Me:
Hello Malik whats been going on these past years? Whats new?
Malik:
To put it simply, I’ve been getting
to know the real Malik. From summer 2010 until summer 2011 I was working on my
music nonstop for the first time my whole life. I was recording, traveling,
shooting music videos but it wasn’t fun anymore. I didn’t feel like I really
had the opportunity to say what I truly felt. So after we released my last
music video, I took a really long break. I went back to working full-time and
slowly rebuilt myself as an artist from the ground up.
Me:
Who are artist you listen to now?
Malik: So
many it’s insane. I love most of the big pop acts who put out an album this
past year: Justin Timberlake, Lorde, Katy, Kendrick Lamar but I’ve been
listening to a lot more Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack and newer
R&B artists as well; Miguel & Kelly Rowland to name a couple. Oh man,
so many artists. Most of the time these days, I’ll shuffle
Me:
Your top 5 singers that’s in relevant now?
Malik:
Justin Timberlake
Lorde
(although she’s new, her 7 weeks at #1 on the Hot 100 is sign of big things to
come)
Arriana
Grande (she’s a newcomer as well her album debuted at #1 and she has an
incredible voice)
Rihanna
(not my favorite vocalist but she really has become the voice of a generation;
got to give Rih Rih credit)
Adele
(even though she didn’t put out an album this year, her entire catalog
continues to sell huge - she’s going to be staple for several more years
probably decades).
Me:
what do you have new that’s going on that you would like to share?
Malik: I’m glad you asked! I’m really excited to be wrapping up
production on not only my debut EP project “the night before dawn”, I’m also
more than half-way done recording my first album “Fall Before Dawn”. Why the
similar titles? NBD and FBD are the first two installments of an album series
I’ll be releasing throughout 2014. It’s called: “Fall.Rise.Believe” and speaks
on how love and loss changes us for the better.
Me:
Tell me how your move to LA changed your career
Malik: LA didn’t just change my career, it changed me! Moving to
LA was one of the most difficult things I have ever done. It forced me to
recognize my true value as an artist and a creative mind. It taught me how
badly you have to want this in order to succeed. The number one thing it
changed for my career was my hunger; it grew my hunger to succeed tenfold. That
has allowed me to establish the professional relationships necessary to keep
growing and moving forward. LA was really tough but great at the same time.
Me:
what motivates you?
Malik: God Serving Him and doing the best with the gifts I was
given. My family. And the idea that one person can change the world if they
truly believe they can. I cover all kinds of topics in my music but I tend to
discuss people more than anything else. I feel like we all have so much room to
grow and the quickest way to achieve that growth is learning to celebrate our
differences; a “grand healing” if you will . I’m motivated by the opportunity
to inspire others to love themselves a little more so that grand healing can be.
Me:
when will your next single be available
Malik: Very soon!
Me:
tell me about your new album and what can people expect
Malik: Expect to spend some time really listening to it. I wrote
FBD over the course of nearly 8 years now. It’s a living breathing record of my
personal life experiences. People can expect to relate to the stories I tell
throughout and hopefully walk away with a new perspective on things.
Me:
anything you wanna say or tell anyone
Malik: Every day you wake up is an opportunity to go further, do
better and work harder to create the world you want to live in. All you have to
do is recognize your own power. Claim the life you want. And as always, peace
and love!
