Introducing: Malaïka

Afro-Mexican singer-songwriter, Malaïka, fuses together elements of R&B, Pop, Reggae, Hip-Hop and Caribbean rhythms to create a unique sound that is truly authentic. Of Haitian descent and currently residing in Guadalajara, Mexico, Malaïka soaks in the vibrancy of her surrounding culture, which radiates through her music. With only three singles out, titled ‘Eras Tú‘, ‘Domingos‘, and ‘La Mulata‘, Malaïka already has an impressive 42K monthly Spotify listeners and an audience rapidly increasing everyday. Following in the footsteps of mega stars such as Bad Bunny and Rosalía paving the way for more Latin and Hispanic artists to dominate the global music scene, expect to see Malaïka climbing the International charts with each new release leading up to her debut EP.

Malaïka is heavenly in the literal sense, with her name directly translating as ‘Angel’ in Swahili, and this heavenly being shares her gift of music, hoping to connect to people worldwide regardless of cultural or language barriers. With lyrics in Spanish exploring universally relatable topics of love, heartbreak, healing, and self-discovery, she shares fragments of her personal life through her lyrics and wishes for others to find comfort and reassurance in.

We caught up with Malaïka to learn more about her journey through music, overcoming the pressures of being a young artist in a difficult industry, and hopes and dreams for the future.

Why do you think you decided to go into the music industry?

I don’t think it was a decision I took consciously, truly my heart guided towards a path that put me in it,before I knew it I was surrounded by music, creating music and I was actually doing it, going to studios, working on my lyrics, writing, playing guitar, creating a career out of my passion, seeing my dreams slowly but surely come true.

Latin music is definitely on the rise in the UK, and there are many talents in Mexico, which 3 artists would you recommend to someone wanting to listen to more?

I would recommend you listen to Samantha Barrón, Bruses, and Santa Fe Klan.

What artists inspire you to make music?

Shakira, Nathy Peluso, Rosalía, Cultura Profética, Rihanna, Beyoncé…

What song of yours should we listen to and why?

You should listen to “Eras Tú”, it’s a song I wrote during a difficult period in my personal life, and the process of writing it helped me understand certain emotions that I hope can translate to my listeners.

Can you tell us about your songwriting process? How do you translate your emotions into lyrics?

Usually it starts with me with the guitar or in front of the piano and a chord progression. I start doing melodies and give myself the liberty of saying whatever comes to mind without judging.

Dream goal within the next 5 years?

I would love to see the world, travel to different corners of it and experience new cultures all with the underlying purpose of sharing my music to more and more people. I can visualise my work taking me places, meeting new people and learning from each experience. Creating memories that will inspire my work later on. I know I want to travel but also share my passion and my devotion to music, create an audience that can exist anywhere in the world and getting to them.