(feat. Florist / Sister. / Told Slant members)

We recently had the magnificent opportunity to check out Brooklyn-based Filipino–American Indie artist CIAO MALZ (Malia DelaCruz) and her debut EP, “Safe Then Sorry” which is out now via the non-binary-owned Audio Antihero label (Frog / Magana / Nosferatu D2 / Cloud)

You can listen to “Safe Than Sorry” on Spotify Here, Apple Music Here and on Bandcamp Here

“Safe Then Sorry” from CIAO MALZ is a collection of stunning of soon to be classic indie songs, that had us mesmerized from note one.

It is crystal clear ,that in listening to “Safe Then Sorry” from CIAO MALZ , that Malia DelaCruz is a super talented songwriter, who is in a league all of her own .

DelaCruz shares, 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, and 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.“

Originally from Connecticut, DelaCruz relocated to New York to attend St. John’s University in Queens, and she soon rented a studio space in the Lower East Side. Here she began experimenting with her sound, while also collaborating and performing with Brooklyn’s acclaimed Sister. trio, but it wasn’t until 2021 that she felt ready to begin self-releasing her own recordings under the CIAO MALZ name (pronounced “Chow Mahllz”)

Listening to “Safe Then Sorry” , we felt like we were floating through an indie pop dream.

With CIAO MALZ , DelaCruz, has artfully crafted a style and sound that is otherworldly. We found ourselves blissfully singing along track after track. The beauty of music is that is has the extraordinary power of making things better. We definitely felt this throughout “Safe Then Sorry” Every song unfolded like a well written diary entry – bravo . There is not a bad song to be found on “Safe Then Sorry “ it is brilliant from top bottom.

“Two Feet Tall” is the perfect opening track as it sets the perfect tone for the EP.

We felt swept away with the melody for “Bad For The Bad Guy”, this song had a real cinematic quality that we loved.

All of the songs on “Safe Then Sorry” are beautifully sculpted by smartly using different elements of sounds and notes , this is on full display on “Take Me Out Of Here”

The closing track, “Gold Rush” has this real curious beat that really adds another dimension to the track and really compliments the flawless vocals in the song.

If music is your thing, then you owe it to your music loving soul to check out “Safe Then Sorry” from CIAO MALZ.