NEW ARTIST FINDS: MAALA

Auckland-based new artist MAALA may only have two tracks,"Touch” and “Unbound,” on his SoundCloud page so far, but we are already totally hooked. I imagine this is what it would sound like if The Weeknd teamed up with Bastille, as his R&B-style vocals mix beautifully with his electronic/indie sound. So if that sounds awesome to you (which I’m sure it does) then read on to discover one of our favorite new singer-songwriters, MAALA.

MAALA - UNBOUND

“Unbound” is his latest offering, and it’s a wonderfully echoey and static-heavy track and sets a brooding and sensual tone. Hazy synths and falsetto vocals make for a R&B-style chorus that is totally goose bump-inducing, and first hits about 35 seconds in. I love when the bridge hits at the 2:00 mark as echoey toms and electrifying synths make way for vocals that switch back and forth between sounding distant and intimate. It’s the perfect type of song for all of your late night chilly weather playlists.

MAALA - TOUCH

“Touch” was everyone’s first introduction to MAALA’s moody sound, and after listening, you will feel like it was the build up to “Unbound.” Fuzzy synths and a slow and steady beat guide you in until things really take off at the 0:35 mark when his layered vocals appear and create a hazy and hypnotizing feel. Once the chorus first hits about 50 seconds in, sparkling electronics, neon synths, and a drum machine beat serve as the backdrop for his falsetto croon as he sings, “how did it all change when I felt your touch?.” My favorite part is definitely the bridge at the 2:12 mark which switches things up with his impassioned vocals, before it eventually makes way for more synths that carry you to the end of the track.

If you want more from MAALA and want to urge him to release more material soon, be sure to like his Facebook page and show him your support! And if you need even more BitCandy-approved new music in the meantime, click here.

About Erin Crider

Erin Crider eats, breathes, and sleeps pop culture. If you have a question about a one-hit wonder from the ‘90s or need help remembering lines from a SNL skit, she’s your girl. When she isn’t lurking the internet, she's either going to a show or hanging out at Disneyland. Erin lives in Southern California and has a B.A. in Creative Writing from Cal State Long Beach.