CIAO MALZ | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Indie, singer-songwriter |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Labels | Audio Antihero |
CIAO MALZ is a Brooklyn-based indie rock project by Filipino American [1] multi-instrumentalist Malia DelaCruz, [2] [3] [4] in collaboration with James Chrisman of Sister. and Felix Walworth of Florist and Told Slant. [5]
Malia DelaCruz was born and raised in Waterford, Connecticut. She relocated to New York City in 2014 to attend St. John's University in Queens. [3]
DelaCruz issued her first single under the CIAO MALZ name (Always Be My Maybe) on May 28, 2021. [6] [7] She continued to self-release new material, issuing Tracks,Circumstancey,To Go,Same Thing, and Pearl between 2021 and 2023. [4] [8] [9]
In August 2023, DelaCruz recorded a cover of Frog's You Know I’m Down, which reached Frog's label, Audio Antihero. The label then offered to work with CIAO MALZ on the next EP. [4]
On November 15, 2024, CIAO MALZ released the Two Feet Tall single via Audio Antihero. [10] [11] [12] The single was added the Amazing Radio US C-List, [13] and placed in the station's charts. [14] [15] The song was also featured as WFUV as their NY Slice. [16]
The Safe Then Sorry EP followed on December 6, 2024, [4] [17] [18] after premiering with Under the Radar the day prior. [3]
Following the release, DelaCruz collaborated with Jack Hayter on a session for WVKR in February 2025, [19] and in March she published a cover of "Clementine" by Elliott Smith, [20] and a "NY Slice" for WFUV. [1] She also contributed to the recording of Avery Friedman's New Thing album, released in April. [21] [22]
With Safe Then Sorry's release, CIAO MALZ reached No.1 in the Hype Machine Popular Now and Most Posted Artists charts. [23] [24]
The EP was praised in reviews and features from KLOF Magazine, [4] Under the Radar Magazine, [25] The Alternative, [18] God Is in The TV, [26] and Post-Trash, [27] among others. [28] [29] [30]
On January 21, 2025, the Safe Then Sorry EP debuted in the North American College and Community Radio Charts at No.81 in the NACC 200 before peaking at No. 54 the following week. [31] Radio support for the EP included WMBR, [32] WNYU, [33] WKDU, [34] Radio Boise, [35] WFMU, [36] and KEXP rotation, as well as BBC [37] [38] [39] and national radio airplay from FM4, and Kosmos 93.6. [40] [41]