For a toxic empath with attachment issues, the lyrics “Feeling for the bad, feeling kinda sad for the bad guy” – touched me way too deeply because I don’t like being confronted with things that I do way too much. Why do we feel bad for the bad guys in our life? These are some of the questions Malz asks herself and us on her sonic masterpiece Safe Then Sorry.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Jordana, Elliott Smith, and Men I Trust, Malia DelaCruz mixes raw introspection with layered, genre-blending sounds. Written after long days at work, these songs capture the unexpected connections we make and the contradictions they bring. Malia describes the recording process as spontaneous and emotional—mirroring the messy, unrestrained creativity she first discovered on GarageBand.
Like Carrie Bradshaw and SZA, CIAO MALZ, is dedicated unflinching honesty in her work, particularly about heartbreak and disappointment. I love it, it is not just brave but it truly self-reflective. None of it may mean there will be change, but at least the emotions made some beautiful art. Speaking of the music, the vocal layering in the entirety of the project really harmonises with the instrumentation well. There is a common theme in this EP but I really appreciate that no one one song sounds like the other in the arrangement. “Gold Rush” has some of my favourite breakdowns in the project. Malz as both the artist and producer has a rich understanding of their sound and both work so well together.
Written by Nthatile Mavuso
