Q&A: Unveiling 'SPILT MILK' through a Sonic Journey into the World of KiNG MALA
IN THE ELECTRIC WORLD OF KiNG MALA - vulnerability meets unabashed confidence, and groovy beats dance with feminine rage. SPILT MILK, her latest EP, is a testament to her signature style, blending witty songwriting with cheeky charm. It's a musical journey through emotions, from the sassy feminist anthem "bug" to the Olivia Rodrigo-coded melancholy of "arms length."
With sister tracks like "dirty dishes" and "sunny side up" leading the charge, SPILT MILK promises an exploration of her multifaceted artistry. The focus track, "i only smoke to feel bad," takes on a spooky allure remenecent of her dark side.
This project marks her return since the 2022 honey catching season EP, which introduced the world to the viral sensation "cult leader." What sets KiNG MALA apart is her fearless experimentation with masculine tropes, evident in both her music and visuals. Her first viral hit, "she calls me daddy," showcased this audacious blend, seamlessly weaving masculine threads throughout her art.
Read below to learn more about KiNG MALA’s sonic realm, and how she challenges norms and embraces the power of the "bad bitch" – or, as her name suggests, the MALA – in every beat.
LUNA: SPILT MILK is out today, November 10th, and you have a tradition of releasing music on even-numbered dates. Can you share the significance of this superstition and what it means for this EP?
KING MALA: Honestly, I’m just a bit superstitious about even numbers, I was born on 06/02/98 at 2:22 pm, and two has just been my lucky number my whole life (hence the 222 tattoo on my chest which I got done on 2/22/22). Feels like a good omen to release on an even-numbered day.
LUNA: Your EP appears to encompass a wide range of emotions, from cheeky confidence to vulnerable moments. What inspired the diverse themes and moods on "SPILT MILK"?
KING MALA: This project is the culmination of nearly two years of writing, so I think that's why it feels a bit all over the place haha. It's what I like to call the “vault songs” which is just all the songs that I loved so deeply but either felt too personal or too different sonically to release when they were written so I saved them all up till a whole project came together. I do feel like this project is a bit more “Areli” rather than “KiNG MALA” it feels distinctly personal.
LUNA: "dirty dishes," "sunny side up," and "never wanna know" have been previously released from the EP. Can you give us some insights into these tracks and how they fit into the overall narrative of the project?
KING MALA: “Dirty dishes” and “never wanna know” were both “vault songs” that I had for a long long time sitting in my demo folder and just couldn't shake. No matter how much time passed or how many phases I went through musically those songs always stood out as special to me, and they felt matched somehow like they belonged together. “Sunny side up” was the most recently written, and I just thought it really really fit the vibe of the project with its personal, somewhat pissed off nature haha.
LUNA: In your music, you've often explored and experimented with masculine tropes. How does this creative approach reflect your artistic vision?
KING MALA: I've always considered myself a very femme-leaning person but something about using masculine tropes, language, and silhouettes in my styling makes me feel very powerful. I have always loved the idea of flowing between gender norms stylistically and I think it has become a big part of how I plan all of my visuals.
LUNA: SPILT MILK is your first collection of songs since the 2022 honey catching season EP, which featured the viral hit "cult leader." How have you evolved as an artist between these two projects, and what can we expect in terms of musical growth and exploration in this EP?
KING MALA: With this EP, I feel like I have finally tried and explored every genre and style that I have been interested in these last two years. From dark, alternative pop to indie to acoustic ballad, I think I have finally tried everything I have sought out to try, and you can definitely hear the experimentation in this EP. I think this EP, in combination with my last few projects, finally shows everything I can do as an artist, and I'm excited to combine everything and explore more with the album next year.
LUNA: Your music often reflects a strong sense of feminism. Could you tell us how themes of female empowerment and feminist perspectives play a role in this EP?
KING MALA: I just really like to write about power. Whether that's particularly feminist of me I'm not sure, but I do love femininity and writing about the divine feminine energy I sense in the women around me. I think in pop music we are seeing women absolutely crush it (honestly in every genre), and it's so inspiring. Most of the empowering music I’ve written I wrote to empower myself and seeing it also empower other people is unbelievable. It makes me want to lean into that even more going forward.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the rest of the year?
KING MALA: I am releasing this EP then I am doing a little mini US headline tour (which is literally gonna go TF OFF I am so excited hahaha prepping the show has been the most fun). And then I am going to take a nice long Christmas nap and come back and write this album next year :)
