Album—Back in My Body
I do not own the rights to this photo
August shaped up to be a big month for R&B. Major players in the space either released or announced new music from all four corners of the genre. Malia nurtured the airwaves with an amazing body of work titled Back in My Body, inspired by what feels like a set of journal entries over the last two years. The release interrupts the appetite for toxic-sidepiece R&B, which also feels very much in demand. It’s refreshing to have music laced with introspection and relatability. Music encouraging us to do the emotional work so love makes us whole. Self-love, platonic love, and romantic love; frequencies akin to India.Arie. With Thirty-Six minutes on the clock, Malia masterfully unravels a story of self re-discovery. Beginning with Genesis, a fitting title for obvious reasons, she sings of a renewed peace and the important lessons that guided her along the way. That vulnerability shapes its identity as the album progresses in records such as “Minding My Own” and “Deep Green”. This re-discovery isn’t exclusively internal, this is also an assignment of restructuring external conditions. In the lead single “Bad Manners”, she draws a new boundary around her blooming confidence in communicating her wants and needs; liberating herself from the expectation that settling protects her relationships. The album concludes with the title track “Back in My Body” signifying closure in her quest and a sunrise on what’s to come.
Therapeutic textures of Malia’s voice paired exceptionally well with the use of each instrument throughout the project, creating the harmonic magic fans have adored for nearly a decade. It’s a stylistic softness that causes your endorphins to do a happy dance on contact. The standout role in the supporting cast is the guitar. An instrument vibrant enough to use for solos was instead used as a centerpiece to conduct the other elements around it, a responsibility typically designated for drums or keys. A choice that enhances the experience for the listener, with every chord grounding you further in Malia’s truth. That ability to command the atmosphere on every strum has landed her among a unique pantheon in contemporary R&B. A queen of the strings if you will. With contemporary R&B in mind, it’s noteworthy to mention the traditional applications of Blues in “Jasmine in Bloom”, such as the improvised Blues scale, chord progressions, and a slow walking bass in the background. That record mentally uproots you right into a Blues club— smoky haze, wooden chairs, photos of B.B.King on the wall. Lyrics replacing thoughts, drums replacing heartbeats, guitars painting our misfortunes. Back In My Body is a live experience and prayerfully we are due for a tour.
When the trials and tribulations of an artist are reflected in their work, listeners find themselves in the story. Connections are deepened to the core and in return we label the music classic. That substance stems from an authenticity you simply can’t fake. If the bar is to inspire, then Malia has exceeded the expectation with this album. Healing is complicated and there aren’t enough musicians being honest about that. Grateful that we’ve been given an example of guidelines to follow. Kudos!