A short two-year period after the release of Mal Not Bad’s acclaimed debut, they return with an equally compelling body of work in SOPHOMORE, one which reunites listeners with their quiet artistic assuredness while subtly broadening their sonic world. Drawing inspiration from everything from SZA, the hugely popular documentary The Last Dance and Frank Ocean, Hauser blends several textures, genres and eras cohesively into this endlessly groovy and irresistible LP.

Mal Hauser spoke to Northern Transmissions about the influence of rave culture, the different things they’ve learned through observing other artists under the collaborative lens and the power in titles.

Northern Transmissions: Hi Mal, how have you been feeling in the lead-up to your excellent new record, SOPHOMORE, coming out next year and sharing the songs with fans?

Mal Not Bad: Hi! I’m feeling good, energized and excited to share this project with the world. It’s become such a joy to create, listen to and interact with. I feel like those who have heard or interacted with it can feel their own version of that, as well.

NT: "Amorph(e)ous", one of the great singles from the LP, is a celebration of rave culture and the community people get from it. I’d love to hear about your early experiences going to raves and how that period shaped your musical explorations and made you feel in the world?

Mal Not Bad: What struck me the most when I first went to raves is how immediately accepting and free it is in that environment. It’s ultimately about the music and moment – not the artist; it feels purely about the shared experience everyone is having in the room. To have one long, continuous piece of music that shifts as the night goes on is such a beautiful and inviting concept that transcends ego. It’s made me think about playing shows of my own in that same “hosting” almost guiding way, to create a malleable set or recording and experience that can adapt and form with the audience rather than be presented at them.

NT: You’ve collaborated with some amazing artists such as Jay Som, Mk. gee and Hayley Williams. How did each of those experiences inspire you to approach your own music differently in terms of lyric writing, composition and applying texture in your gorgeously evocative and compelling arrangements?

Mal Not Bad: The common thread between all of these artists is their commitment to their craft while maintaining a playful approach – which can be a tricky line to navigate. I view their calibre of artistry and technical abilities as completely unique to each of them and, in turn, endlessly evolving / open to growth, which is very important to me as well. Inherently, I think any kind of collaboration seeps influence into all of the people in the room, especially under the raw, vulnerable circumstance of creating music.

NT: What were some of your favorite memories from writing and recording these recent singles? Within those moments, were there experiences that helped you push further in your production style and overall artistry?

Mal Not Bad: This record was written and recorded during a time with a lot of movement and external instability and change, so overall the record became a safe haven to dive into and offer a place of play and processing depending on what I needed. Getting in the studio with Sarah Tudzin playing kit really cracked open the world for “Amorph(e)ous” that I heard in my head. I also worked on this record alongside working on Jay Som’s record Belong. Bouncing between the two gave me an energized flow where I could stay zoomed out on both projects and truly enjoy the process.

NT: What ways would you say your new songs expand upon themes and musical styles you introduced on This Is Your New Life and how does the new album demonstrate the ways you’ve grown as an artist and person?

Mal Not Bad: With TIYNL, I started to really push myself to be more bold with production, visuals, and performance. This record keeps that push and expands it into lyrics and vocals, which I find to be the most raw and exposed elements. I feel like I kept the tracks pretty sparse compared to TIYNL to highlight the voice and emotion, which made me have to be extremely personal and honest; there’s not much to hide behind.

NT: This Is Your New Life is such a great title for a debut LP, and feels particularly apt given the critical acclaim and exciting experiences and opportunities that came from that release. How did you find adjusting to being a known and respected artist, and how did that period inform the lyrics featured on the upcoming album SOPHOMORE?

Mal Not Bad: Lyrics and titles can often feel like they carve a path that doesn’t already exist, almost predict the future or unveil things that are so deep in us that we otherwise avoid or just don’t see. That title felt so deeply true when it appeared, and looking back, it felt like this moment of accepting the reality of my life and who I am – not wanting to shrink myself into the background but run towards what feels scary and move forward with truth and respect (to myself, to others, to the practice of life). It became a time stamp of accepting and welcoming who I am and how I want to exist. I think that all laid the foundation for SOPHOMORE to further expand and stretch that curiosity with a more fearless and bold approach.

NT: Following on from that, what song or lyric do you feel really encapsulates how you were feeling while making this album?

Mal Not Bad: I view this record as 2 parts since it was split with a strong and sudden shift in my life. So, part I would use the lyric, or motif, of “after all this” as a feeling of desperation – an almost tired, melancholic “really?” Part II, I’d say, is the grunt in “WIDC”, which, looking at this now, feels like a response to Part I.

NT: What are you excited for with the album coming out and what’s in store for the months to come?

Mal Not Bad: I’ve always viewed an album as just a singular piece to each project I create so it feels like I’m only about halfway done, which is exciting as both the world around the project builds as I grow alongside it – something to interact with and constantly shape. I’ve been working on extensions of this project for a while now and want it all to be presented in an immersive way when the record comes out – including fashion and visuals, so I’m stoked to continue to chip away at it all.

Order Sophomore by Mal Not Bad HERE