Ciao Malz | 5 tracks that influenced ‘Safe Then Sorry’

Ciao Malz has released her debut EP ‘Safe Then Sorry’.

The EP from Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist Ciao Malz (Malia DelaCruz) was released via Audio Antihero Records.

Speaking of the EP, Ciao said: “’Safe Then Sorry’ is a rest stop on the path most traveled. I wrote the bulk of the EP after work, these stories and characters came to me subconsciously and asked to be spoken into existence. These songs are about the unlikely connections we make, how they’re simultaneously inexplicable and meaningful. I work through these contradictions with unpredictable melodies, explosive choruses, and with the recording process itself. We did everything on the fly to capture as much raw emotion as could fit in the four walls of the basement studio. I wanted the project to feel how it did when I was messing around on GarageBand on my first computer — unrestrained.“

To celebrate her EP release, Malia shared with us 5 tracks that influenced ‘Safe Then Sorry’.

John Prine – All the Best
John Prine’s lyricism has always been a deep source of inspiration for me. He has this remarkable ability to capture the messy, unvarnished truths about love and life with such honesty and wit. ‘All The Best’ stands out to me because it offers such a mature perspective on moving on, full of acceptance. His likability comes pouring through his music, and it’s hard not to want to emulate that. I’d love to be likeable in that way.

Alice Phoebe Lou – Witches
I find myself referencing this song often when I’m mixing because it’s such a masterclass in dreamy sounds. The vocals are especially captivating, sitting in this space where they feel raspy and intimate, with an almost imperceptible delay that adds to their magic. There’s also this sweet, friendly acoustic guitar panned far out, doing its own thing, which creates such a unique texture. Every time I listen, I notice something new, a subtle detail in the arrangement or a shift in the mix. The way the elements enter one by one feels so intentional, and I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from how explosive the choruses are. It’s one of those songs that keeps teaching me something with every listen.

Coconut Records – West Coast
This track has stuck with me because of its incredibly simple yet effective intro riff. Whenever I’m working on instrumental melodies, I aim for that same simplicity. It’s like the foundation of a house, if the melody is straightforward and memorable, the rest of the song can build off it. It’s fun to experiment with that approach, seeing how far you can take a simple motif while keeping the song cohesive.

Alex G – Mary
Experimenting with strange falsetto voicing has become one of my favourite creative outlets. I love layering vocals to the point where they’re so peculiar and textured that they couldn’t stand alone, yet somehow they create this hauntingly beautiful effect together. When I was recording ‘Gold Rush’, I really let loose with that approach, allowing one of those falsettos to take centre stage. Alex G has been a major influence on me for so many reasons, but his use of falsettos is where I’ve learned the most. He makes them feel raw and emotive, and they add so much character to his music.

MJ Lenderman – You don’t Know the Shape I’m In
MJ Lenderman reminds me of John Prine a lot in how confessional and humorous his lyrics are. My favorite lyric from this song is obviously, “we sat under a half mast Mcdonald’s flag”. It’s funny and it likely happened. When I write I try to be non-serious and try to get into a flow whether it makes sense or not. Although his songwriting is funny, he always seems to get to the heart of it. It’s so special, he makes me want to say something too.

Listen to Ciao Malz influences:

Stream Ciao Malz ‘Safe Then Sorry’ EP: