Tell us a bit about yourself.

I grew up in Eastern Connecticut and then moved to NYC for college, which was a huge change. I'd been playing guitar since I was a kid, but discovering GarageBand piqued my interest in music-making. Later on, I got to study in Italy, and that's when I created a separate Instagram account, 'Ciao Malz,' to share my music and experiment with putting my work out there.

What's your musical origin story?

I started playing piano as a kid without taking any lessons, and I got a lot better once I discovered YouTube tutorials. While I played instruments in school, I was never that interested. Once I started playing guitar, though, I began making my own songs. I always thought of songs as magic when I was a kid, and even when I started writing, it still felt that way. The surprise of coming up with something continues to inspire me.

What were the driving forces or pivotal moments that inspired you to pursue music?

I had played instruments throughout my life, but for one year after college, I didn't play at all. During that year, I went insane and started pursuing music more seriously.

How would you describe your style of music?

I'd say it falls under the indie pop umbrella, but it's also got a bit of an Americana and folk vibe. There's a very DIY approach to the production, and you can feel that in the tracks.

How is your personality reflected in your work?

I think my personality shows up in the music. It's usually very lighthearted, but every now and then, it can reveal something deep.

Describe your creative process when you write new music.

I like to approach every new song with no expectations, just playing guitar until something cool happens. From there, I start building on it. I'll usually begin recording to get a better sense of what needs to happen next. After that, I try to keep as much as I can from the demo before re-recording for the final session. Lyrically, I like to test a few things out and give it a day to make sure I don't hate it.

What is the name of your latest release?

"Safe Then Sorry" is my latest release. The EP is a response to the unsettling question: What if you play it safe and still end up sorry? It's a blend of jangly rock and indie pop to create a uniquely vulnerable vibe. Each song meets at an intersection of hope and fear and makes a decision from there. It means a lot to me, and I spent a lot of time tinkering with the sounds to make it feel right. I hope people enjoy the realness of it.

What was the inspiration for that release?

A lot was changing in my life, leaving me with so many questions, like, what if you do all the right things, the things you think you're supposed to do, but you still end up feeling bad? I unknowingly placed a lot of my worries in this record!

What challenges or unexpected moments did you encounter during the writing/recording process?

I'd originally programmed the drums while recording the initial instruments, but as the process went on, I realized I wanted to record real drums live. Adding such a key part at the end was definitely challenging, but my friend Felix is incredible and made it all work.

What strategies do you find most effective for promoting your music?

Having fun with it works best for me. I like to bring the same energy to promoting the music that I put into making it, with lots of humor. Promoting music is serious business, but the delivery can be taken lightly. Hopefully, it still ends up being effective! I'm also thankful to have Jamie at Audio Antihero who has taught me plenty about how promoting music works.

How do you engage with your fans online and offline?

Online, I like to share other artists that I like, post pictures of myself doing things, and tell everyone I love them. Offline, I like to play shows, hang out with the fans on the street, and tell them I love them.

What upcoming promotional activities or releases are you most excited about?

There are a few radio stations that have agreed to play the new songs. I will be turning the radio up so loud on those days!

How can folks contact you?

You can find all my links and social media profiles at linktr.ee/Ciaomalz