Present yourself to the readers
Hi, I am Malaya. It a pleasure to meet you. It’s a pleasure to share this with you.
Your texts ?..What are they talking about ?..How does inspiration come ?
For the ballad’s, others. I watch all the time. I internalise what I think they are feeling. I guess I want to find a way for them to explain how they feel. Sometimes the subject starts with me, but it quickly moves away. I cannot write about how I feel only about how I think others feel. When I work on an upbeat track, I sense what the arrangement is trying to do, is it being cheeky or powerful? Is there an opportunity to create a message or should I just let the song create itself? I remember watching a songwriter talk about the process on TV. He said, “ I don’t know where the songs come from, they just come, I hope it doesn’t stop”. I knew immediately what he was talking about! Although I construct the lyrics around the melody as I create it and although I use language to translate what I hear the muse really comes to me. I can hear an arrangement and …. Nothing… or I can hear something and not be able to get my ideas down quick enough!
Are you day or night ?
Def night .
What are your personal musical tastes and your influences ?
Its always difficult to answer this question because it turns out I have no preferences as such. It’s the lyric and the vocal first and foremost. As a result my playlists reach far and wide. I guess everything I have ever loved to listen too has influenced me somewhat. I cannot resist a well crafted song. Of course that is subjective!
Generally, what's the reaction of the public during your concerts ?
More than I ever hope for. Applause, smiles, sales, validity, congratulations, celebration, connection, oh and the odd standing ovation.
What's your best live memory ? And why ?
Did I mention the standing ovation?
What are your future dates ?
www.malayablue.com I will be failing the system if I don’t direct you to my website !
In studio, what was the ambiance for the album “ HEARTSICK” ?...etc.…
I had written all of the songs before we went into the studio and Heartsick was already a firm favorite for the title track. Bourbon Street, my first album, had had rave reviews, but a word that seemed to pop up a lot was ‘smooth’ I wanted Heartsick to have more “guts’ about it, to have a wider reach and to showcase a broadness to my writing. Hence the strong contrast between Heartsick and Soul Come Back. Of course, my little scratching’s and ideas were just that. Steve Yourglivch, my manager, assembled a band with heart and soul. (Dudley Ross Guitar, Paul Jobson Keys, Stuart Uren Bass, Andrew McGuinness Drums) The result is the album. A fusion of ideas and excellent musicianship expertly handled by producer Paul Long.
How does it work for the design of the CD ? and why this title ?
When I did the Bourbon Street Album the cover came out of a photoshoot that was taken for another purpose, but it was perfect. We kind of did the same thing with Heartsick. The cover came from a series of stills taken at the video shoot.
I knew straight away it was the cover shot. I loved the vulnerability it showed. It also added contrast to the actual track. Heartsick sounds like a ballad and so when it kicks in and you realise it’s a rocky blues track I hope it’s a pleasant surprise. Heartsick is about loving that “Bad Boy !” but I also knew we had big ballads to represent too, Acceptance and Remain the Same. Pictorially I wanted the cover to represent the whole body of work.
What are your projects ?
Getting up! See Q2. Reminding myself that music is also a business and making sure I have a “working day”.
What do you expect from the future ?
Only what I expect from myself.
What's your motto ?
The Harder I work the Luckier I Get!
It’s my favorite motto and one I truly believe in.
Website to remember
www.malayablue.com
What would you like to say to the readers ?
It doesn’t even scratch the surface to say being a live performing musician is hard. But there is nothing like it. Thank you for keeping music alive.
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