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Photo: Alexandre Souêtre

Bow down to KiNG MALA! The unapologetic alt-pop songstress enters her reign of chaos with the release of her debut album, And You Who Drowned in the Grief of a Golden Thing. This thrilling cinematic fever dream of a record record draws inspiration from a unique blend of influences, ranging from brutalist architecture, Robert Eggers' The Witch, Catholicism, Egyptian death lore, Renaissance art, and more. It delves into desire vs. obsession, humanity vs. monstrousness, and the consequences of each's push and pull.

"This album is the project of my dreams," shares KiNG MALA. "A perfect culmination of all that inspires me - sonically, conceptually, and visually. It's everything I've ever loved and feared, formed into one story. These characters have evolved and changed with me as this album was made, and at the end of its creation, both they and I have transformed."

The album opens with the brooding "POSSESSION." Revolving around the idea of some higher spiritual entity or God character possessing the human, she explores the fight for power between the two characters and the ensuing circle of violence. This toxic yet symbiotic relationship is further analyzed on the previously released track "GØD." It's a haunting cocktail of hypnotic beats, brooding melodies, and smoky, commanding vocals that shift effortlessly between vulnerability and power. The contrast between the airy layered vocals and the sharp synth sounds creates a haunting atmosphere, with a boomy kick drum adding to the dramatic tone. 

KiNG MALA finds herself surrendering to the all-powerful and questionable entity in "DEVOTION." Now, as a faithful follower and worshipper, she practices her "devotion" by tying ribbons in her hair, prettying herself up for her master, and waiting "to be chosen." The sultry production, boasting chilling keys and magnetic synths, weaves an ensnaring trap of a song. Like a moth drawn to the most beautiful flame, Mala's seductive vocals croon  the line, "Anything for love / I would do anything for love." On the following track, "FUN!," which the artist has described as perhaps her most unhinged song, both the human and entity get what they want, power and a body, respectively, but it's not quite what they expected. It's terrifying. 

In the focus track "ODE TO A BLACK HOLE," the human finally realizes that the entity is slowly but surely killing them, but wrestles with the fact that they still love them deeply. It's a cinematic effort that starts with a romantic string arrangement and sleek, angelic vocals. In the chorus, booming, dark synths and beats wash over the production like a plague, with Mala proclaiming that this track is an ode to her beloved devil. The album closes with "I STILL FEEL IT IN THE BONE," which sees Mala and the story's human at her most vulnerable. In the aftermath of everything, she reckons with her trauma. While most see her as a survivor of horrid experiences, she dwells on the fact that she has been forever changed and will always "feel it in the bone" as the instrumentation loops back to the album's first track.

Following the release of And You Who Drowned in the Grief of a Golden Thing, KiNG MALA will take her unholy gospel on the road, opening for electro-pop singer Lights on her 'A(live) Again North American Tour.' The 19-date tour kicks off in Victoria, BC, at Capital Ballroom on May 8. It makes its way across North America with stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Nashville, New York, and more before wrapping on June 7 in Toronto, ON, at History.

Listen to And You Who Drowned in the Grief of a Golden Thing below: