*While she has always written poetry, rhymes, and songs as a habit, Carolyn Malachi started producing music in 2003 as a part of a course in Sound Design during her undergraduate minor studies in Communications at Shepherd University. Combining the two, she scored an opportunity to perform at the Shepherdstown Street Festival in 2005.
Fellow student Danny Tait, who would soon after become the drummer for the band, MALACHI, asked Carolyn if she had ever considered performing with a live band. Tait and Carolyn began recording one of the songstress’s original ballads after sneaking into a practice room in the university’s music department. Tait shared it with Matt Lewis and the three formed the core of a Jazz-Hip Hop trio MALACHI. Motivated by their slogan was, “Jazz savants sling stones at the big Pop monster. ”
MALACHI played several venues such as the hisotric Bohemian Caverns in DC. Carolyn who cites Sarah Vaughn as one of her influences, described the gigs as moving since her great -grandfather, John Malachi was a pianist who made history on DC’s famed U Street Jazz scene three generations ago.
Carolyn said her time with the band provided her with the experience of working with trained Jazz musicians and allowed her to become more sensitive to music and more appreciative of the organic relationship between audience and artist.
MMIM: How would you describe your sound?
CM: I like to call my sound “Haute-Eclectic-Soular-Blues”. It is my own infectious gumbo of jazz, hip-hop, and spoken word. The blend is evident in my recent project, Revenge of the Smart Chicks II: Ambitious Gods. I just hit the quarter-life mark, so for me, the project is a sonic journey through the basics of human development, the ABC’s of growing up- Ambition, Brains, and Candor.
MMIM: Who are some of your musical influences?
CM: Surprisingly, most of my musical influences are musicians and producers, not so much vocalists. I love the sound of any guitar, and a well-stroked acoustic bass, really any instrument that articulates with a sultry voice the thoughts of the musician. Superstar guitarist, Pat Metheny, upright bassist and former Malachi band member, Matt Lewis, and the incomparable, Quincy Jones, have been influences on that front. Prince, Sarah Vaughan, João Gilberto, Beyonce, and Mos Def are major influences to my writing and how I choose to vocalize it. I think about them when I’m creating sometimes. If I hit a brick wall, I’ll ask myself how either of them would phrase a thought or deliver a lyric.
MMIM: So you write, sing and produce your own music…which one do enjoy most of out the three?
CM: I love each equally and try to achieve balance between the words, the delivery of the words, and the sounds that support the delivery of the words. My job, whether I’m singing, rapping, or reading poetry, is to convey a cogent idea to the listener. I need to value each equally in order to do that successfully.
MMIM: Are you currently working on any new projects? If so, can you tell us about it?
CM: Oh, yes! I’m working on a series of workshops for young women about exacting a positive self image. My goal is to give young women the tools to establish a healthy self perception and vision, one that they feel is original and serves as a source of pride.
MMIM: We really love the song, “Love on the Median”. Great production and your voice sounds so beautiful on it…did you produce this song as well? And what motivate you to write this song?
CM: [SIDE BAR - You know, one of the benefits to being a performing artist is connecting with people. There are always moments of joy, discussions about life, and sometimes, stories of love, lust, and lies. Whenever I hear about folks’ relationship woes, I wonder why folks decide to talk to me about their love challenges instead of talking to the person with whom they are supposed to be in love.] But, thanks for the love! Yes, I did produce “Love on the Median”. I’m glad you enjoy it. The song was inspired by the aforementioned tales of dissatisfaction. I wrote “Love on the Median” in the voice of a woman who is trying to justify her infidelity with and to her man-on-the-side. She complains that her main man does not listen to her, swears that she’s “not that much of a deviant” for her behavior, admits to elicit activity, and quotes Bessie Smith in her defense. She says, “I’ve got something everybody wants to try – everyone but the love of my life.” It seems that is the general sentiment of people who are unhappy in their relationships, that they feel as if the world appreciates them, but not their lover. They admittedly look for a hard, fast interaction that feels like love, but they’re just crashing into other people in the same way that cars crash into each other on street medians.
MMIM: Where would you like to see yourself in 2010?
CM: In 2010, I look forward to doing exactly what I’m doing now, but on an international scale. I create art, share it with the world, take in lessons from the world, and recycle those lessons into my art. As an enterprising woman, I am always seeking to augment the means by which I do that.
MMIM: Anything else you would want our readers to know?
CM: Yes! Revenge of the Smart Chicks is a movement. The goal of the Revenge of the Smart Chicks movement it to rally together women who are intelligent and bold enough to be themselves. I firmly believe that we can be assets to each other, and to our communities. Smart Chicks Inc. is the non profit organization that drives the movement through community arts projects and resource sharing for independents artists of all disciplines. Get involved and join the movement at www.smartchicksinc.org.
MMIM: How can your fans keep up with you?
CM: I love meeting new people at my gigs and on my social networks. Check out my calendar on Myspace and come hang out after a show. I’m the kind of artist you take a picture with and post it on Facebook with a goofy tag like, “Yo, we hung out with Carolyn Malachi after her performance at the [insert big ass venue here].” Let’s see… I’m a fervent tweeter on Twitter and I use Facebook uber mucho, probably more than what the doctor recommends. I’m on ISeeColor to gain access to the Michael Baisden show’s B Side program. If you’re on ISeeColor, drop Mr. Baisden a line and tell him to peruse my profile. I’m sure he’ll enjoy “Love on the Median”. It’s froth with love, lust, and lies.
Thanks for the interview. I hope you and your readers continue to discover and enjoy my music. Revenge of the Smart Chicks II: Ambitious Gods is available on iTunes and CD Baby.
Links to Social Networks
www.twitter.com/Carolyn_Malachi
www.iseecolor.com/profile/carolynmalachi
Links to Buy the Revenge of the Smart Chicks II: Ambitious Gods Album
View Album on iTunes
View Album on CD Baby
- Carolyn Malachi
carolyn.malachi@Gmail.com
*taken from Carolyn Malachi bio
Love on the Median
