Ciao Malz Covers Elliott Smith In Session Featured
- Written by Marky Edison
In December, Brooklyn’s Ciao Malz (aka Malia DelaCruz) released her label debut, the Safe Then Sorry EP, which was a surprise end-of-year indie hit, thanks to significant press acclaim. While a follow-up is still a while away, Ciao Malz has issued a cover of Elliott Smith’s ‘Clementine’ from his classic 1995 self-titled second album. Coincidentally, it was a cover of Frog’s “You Know I’m Down”) which introduced her to the Audio Antihero label, and saw her join Frog on their roster late last year.
“‘Clementine’ is probably my favorite Elliott Smith song. The way he picks up on a bartender singing and turns it into something so eerie and beautiful is wild. The harmonies are something I’ve always wanted to nail, and I love experimenting with them when I’m recording. And yeah, sometimes it’s just fun to channel Elliott Smith for a while.”
‘Clementine’ isn’t the only new recording from Ciao Malz this month. Having already recorded radio sessions for WVKR (accompanied on pedal steel by Hefner’s Jack Hayter), East Village Radio, BFF.FM, and numerous others, her most high-profile session to date just aired via NPR-affiliate WFUV in the Bronx. Without the expanded lineup of guitarist James Chrisman (Sister.) and drummer Felix Walworth (Florist / Told Slant), DelaCruz performed solo acoustic versions of “Two Feet Tall” and “Gold Rush,” alongside an interview.
