Reviews

Crimson Album Cover photo by Keaton Matusich- resized

Crimson Album Art photo by Keaton Matusich

Adrian Daniel’s Crimson EP Adds Color to the R&B Scene

April 15, 2022 by Michela Arlia

Brooklyn native, singer-songwriter and producer Adrian Daniel , fresh off of his SXSW performance , has just released his newest EP, Crimson. In his official... read article

Tommy James’s “Rock Party”: Alive, Kicking and Relevant

February 25, 2022 by David K. Moseder

Tommy James & The Shondells’ Rock Party compiles some of James’s favorite tracks in new versions that he has recorded over the years. None of... read article

Bobtown at the Dumbo Archway for the 2021 BKAMF photo by Enresto Gonzalez

Brooklyn Americana Fest Returns LIVE — and as Lively as Ever

September 26, 2021 by David K. Moseder

The annual Brooklyn Americana Music Festival (BKAMF) was back live again this year after having to go virtual in 2020. Six venues hosted more than... read article

The Crowd at Club Quarantine -Celebrate Brooklyn!

The Club Quarantine Crowd at Celebrate Brooklyn! photo by Al Pereira

Club Quarantine Goes Viral At Celebrate Brooklyn!

September 24, 2021 by Al Pereira

When the pandemic hit last year, D-Nice decided to hit back. The humble DJ, known to his mom as Derrick Jones, dragged his I-Tunes collection... read article

It’s Me Or The Dog Or Was It “Cats”?

September 22, 2021 by Michela Arlia

Emily Frembgen is a singer-songwriter, hailing originally from Denver and Maryland, but is now based in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Since first moving to the Big Apple... read article

While the Angels Sigh, Cindy Alexander Perseveres

August 25, 2021 by Michela Arlia

Cindy Alexander is a singer-songwriter in the indie music genre who currently resides in California. In April of this year, Alexander released her 10th studio... read article

Bristol County Tides Album Cover

Annie Keating’s “Tides” Ebbs and Flows Through Trying Times

August 9, 2021 by David K. Moseder

The songs on Annie Keating‘s new album, Bristol County Tides, are about “finding human connection amidst times of isolation [and are] deeply personal to my... read article

Kate Taylor -Guitar In Hand photo by Heidi Wild/ courtesy of Compass Records

“Why Wait!” – The Sunny, Inspired Return of Kate Taylor

July 29, 2021 by Michela Arlia

Singer-songwriter Kate Taylor, younger sister to James Taylor, is returning to the music scene with her new album, Why Wait! The upcoming release on August... read article

Porch Concert / photo courtesy of B.L.Howard Productions

Review: Sunny Summer Sounds on Rugby Road

July 6, 2021 by David K. Moseder

Brooklyn’s summer music scene was ushered in on the first day of the season (June 20, 2021) with eight “porch concerts” under the umbrella title... read article

Marco Varisco Rolls Out “Crash My Car” EP

May 13, 2021 by Michela Arlia

Marco Varisco is a singer-songwriter whose music is self-defined as an “indi-pop sound from [a] love of jazz, rock and pop.” A native of Bensonhurst... 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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