THE GARDEN OF EVE

Description

My heart beats for many things. I think it’s because I come from a mixed-heritage marriage. I never felt that I was one thing or the other; I’m more of a fusion of the two and my music reflects that. I feel like I’m evolving as a human being and even if music is only a means of expression, I like the idea of resonating with it, if its rhythm suits me. A precious and profound experience, whether playing it or listening to it on the radio! The first time I heard Billie Holiday sing “Blue Moon,” I felt it in every cell of my body. She had such a powerful effect on me. Sentimental blues, born of tragic situations, sometimes even reflecting my own experiences... No matter how bad family, friends, politics, lovers, governments or society may be, they can never destroy the forces of good in this world. As time goes by, I find more and more the truth that is rooted in my soul. And I finally feel mature. You just have to understand this wonderful musical tradition, because blues is life. “And if blues is life, Malia is the energy that gives blues a soul, a voice. Characterized by her unique timbre - which needs no further explanation - Malia moves us throughout the 12 tracks of this album, which has everything it takes to become a classic. It has been a long time since a contemporary artist has paid such a beautiful tribute to the blues, a style that in 2020 deserves to be dusted off a little. The album opens with a beauty called “Hope,” the first single. “Hope is doing well, I feel divine,” sings Malia. From the very first note, we are transported to a faraway place with a dark but optimistic mood. The tension keeps building with “Last Show,” a melodic neo-country track. “Last Show” evokes perseverance in the face of adversity, using what you have inside you to make the most of life. “Gather all your seeds and plant them deep”... No matter how dark things may seem, there is always something or someone that can offer you a glimmer of light. Life can be hard, but we can certainly grow through these challenges. I see this kind of courage in human beings all the time.” The album continues with “The Thrill is Gone,” a BB King track that Malia takes to a whole other dimension. “Me & My Girlfriend,” the jazziest track on the album, seems like a little nod to Sabine Sabine’s 80’s track “Catwalk.” “Two Seedlings” invites us into irresistible country-blues while “Lord, I feel So Bad” takes us further west into a western-worthy atmosphere. It explores a rather dark theme. “This song is about the slot machine that governs us, where money means more than life. It’s up to us to stand up for love and humanity. It continues very theatrically with Malia’s rather sensual voice on “Restoration,” which leaves us with a brighter feeling before moving on to “Death” and its blues as dark as a good whisky. But it only makes us want to taste this exquisite blues even more. “Freedom At Last” evokes the feeling of a heavy metal song played in slow motion, a real gem. And when you least expect it, Malia ingeniously puts you in a mood that makes you want to dance to the jazzy, bluesy groove of “Moving Away.” It is followed by “Honeymoon is Over” and its romance gone wrong, while “Love in Vain,” better known through the Stones’ cover, closes the album and sounds like an Ella Fitzgerald classic. At a time when technology is increasingly shaping music, ‘The Garden Of Eve’ explores the opposite: it is an organic album, made by real musicians recording simultaneously, giving it a live feel while having a wonderfully bright sound. Although blues has lost its most faithful missionary since the passing of the late BB King, Malia and ‘The Garden Of Eve’ offer a beautiful rejuvenation that injects a modern scent into this style, delighting blues lovers.