Artists On Our Radar

Ciao Malz: Music With a Storyteller’s Charm

March 30, 2025 by Michela Arlia

Ciao Malz Performs On WFUV's NY Slice photo by Gus Philippas for WFUV

Eric Stern/photo by Hoyeon Choi/ courtesy of the artist

Eric Stern Leaning in Brooklyn photo by Hoyeon Choi / courtesy of the artist

Eric Stern: Brooklyn Born, Jazz Driven

February 8, 2025 by Michela Arlia

Brooklyn has long been home to innovative artists, and pianist-composer Eric Stern is no exception. Born and raised in the borough, Stern’s sound is a... read article

Ricky Stein/ photo courtesy of the artist

Ricky Stein On The Street in Brooklyn photo courtesy of the artist

Ricky Stein: Texas Roots in Brooklyn

December 22, 2024 by Giulia Arlia

If you’re looking for music inspired by New York City with a Texan flare, look no further than Ricky Stein, a Brooklyn-based artist originally from... read article

Janet Labelle With Guitar In Hand / photo by John Nyboer

Janet Labelle photo by John Nyboer

Janet LaBelle Takes the Spotlight: Blending Vintage Vibes with Modern Magic

September 17, 2024 by Michela Arlia

Dynamic Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Janet LaBelle continues to push her creative boundaries. Known for her unique ability to fuse analog warmth with modern production, LaBelle has... read article

OK Cowgirl photo- courtesy of the artists -from Facebook

On A Stairwell photo courtesy of the Artists

Ok Cowgirl Wows the Brooklyn Rock Scene

July 31, 2024 by Giulia Arlia

Ok Cowgirl is an indie rock band based in Brooklyn, whose contagious energy empowers them from the recording studio to the stage. The band, formed... read article

American Nomads photo by Sarah Duval

AMERICAN NOMADS HAVE A WHOLE LOTTA NEW MUSIC IN THE WORKS

June 22, 2024 by David K. Moseder

Greenpoint-based American Nomads have 20 new songs “in various stages of recording, mixing and mastering,” in their Brooklyn recording studio, founding member Walter Kenul tells... read article

Emery Major On the Stoop photo by Areon Mobasher

Emery Major Brings Colorado to Brooklyn!

May 8, 2024 by Giulia Arlia

Step inside the world of Colorado landscapes with Emery Major, who writes and performs music based in the folk, indie and pop genres. A Colorado... read article

Jessi Robertson-Memory and Abandoned Parts Album Art

Memory & Abandoned Parts Album Cover Art

Jessi Robertson: A Voice for the Vulnerable

April 5, 2024 by Michela Arlia

Jessi Robertson is a powerhouse voice that captivates you from the first note. In a world where music is often a safe place for personal... read article

Sabrina Song photo by Livy Wicks

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

Sweetboy Has A Sweet New Release!

December 27, 2023 by Giulia Arlia

This past October, indie pop/alternative band, Sweetboy, released their debut album, the dynamic A Day In The Park. Cofounders Anna Barnett and Jon Flores are... read article

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Artists on our Radar

Ciao Malz: Music With a Storyteller’s Charm

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.

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