Caution to the Wind

Mali releases an old favourite, Walk Away, which only existed in the form of a Youtube live session for over 6 years. The song, even before its formal release, was a hit. It’s a perpetual request at all Mali’s live performances and has been covered multiple times by other artists on Youtube and at college fests.
Around a decade ago, Mali’s best friend suffered a bad breakup and went through a difficult time processing it. It was around this time that Mali herself had split from her band and was embarking on a solo career. She channelled both experiences into writing Walk Away, a song about picking up the pieces and finding strength in going it alone.
The single explores a more neo-folk pop sound and has been reimagined to be darker and more ambient than the live version which existed before.

Walk Away

Walk Away by Mali

Ashes represents the death of an older self in the face of navigating love and loss. It’s a song about feeling a strong sense of connection with the other person after they’re no longer around. Ashes treads a more barebones acoustic route than Mali's previous offerings, combining folk and dream pop influences, whilst still retaining a subtle nod to the more mellow tracks on her previous album such as "Horoscope" and "Really? Not Really."
The single was recorded and produced in a record span of 24 hours at Island City Studios in Mumbai. The track features Jishnu Guha on guitars and Mali on piano and synths.
The music video was filmed at a castle which was constructed in the year 1149 and features Mali walking through its rooms and corridors in a single take while performing the song. The video is due for release on December 2nd 2022.

Ashes

Mali takes a sharp turn, leaving behind the echoes of lost love to delve into the realities of addiction in her new single ‘Semi Automatic Butane’. The result is a gritty sounding alt pop anthem drawing parallels between the intoxicating grip of compulsive behaviour and the trigger-happy impulses within us all. The track pulsates with a raw, visceral energy intertwining punchy rhythms and a hooky melody to create an edgy, rebellious track.

Semi Automatic Butane

Semi Automatic Butane - Mali

First single from the upcoming EP 'Rush' by Mali.
Recorded at Cotton Press Studio, Mumbai.
Guitars - Tejas Menon
Drums - Jehangir Jehangir
Bass guitar - Stuart DaCosta
Produced by - Tejas Menon and Jehangir Jehangir

Lyrics
Should've known, should've known
Exactly what she was saying.
She didn't know, didn't know
How much attention he was paying
He was distracted by
Something else that crossed his mind.

So she went up to him and said "What's the problem, boy?"
And he said, "Sorry ma'am but I was busy.."

Dreaming
Dreaming
Dreaming

Many years went by
She was the girl he always wanted
She never noticed his mind
Was the place she always haunted
She was distracted by every other guy around

So he went up to her and said, "Babe, won't you be mine?"
And she said, "Sorry, honey. You must be.."

Dreaming
Dreaming
Dreaming

What was he supposed to do?
When everyone around him never really knew
Exactly what he was going through.
He was a victim of fantasy
It took more than 'being a man' to see
Just what a dreamer could do
But he never knew that

There he was, there he was
And all the people stood before him
He strummed his guitar 
And all the people, they screamed for him
He never thought that he'd be loved for
Just what he did best

So when he sang, he sang about 
All that he'd been through
And he blamed it on the fact that
All he was really good at was

Dreaming
Dreaming
Dreaming

Dreaming
Dreaming
Dreaming

He was busy
Dreaming 
Dreaming
Dreaming

Dreaming

Haven’t you heard he’s not been keeping sober?
Been that way since she left last October
That heartless soul, the darkest shade of bitter
For all he was, he never seemed to fit her.

Whisky and coke, so many sparks of fire
It’s risky; he’s broke with every waking desire
Those shattered hopes, like shards of glass cut deeper
For all he was, he never seemed to keep her

He’ll see the dawn break
Sooner or later
Shed some light on the newer and greater
Hope the weight of the world on his head
Keeps his feet on the ground instead
And he’ll see her around
Sooner or later

But spaces divide the stars that align anyway
Places where fire once burned will be soon swept away

He’ll see the dawn break, sooner or later
Shed some light on the newer and greater
He’ll see the dawn break, sooner or later
Shed some light on the newer and greater
Hope the weight of the world on his head
Keep his feet on the ground instead
And he’ll see her around, sooner or later
And he’ll see her around, sooner or later

Oooooh Ooooooh
Oooooh Ooooooh
Oooooh Ooooooh
Oooooh Ooooooh

Sooner Or Later

Keep it real
Play it cool
I get a rush when I look at you

Do it right
Do it well
We either go home tonight or we go to hell

Tripping on this feeling 
I'm suspended from the ceiling
Take me over
Take me in
Destroy my inhibitions 
Listen to your own volition
I'm the hunger
You're the food

I get a rush
I get a rush
I get a rush from you

Light it up
Let it out
You're just a fool for the things that you oughta live without
Pour me a drink
Make it strong
But it won't last
Even half as long
Cuz you have the power
You are a high
Sweet satisfaction I can't deny

I get a rush
I get a rush
I get a rush from you

Rush

Do you even remember
The time when we first met?
And we were getting along,
We had a friendship so strong
Like nothing could end it.
You told me you were a loner
I told you I’ve been alone a hundred times
When I needed someone
And life wasn’t fun
And I thought I couldn’t take it

And I can’t take these
Changed situations
Can’t take these awkward moments
And strained relations
We were so happy
But something happened
You never told me what’s wrong
And then we played along until we lost our patience

So now things are different
I put on a smiling face to hide
The things that can’t be explained
The words that got so ingrained
In something deep inside
We made no effort
We couldn’t even look eye-to-eye at all
But time killed the rest,
Put our friendship to test
And I don’t even recall, don’t wanna even recall
These crazy changed situations
Can’t take these awkward moments
And strained relations
We were so happy
But something happened
You never told me what’s wrong
And then we played along until we lost our patience
And I won’t regret it all
Go on and forget it all
And I won’t regret it all
Go on and forget it all

We were so happy
But something happened
You never told me what’s wrong and I just played along until we lost our patience
And I can’t take these
Changed situations
Can’t take these awkward moments
And strained relations

It’s not the same
It’s not the same
It’s not the same
It’s not the same
It’s not the same
It’s not the same

Changed Situations

This guy that I met last week said, “I’ll show you around if you come with me,
If you come with me”
He said, “I do think that it’s a pity,
You live alone in this big bad city,
Would you like some company?
I’ll show you around if you come with me
I’ll show you around if you come with me”

And he said, “Hey there, pretty baby
Are you gonna be mine?”
And he said, “Hey there, pretty baby
Are you gonna be mine?”

He said, “I’ll show you around if you come with me, yea
Take you out, treat you like a lady,
Buy you things that you’ve never seen”
A rich boy’s a poor girl’s dream
A rich boy’s a poor girl’s dream
A rich boy in a poor girl dream, singing,
“Hey there, pretty baby
Are you gonna be mine?”
And he said, 
“Hey there, pretty baby
Are you gonna be mine?”

But baby, I’m on my own
In a city I don’t call home
There’s already so much that I find thrilling!
And even if you get on your knees,
I’m never gonna give in with ease
So go find someone wild and willing!
Yea, yea, yea

He said, “I’ll show you around and I’ll treat you well
I’ll put you under my spell
Then I’ll break you and your self-esteem”
A rich boy’s a poor girl’s dream
A rich boy’s a poor girl’s dream
A rich boy in a poor girl dream, singing,
“Hey there, pretty baby
Are you gonna be mine?”

And he said,
“Hey there, pretty baby
Are you gonna be mine?”
And he said,
“Hey there, pretty baby
Are you gonna be mine?”

And he said,
“Hey there, pretty baby
Are you gonna be mine?
Are you gonna be mine?
Are you gonna be mine?
Are you gonna be mine?
Are you gonna be mine?
Are you gonna be mine?”

Poor Girl's Dream

Music and Lyrics by Maalavika Manoj
Guitars - Tejas Menon
Drums - Jehangir Jehangir
Bass guitar - Stuart DaCosta
Shot and edited by Jishnu Guha
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Ayan De

Filmed at Cotton Press Studio, Mumbai.


SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/malimanojmusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Malimanojmusic
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Malimanojmusic
Instagram: maalavikamanoj
Website: www.maalavikamanoj.com



Lyrics:

You walked into the room
And you said that it's over.
But you keep saying it's over, over and over again.
But this time you meant it
And I really felt it.
I knew that this was bound to end.

So go ahead, walk out the door.
I don't really care cuz I've been there before.
You wasted my time and I wasted yours, 
So just leave me now.

Walk away 
I don't need you.
Walk away
I know that you don't need me too
We weren't meant to be
So just stay away from me.
Walk away, walk away.

I used to be so blind
But I never did know it
And even if you really cared just a little
Why didn't you show it?
Now you'rein my past
It all ended so fast
I'm so glad we decided to throw it all away.

So go ahead, walk out the door.
I don't really care cuz I've been there before.
You wasted my time and I wasted yours, 
So just leave me now.

Walk away 
I don't need you.
Walk away
I know that you don't need me too
We weren't meant to be
So just stay away from me
Walk away, walk away.

Walk Away (Live at Cotton Press Studios)

Live from a living room somewhere in Mumbai.

Sooner Or Later (Piano Version)

‘Play’ is Bombay-based musician Mali’s first single of 2018.

‘Play’ takes the country-tinged pop-rock of her 2017 debut EP Rush, and strips it to its sparse songwriting essence - her voice, tone and storytelling. The song is addressed to her beloved grandfather, and is wrought with subtle and heartfelt emotion.

Play

Mango Showers are warning signs.
They caution us of the impending heavy, seemingly unending monsoon to come. Mali’s new single by the same title likens the familiar pre-monsoon phenomenon to her
experience with a big-talking record label owner and a bizarre set of circumstances that had all her warning bells jangling.

Mango Showers

Mali - Mango Showers

Age of Limbo is the first single from Mali's upcoming full length album titled 'Caution to the Wind'. It was inspired by an episode of Conan Without Borders (Israel) and the Syrian civil war but has been widely regarded as a lockdown anthem.

Age of Limbo

Absolute

Sitting on the Fence

Really? Not Really

Caution to the wind

Horoscope

Cabaret

Mundane

Live Again

Mali, also known as Maalavika Manoj, is a talented singer- songwriter hailing from Mumbai, India. Her music is a unique blend of classic pop influences with a contemporary twist, and her debut full-length album, ‘Caution to the Wind,’ has been lauded as one of the most critically acclaimed releases from the Indian indie scene in 2021.
Mali has had the privilege of collaborating with some of the biggest names in the Indian music industry, including Oscar and Grammy-winning composer AR Rahman. She has performed at prestigious venues such as Wembley Arena in London and Le Zénith in Paris, and her voice has been featured in several leading ad campaigns. Her talent has been recognized by major media outlets, including a feature on BBC World News and in the BBC documentary ‘Rhythms of India.’
In 2020, Mali was selected to be part of Spotify’s prestigious RADAR program, which handpicks a select few musicians from around the world for exclusive growth opportunities on the streaming platform. In 2023, she performed at the first edition of Lollapalooza India and at the grand opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center in Mumbai. She was also chosen to represent Apple Music India and showcase her music-making process to Apple CEO Tim Cook during his visit to India. Mali continues to be one of the most innovative singer-songwriters the country has to offer. Her evocative and thought-provoking lyricism, coupled with her angelic vocals and creative production choices make her stand out as one of the most exciting musicians in the industry.

Mali

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