Features

Carolann Solebello_for Voices_Sept 2015_HBL photo

Carolann Solebello: Americana With a Brooklyn Spin

April 6, 2013 by David K. Moseder

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Carolann Solebello, who has been performing solo for the last three years, is perhaps best known for her work with folk-Americana trio... read article

You Can’t Take The Brooklyn Out of Singer-Songwriter Susan Collins

April 6, 2013 by The Brooklyn Roads Team

Even if you have never heard of Susan Collins, you’ve probably heard her sing–more often than you might imagine. The East Flatbush native has been... read article

A Winning Warm-Up For a Sizzling Summer

April 6, 2013 by Howard B. Leibowitz

We’re thrilled to present the long–awaited pre-summer issue of BK Roads,our all music, all Brooklyn webzine, spotlighting three multi-talented Brooklyn artists. Although their music is... read article

A Musical Family Tree Grows in Brooklyn

October 6, 2012 by Howard B. Leibowitz

2012 marks the centennial of the birth of legendary American icon Woody Guthrie, who lived for some time in Coney Island. It just so happens... read article

Woody at 100 Concert at Brooklyn College/ © 2012/ photo by Howard B. Leibowitz

The Unbounded Glory of Woody Guthrie

October 6, 2012 by Howard B. Leibowitz

Brooklyn Roads was honored to have been at Brooklyn College‘s Walt Whitman Theater for the Woody Guthrie Centennial Concert in September. This incredible evening was... read article

Joan Osborne’s Brooklyn Muse: A Challenge Well Met

November 6, 2011 by David K. Moseder

2011 was a busy year for Joan Osborne, beginning with Love and Hate, the multimedia music/dance/film production she created and performed as part of Lincoln Center’s... read article

Celebrating Brooklyn in Music

November 6, 2011 by Howard B. Leibowitz

As we approach the winter and move indoors, warm thoughts come to mind about this past summer’s outdoor music scene here in Brooklyn–now known in... read article

Musical Fireworks and Hot August Nights

June 6, 2011 by Howard B. Leibowitz

Brooklyn Roads is looking forward to another lively summer of music, despite a few setbacks on the Coney Island front. After 10 rockin’ years, The... read article

The Heart of Brooklyn:

January 6, 2011 by David K. Moseder

A Generous Helping of Benefit Shows Benefit concerts featuring Brooklyn artists were among 2010’s many musical highlights in our borough. Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) kicked... read article

Digging Into A Tuneful New Year

January 6, 2011 by Howard B. Leibowitz

Although this past year ended with everyone digging out of the snow, we prefer to remember the great variety of home-grown music Brooklynites were digging all... 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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