MEAWW's Basement Tapes: Malory returns with 'Killer Cut Offs', a quirky collection of alt-pop tunes
Alternative pop artiste Malory has returned with her sophomore album 'Killer Cut Offs', which dropped on April 24.
'Killer Cut Offs' follows Malory's widely acclaimed debut LP 'Cornucopia', which was released in 2019. While Malory's debut EP 'Cornucopia' was a classic pop record that strung together her own experiences of love and loss as well as her search for identity, what made it classically pop was its willingness to experiment beyond the confines of a pre-determined sound. 'Cornucopia' revealed Malory's ability to blend familiar pop melodies and songwriting with elements of modern alternative styles, earning her comparisons to fellow alt-pop artistes like Regina Spektor.
Since her debut, Malory's life has changed rather dramatically owing to a move from London to Toronto. The move changed how she approached music and ultimately led to the creation of the eight tracks on her latest record — her first fully self-produced project. For Malory, this new-found creative control was one of the most life-defining moments for her, both as an artiste and as a person. Speaking about her experience she says, "This album has really been my baby for the past half a year, I've gone through some big life changes and grown so much in the process of creating it. I'm so proud of the album, from the freeness of subject matter to the eclectic, weird mix of instrumentation and sounds."
She continues, "Although I've always felt confident as a writer, singer and performer, being a female in the industry has meant I've always found it difficult to truly believe in my own abilities as a producer/engineer. It's such a male-dominated role that I definitely had a mental block to overcome in order to just say, screw it, I can do it myself. The strong women in my life like my sister (also a writer/producer under the name 'VIBES'), my mother (a total force to be reckoned with), as well as my wonderful partner and team at Extreme all helped to give me the confidence to go for it."
Given the range in her previous work, it would have been difficult to pinpoint the direction Malory intended to take on 'Killer Cut Offs'. But what is glaringly apparent is that she has continued down the path of dark-sounding yet wonderfully playful alt-pop that details the journey into self-discovery. She has done so in a way that allows her to oscillate between electronic pop bangers and introspective ballads all rolled into one quirky, emotional and uplifting release.
Standouts from 'Killer Cut Offs' include the marvelously eccentric singles 'Daydrunk' and 'Killer Cut Offs', as well as the rather bittersweet 'All Grown Up' that sees Malory get vulnerable as she speaks about the uncertainty of starting a new life away from her family and friends. But amid the more upbeat tracks sits the darker 'Headed West' as sort of an underdog in this album. It is a beautifully eloquent track that allows Malory's songwriting to really shine through against the backdrop of a more muted instrumental that wonderfully carries the story she is trying to tell.
'Killer Cut Offs' is out on all digital platforms. Listen to the album HERE.
Follow Malory on MaloryOfficial, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more.
'MEAWW's Basement Tapes' is a weekly column that shines a spotlight on undiscovered/underrated musical gems.
