Features

Marching into a Musical Month

May 16, 2015 by B.L. Howard

Cold weather got you down? Can’t feel your nose, toes, and everything in between? Well grab your fish oils and a glass of milk to... read article

Q-104’s Ken Dashow: Keeping It Real After All These Years

December 5, 2014 by Howard B. Leibowitz

Growing up in a music-loving household in Sheepshead Bay helped set the stage for Ken Dashow’s future as one of New York radio’s most enduring... read article

Are You Listening? Brooklyn Is a Winter Wonderland!

December 5, 2014 by B.L. Howard

The temperatures have plummeted, the carolers are practicing their tunes, and the scarves on every Brooklyn hipster actually serve a purpose. While the cry of... read article

Vince Giordano: Brooklyn, Victrolas, Scorcese and All That Jazz

September 5, 2014 by David K. Moseder

When he’s not pursuing his mission to help restore the smokestack at the site of former Vitagraph Film Studios in Midwood, Brooklyn-bred musician and arranger Vince... read article

Afropunk: A Celebration of Diversity, People, Culture and Place

September 5, 2014 by Jacob Tupper

The 10th Annual Afropunk Festival was held on August 23-24 at Commodore Barry Park in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, hosting a celebration of diversity, people, culture,... read article

BK Summer Music Wrap Up

September 5, 2014 by B.L. Howard

Another summer has come and gone, leaving Brooklyn residents and fans pining for one more concert and extravaganza. Unfortunately, while the heat plays one last... read article

Gerry Goffin: A Natural Lyricist (BK Roads: Gerry Goffin Tribute)

July 6, 2014 by David K. Moseder

When you sing along with the radio to Will You Love Me Tomorrow,Pleasant Valley Sunday, Some Kind of Wonderful, Take Good Care of My Baby,... read article

A Brooklyn Sizzling Musical Summer

July 6, 2014 by B.L. Howard

It’s that time of the year again for the Borough of Churches to preach the holy gospel of summer in the only manner fit: the... read article

All music…All Brooklyn!

July 6, 2014 by Howard B. Leibowitz

With the winter a distant memory and before the dog days of August are upon us, Brooklyn Roads thought a quick look back at the burgeoning BK... read article

Nicole Atkins: Finding Inspiration On the Williamsburg Bridge

January 6, 2014 by David K. Moseder

Singer/songwriter Nicole Atkins draws on multiple genres and distills them to something wholly original. Her music has inspired comparisons to artists as diverse as Chrissie Hynde,... read article

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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.

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