly in April 2024. The debut EP, Migraine Fever Dream, arrived in May 2024 after the project’s first three singles. The record mixed indie, dream pop and neo-psychedelic elements and included a collaboration with Brazilian composer Arthur Verocai. Producer Heal Mura also became an important collaborator.
The follow-up, Absolutely Almost Sure, expanded the project’s identity, while ** Clearly It’s All Staged ** arrived on September 2, 2025. The six-track EP moved between indie pop, dreamy electronics and Brazilian jazz, with songs about love, rejection, self-doubt and even the oddly mundane subject of chicken tenders.
Then came 2026.
The single “If You Have A Bridge (I’m Buying)”, released June 3, became the first preview of I Dreamt I Was Awake. Inspired by New York and Melo’s experience as an immigrant, the song combines dream-pop textures with energetic drumming and Brazilian influences. Its accompanying video involved more than 100 miles of cycling across New York City’s five boroughs.
The second major preview, “All My Exes Moved to the Countryside,” arrived August 5. Its quiet bossa-inspired arrangement turns the idea of escaping city life into a funny, bittersweet reflection on wanting simplicity without quite being able to choose it.
On September 4, I Dreamt I Was Awake finally arrived. The six tracks include “To Stop The Time,” “If You Have A Bridge (I’m Buying),” “Crazy or Stupid,” “My Sore Throat,” “All My Exes Moved to the Countryside” and “Every Time I Take Sudafed.” Early reviews have praised its dream-pop writing and mix of city-pop grooves, Brazilian harmonies, synths and more adventurous rhythms.
Production Style & Band Members
Late Again is primarily Rafael Melo’s project, rather than a conventional fixed-member band. Melo writes, records and performs the material, while a rotating group of musicians contributes to recordings and live shows.
For the upcoming album project Does The World Really Need This, the recording lineup includes drummer Thiago Dom and bassist John Lisi, alongside other musicians who also contribute to the live performance.
Melo’s studio setup includes guitars, bass, analog and software synthesizers, percussion, Logic, Ableton and other recording equipment. He has said that many of his songs begin on the old nylon-string guitar he inherited from his uncle.
The result is difficult to pin to one genre: soft vocals and dream-pop atmospheres sit alongside bossa nova chords, alternative beats, jazz, psychedelic touches and Japanese ’80s-inspired grooves.
Body Stats & Physical Appearance
There are no reliably verified public figures for Rafael Melo’s height or weight, and his date of birth has not been publicly disclosed.
Publicity photographs show Melo with light hair and a mustache, but appearance can change and isn’t a particularly useful measure of his identity as an artist. His visual presentation is closely tied to Late Again’s psychedelic, cinematic aesthetic.
Scandals, Controversies & Media Headlines
Late Again has not been associated with any major verified scandal or public controversy.
One subject Melo has discussed openly is artificial intelligence and music. In a 2026 interview, he argued that AI should initially be focused on difficult or repetitive human tasks rather than replacing artistic creation. At the same time, he acknowledged using GPT for practical jobs such as grammar checking and technical research.
His comments fit neatly with the philosophy behind Late Again: technology is useful, but the emotional experience of making art still matters.
Personal Life, Hobbies & Relationships
Melo keeps much of his private life away from the spotlight, so details about his romantic relationships aren’t reliably documented.
His interests, however, are evident in his work. Music, filmmaking, game design, visual art and advertising all overlap in his creative life. That multidisciplinary background has become part of Late Again’s identity rather than something separate from it.
His live performances reflect that approach. The project has developed a custom lighting and visual setup, with Melo performing guitar and synthesizer while integrating lighting into the show.
In 2026, Late Again is also expanding beyond the East Coast, with West Coast dates and a first European run planned.
Official Social Media Handles
- Instagram: @lateagainsta
- YouTube: @reallylateagain
- TikTok: @reallylateagain
- SoundCloud: @reallylateagain
- Spotify: Late Again on Spotify
- Official Website: Late Again official website
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FAQs
Who is Late Again?
Late Again is the musical project and alter ego of Rafael Melo, a Brazilian-born, Brooklyn-based musician and multimedia artist.
What is Late Again’s real name?
Late Again’s real name is Rafael Melo.
What genre is Late Again?
Late Again is primarily associated with dream pop and indie pop, while incorporating Brazilian bossa nova, jazz, psychedelic music, alternative beats and Japanese city-pop influences.
What is Late Again’s latest release?
The latest release is I Dreamt I Was Awake, a six-track EP released on September 4, 2026. It follows singles including “If You Have A Bridge (I’m Buying),” “Crazy or Stupid” and “All My Exes Moved to the Countryside.”