Articles

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

Ciao Malz: Music With a Storyteller’s Charm

March 30, 2025 by Michela Arlia

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... read article

Beach-Goers at Sea.Hear.Now Festival photo by Kyra Kverno

The Photo Pit-2023 and 2024 Sea.Hear.Now Festivals

March 26, 2025 by Kyra Kverno

The much anticipated line up has just been dropped for the 2025 Sea.Hear. Now Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey, which includes Alabama Shakes, Blink... read article

JALOPY REMAINS BROOKLYN’S HQ FOR FOLK AND TRADITIONAL MUSIC

March 17, 2025 by David K. Moseder

The Jalopy Theatre and School of Music is a multi-faceted arts space showcasing evolving folk and traditional music. It has been welcoming local artists as... read article

Still Woozy_2025 BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn

Still Woozy Love Seat Tour BRIC Arts Media Benefit Concert

BRIC Schedules Third Benefit Concert for Celebrate Brooklyn!

March 3, 2025 by David K. Moseder

There are still three-plus months before the official start of the long-running Celebrate Brooklyn! Music festival, but BRIC is already generating buzz for the summer... read article

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

BAM Free Music Series courtesy of BAM

BAM Launches Free Music Series

January 25, 2025 by David K. Moseder

Live music returned to the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) this January with the launch of the BAM Free Music series on select Thursday evenings... read article

Diana Ross Ross performing in 2022 photo by Raph _PH

Brooklyn Beats of 2025: What to Expect in the New Year

December 27, 2024 by Michela Arlia

Brooklyn’s iconic live music venues are gearing up for an exciting 2025, featuring legendary artists, rising stars, and immersive music experiences across genres. Kings Theatre... 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

Collage

BROOKLYN ARTSTS PRODUCE A BUMPER CROP OF NEW MUSIC

December 8, 2024 by David K. Moseder

This autumn has produced a bountiful harvest of new music from Brooklyn artists, including several who have been previously featured in Brooklyn Roads. Here is... read article

Jesse Malin On Stage photo by Kyra Kverno

Jesse Malin Shares The Love

December 7, 2024 by Kyra Kverno

Contributing Photographer Kyra Kverno shares some of her images from the Jesse Malin Benefit shows at The Beacon Theatre in New York City on December... 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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