.

.

.

.

Support for ‘YASMIN’

“Malaika has grappled with heartbreaking loss and walked an emotional tightrope to share this with listeners in an inclusive and healing manner.” The AU Review (AUS)

‘Good Man’ added to Apple Music’s ‘indie + chill’

.

.

London-born and raised across continents, Tanzanian/Australian songwriter Malaika Mfalme brings a cross-cultural perspective to their music and heartfelt debut album ‘Yasmin’. Inspired by the likes of Tracy Chapman, Malaika’s work is one of self-discovery and empowerment. ‘Yasmin’ was recorded at Offbeat Collective, engineered by Zheng Lin and mixed by Drew Bisset (Jannah Beth, ANESU).

Compromising nine heartfelt compositions, ‘Yasmin’ is a timeless and tender folk record. Malaika uses immersive sonic soundscapes to capture the tapestry of emotions and introspections that pay homage to the artist’s experiences and vulnerabilities.

Malaika Mfalme talks about the inspiration behind ‘Yasmin’: “I wrote ‘Yasmin’ during a time of immense pain. While the world shut its doors and experienced the 2020 lockdowns, I was grieving my late partner. When I began writing it, I didn’t know it would turn into an album. It was my means of coping through writing about grief, loss, and then joy, healing and finally self-acceptance. Now I feel this album can help others move through that kind of pain, removing the taboo and shame western society places on grief.”

‘Acknowledge’ gracefully opens the album, recognising the connection to country and honouring ancestral spirits through layered spoken word and sung phrases. Written initially out of frustration with the check-off-a-list style of acknowledgement to country common today, the track serves as a reminder of land never ceded, adding weight to its contents.

The second track, ‘Mother’, invites with uplifting acoustic guitar and mellow harmonies as Malaika sings about the nurturing embrace of mother nature. Malaika adds, “I wanted to write about joy after the pain and grief I experienced and didn’t realise how hard it would be. I was playing in the park, and it just flowed through me, like playing to Mother Nature herself. The song’s ending is an ode to my Grandmother who lives in Tanzania, who you can hear singing the Good Night Song to us before we went to bed.”

‘Dream’ is ethereal yet grounded as Malaika reflects on their first dream featuring their partner after her passing, the shock and jolt this brings, and the understanding. This drops into the soulful and soothing ‘Spirit’ as vivid backing vocals immerse the listener in a tranquil state. Malaika explains, “‘Spirit’ came from a deep time of grief, so I wanted to use repetition to create new meaning. This repetition and call and response is significant in my African culture and in history, often using techniques like this to survive horror like slavery.”

.

.

‘Imagine’ is introduced with piano alongside deftly plucked acoustic guitar as Malaika delves into memories, visualising everything they would have done with their partner if they were still here. ‘Relief’ is an answer to ‘Imagine’ as a reminder that you are known and loved and the relief that comes with that. Lead single ‘Good Man’ continues to expand on this, reflecting on gender identity as delicate strings and Malaika’s vibrant harmonies shine. Malaika adds, “‘Good Man’ is about making a promise to lean into tender masculinity over toxic masculinity and about the black women in my life who have made me who I am.”

‘Younger’ is a sonic letter to Malaika’s past self and an ode to soul music, thanking their younger self for surviving so long while celebrating the soul artists who helped them get here, including Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone and Bob Marley.

The closer and titular track ‘Yasmin’ is a sprawling, poignant finale to Malaika’s lost partner. Malaika explains, “Once I realised this was an album, I knew I had to write a song just for her. Yasmin was an Opera singer, and I was able to incorporate all of her friends in the song. All of us singing together was such an important healing process for all of us. The first verse is about the pain of her passing, the second is about letting her go, and the last is about remembering her.”

Malaika Mfalme will perform a one-off intimate launch show at Red Rattler Theatre in Eora/Sydney on Friday, December 14, to celebrate the record’s release. Malaika is also a force in the local music scene, creating events like Inkloosive Groove and co-hosting Queers of Joy. Malaika explains, “I’m extremely passionate about music, activism, the diaspora, culture, heritage, lineage, and healing. Inkloosive Groove is a jam space for QTBIPOC people and Femmes to feel comfortable exploring musically, as spaces are often dominated by white straight men. All the proceeds for this monthly event go to Blak Rainbow to support Indigenous queer people. Queers of Joy is a trans talent night that happens at Red Rattler Theatre every two months. During lockdown, we did our shows online and connected with LGBTQI people from all over the world, including Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Queers of Joy has been assisting in funding their survival ever since.”

Malaika Mfalme is a trans/non-binary artist who creates profound yet intimate folk music highlighted by their bona fide storytelling. Malaika describes, “My music journey started when I was five as a young person in Kenya, and I took to traditional choral singing. When I moved to Australia, I continued my work in choirs, finding solace in group singing and harmonies. I started performing my music at 14 and have kept going ever since. Tracy Chapman heavily influenced and inspired me, and I even got locks for her when I was 15, a hairstyle I still have to this day, a constant reminder of my dedication to music and culture. I have strong political beliefs around denouncing white supremacy, the liberation of queer folk, freeing the Palestinian people, fat liberation, and disability support. I believe that nobody is free until we are all free.”

‘Yasmin’ is available worldwide now

.

Listen HERE

‘Yasmin’
Track List:

1.’Acknowledge’
2. ‘Mother’
3. ‘Dream’
4. ‘Spirit’
5. ‘Imagine’
6. ‘Relief’
7. ‘Good Man’
8. ‘Younger Self’
9. ‘Yasmin’

.

.

Follow MALAIKA MFALME
FACEBOOK – INSTAGRAM – TIKTOK – TRIPLE J UNEARTHED
SPOTIFY – APPLE MUSIC – AMAZON MUSIC
SOUNDCLOUD – YOUTUBE – BANDCAMP

.

AMNPLIFY – DB