Malia (American musician)

Malia is an American singer-songwriter raised in the suburbs of Seattle, WA[1] and based in Los Angeles, CA.[2][3]

Malia
Birth nameMalia Cunningham[1]
Also known asMALIA
BornPlano, TX
OriginLos Angeles, CA
GenresAlternative R&B, Neo soul, singer-songwriter
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active2015–present
Websitewww.maliavibes.com

Biography

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Malia began studying music as a child, taking piano lessons at age eight and joining choir in middle school.[4] However, shyness drove her to pursue a traditional career path[5][4] and she moved to California for college,[1] graduating with a degree in political science and sociology with the intention to go to law school.[4] After graduation, she decided to pursue music seriously and began practicing guitar every day.[2] She released her first single in 2015.[6]

Matt Martians of The Internet invited Malia to their studio where she met the band.[4] She went on to collaborate with Syd[7] on her track "Dirty Laundry"[1] and opening for Syd on her 2017 West Coast tour.[6][1] Malia collaborated with Soulection on the release of her single "Play Sides"[8] and played their Los Angeles tour stop.[4]

Malia released her first album Unpolished in April 2021.[9] Later that year, she was asked by Alicia Keys to cover a song for the 20th anniversary of Songs In A Minor.[10][11][12]

In 2022, she announced a new EP What's After 'I Love You?' coming March 4, 2022 with a first single "Only One."[13][14] The EP is a conceptual work about heartbreak.[15][10]

Discography

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  • Malia EP (2015)
  • Letting Go EP (2016)
  • Late Bloomer EP (2017)
  • Ripe EP (2019)
  • Unpolished (2021)
  • What's After 'I Love You?' EP (2022)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Bronson, Kevin (November 22, 2017). "Premiere: Malia, 'Dirty Laundry' (feat. Syd)". buzzbands.la. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Meet Malia – Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". voyagela.com. June 19, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  3. ^ "Live Performance of the Week: Malia Likes the "Simple Things"". SoulTracks – Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews. April 5, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Q&A: 'Late Bloomer' Malia is Finally Where She's Supposed to Be / Ones To Watch". Ones To Watch. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  5. ^ Helms, William Ruben (December 20, 2017). "New Video: Up-and-Coming Singer/Songwriter Malia Releases Ode to Enjoying Life's Simple Things". The Joy of Violent Movement. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Syd (the Internet, Odd Future) and Malia at Regency Ballroom". Riff Magazine. November 17, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  7. ^ "Let Syd collaborator Malia warm up your New Years with feel-good eclectic-soul video "Simple Things"". AFROPUNK. December 29, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "Premiere: Soulection's MALIA Is Confident In Her Relationship On R&B Jam "Play Sides"". Complex. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  9. ^ "Malia on Instagram". www.instagram.com. April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Benitez-Eves, Tina (March 10, 2022). "Daily Discovery: MALIA Covers the Chronology of Heartbreak on 'What's After I Love You?'". American Songwriter. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  11. ^ Lindsay, Ed (March 8, 2022). "MALIA - What's After 'I Love You?' (EP)". Wordplay Magazine. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "INTERVIEW X MALIA". Vibes of Silence. March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  13. ^ March, Kim (February 8, 2022). "MALIA Looks Back on an Unbalanced Relationship on New Single "Only One"". FLOOD Magazine. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  14. ^ Murray, Robin (February 24, 2022). "Track Of The Day 24/2 - MALIA". Clash Magazine. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "LISTEN: MALIA Drops Vivacious R&B Arrangements On 'What's After "I Love You"?' EP". glidemagazine.com. March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.