by emily harris
photo by blair brown
The singer, producer, and rapper Malachiii is working to redefine artistry within the industry one track at a time. Blending the energies of pop, rap, and R&B, his three singles have created the beginnings of a diverse and strong discography. We had the pleasure of speaking with him about his newest track, "Love Me," and the inspiration behind the project!
Congrats on the release of your newest single “Love Me!” Can you talk us through the writing process for this track?
Malachiii: “The music always leads the way. Usually the feeling that the music gives me determines the vibe of the song. I wanted to make something that told a multidimensional story of love, while also reflecting on what I’m currently experiencing in life and expressing the importance of having someone that's there for me and loves me authentically regardless of the changes happening around me.”
What was the inspiration behind the single artwork that accompanies the track?
M: “Initially, the concept for the video that I had was a love story told through a space mission, but it's meaning developed into something deeper and symbolic as well as a sort of ‘launching’ of my career and this new chapter in my life with this being my first official release with Motown.”
How do you think this single sits alongside your previously released tracks?
M: “It's a bit different, which will be common with my music because I create a lot of different music and I want that to be apparent with these new releases. I want to give my audience a taste of all of the worlds my music can live in.”
You also released a music video for the track! What was the filming process like?
M: “It was amazing! It was a two day shoot with the first day being in the desert and being in 110 degree weather in an aluminum jumpsuit was hotter than hell, but all worth it and also gave a bit of real fatigue for me to use while filming the crash landing scene.”
You also just posted the first episode of In The (Treehouse) on YouTube as well! What inspired you to film the entire process of recording?
M: “Well, as far as me and the team are concerned, we are making history and so we felt it was necessary to film as much of the process of working on my album as possible to document the history being made and to give my audience a peek into my world.”
What do you hope fans get out of seeing the process firsthand?
M: “I hope that they’ll be introduced to the type of artist and human being that I am by getting a chance to see me and hear me in a candid way while also getting an inside look at my creative process.”
As your sound transcends the usual boundaries, who would you coin as inspirations to you, from a songwriting and production perspective?
M: “Kanye, Pharrell, Michael Jackson. Transcendent artists who have inspired generations of artists and creatives worldwide.”