Articles by Michela Arlia

Sabrina Song / photo by Livy Wicks/ courtesy of Big Hassle Media

Sabrina Song Brings Wisdom to Youthful Tracks

February 13, 2024 by Michela Arlia

Sabrina Song is a Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, and producer. Best aligned with Alternative, Indie, and Pop genres, Song’s lyrics and overall artistry transcends... read article

Bicycle Away Cover Art courtesy of the artist

Sam Rappaport’s “Bicycle Away” Tugs At the Heart

January 19, 2024 by Michela Arlia

San Fernando Valley native-turned Brooklyn-based singer and songwriter Sam Rappaport is back on the music scene with his latest single “Bicycle Away.” As the song... read article

Nation of Langage / photo by Shervin Lainez and Beach Fossils / photo by Christopher Petrus Nation of Langage and Beach Fossils

Nation of Language & Beach Fossils: Brooklyn’s Indie Scene Is Set

December 27, 2023 by Michela Arlia

If you’re looking for fresh Indie and Alternative tracks to stream come the new year, look no further than Brooklyn’s own Nation of Language and... read article

The Vibe At ShapeShifter Lab-courtesy of ShapeShifer Lab

The Vibe at ShapeShifer Lab Photo courtesy of ShapeShifter Lab

ShapeShifter Lab Finds New Home, New Voices & New Opportunities

November 10, 2023 by Michela Arlia

Nestled between small shops and laundromats on Union Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn, sits the latest location of the performance space ShapeShifter Lab, a familiar... read article

Kings Theatre Marquee -Jason Isbell -HBL # 3

Kings Theatre Marquee photo courtesy of B.L.Howard Productions

Brooklyn’s Music Venue Scene is Ever Vibrant and Thriving

October 9, 2023 by Michela Arlia

Live music is one of the iconic symbols that makes New York City one that never sleeps. Brooklyn is home to many music gems that... read article

Eli "Paperboy" Reed photo by Ray Lego

Eli “Paperboy” Reed Makes Oldies New Again

September 16, 2023 by Michela Arlia

Earlier this month, singer-songwriter Eli “Paperboy” Reed released his third single “Do It Again” off his forthcoming album Hits And Misses: The Singles, set to... read article

Lesley Mok at M3 Festival 2022 Courtesy of mutualmentorshipformusicians.org

Making Music Memorable: M³ Festival Hits Brooklyn

August 31, 2023 by Michela Arlia

As the dog days of summer come to an end, the 2nd annual Mutual Mentorship for Musicians Festival returns to Brooklyn at the Roulette Intermedium... read article

Cindy Alexander’s “Messy” Gets Rugged and Real About Life

August 1, 2023 by Michela Arlia

Singer, songwriter and storyteller Cindy Alexander has a magical way with words and phrases in her latest album Messy. In the 10-track album, this indie... read article

Bodega Brad Spins at the beach / photo by Nicole Merino

Bodega Brad’s Brooklyn Adventures

July 17, 2023 by Michela Arlia

Everyone’s heard of Bodega Brad – even if you think you haven’t. If you’ve ever found yourself perusing through local FM radio stations in the... read article

Phoebe Bridgers On Stage / © photo by Ellen Qbertaplaya

Phoebe Bridgers On Stage at Celebrate Brookyln! photo by Ellen Qbertplaya / courtesy of BRIC Arts Media

Carefully Curated: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn’s Own Diane Eber

June 10, 2023 by Michela Arlia

As summer begins to kick off in Brooklyn, there is only one season-long outdoor Festival concert and performance series that highlights and celebrates musical talent... read article

« Previous 1 2 3 4 … 6 Next »

Artists on our Radar

Ciao Malz: Music With a Storyteller’s Charm

WFUV NY Slice Session- photo by Gus Philippas for FUV

Brooklyn’s indie scene is home to countless rising talents, and one that stands out is Connecticut-born, Brooklyn-based artist Malia DelaCruz better known as Ciao Malz . A self-taught musician and engineer, Malz has a gift for crafting indie pop songs that are both clever and unpolished in the best way. Her latest release, Safe Than Sorry, a four-track EP released in December 2024, showcases her evolving approach to songwriting and collaboration. Growing up surrounded by classic rock, folk and indie music, Malz was drawn to the art of storytelling. “I like songs that feel lived-in, a little rough around the edges but full of heart,” she tells Brooklyn Roads. The DIY nature of indie music was a revelation that made her realize that imperfections could be part of the sound. That perspective shaped her songwriting process, which she describes as intuitive and sometimes surprising, “It’s hard for me to tell where the songs are going at first, but the choruses are catchy.” After attending college in Queens, Brooklyn quickly became her creative home. “There’s always new and different music playing from cars, coffee shops, even the fish supply store,” she says. Playing alongside the borough’s talented musicians has kept her inspired and motivated. Among Brooklyn’s many venues, Union Pool holds a special place for her, for its intimate performance space. First featured on WFUV’s NY Slice in 2021 and once again on March 20, 2025 with her warm, dreamy single, “Always Be My Maybe,” Malz has played venues like Baby’s All Right, Bowery Electric and Pianos NYC. Her latest EP came together in an unexpected but organic way. While working on other artists’ music, she asked a band to stick around after a session to help flesh out some of her songs. “We were able to turn them into full songs pretty quickly,” she recalls. The experience shifted her perspective on collaboration, as she comments, “in the past, I had done everything myself, but after making that EP, I think of it differently.” Ciao Malz is an artist worth watching. For those looking for music that’s deeply personal and full of heart, she’s one to have on your radar.

... read article