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OUT NOW: Tiberius – ‘Troubadour’ / Leilani Patao – ‘Red Hair Dye’

Two new November releases from Leilani Patao and Tiberius!

Tiberius – ‘Troubadour’:

Bandcamp / Streaming / Linktree

The Making of Tiberius’ ‘Troubadour’: An Essay by Brendan Wright

Leilani Patao – ‘Red Hair Dye’ with iyrliaes and Benjamin Shaw Remixes + New Music Video:

Bandcamp / Music Video / Taken from the ‘daisy’ EP / Linktree

Video Premiere: Leilani Patao – “Red Hair Dye”

“That intentional willingness to create in contradictions and even be inscrutable at times makes the moments when Patao lets their pop instincts take over even more effective, as with the plaintive vocal performances on “BIRD WHISTLE.” In that vein, “portrait” begins as a stripped-back lo-fi bedroom pop detour, centering on Patao’s bass playing before exploding into a dazzling climax. Finally, Patao closes with the glitch pop of “Cut,” which once again drenches their vocals in autotune and clashing effects, but now pairs them with a host of coruscating pop melodies.” – UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE

“Wonderful.” – KEVIN SUR (KEXP: SOUNDS OF SURVIVANCE)

“The tension between the accomplished writing and singing and the DIY recording ethos is a high-wire trick that makes Daisy seem like such a fully-formed and consistently interesting release.” – KLOF Mag

“This young Hawaiian American artist seemed to strive to become unrecognisable on their label debut. Originally entering the industry through musical theatre as a celebrated mezzo-soprano, Leilani now obscures their rich range through distortion and chopping. Similarly, those who might remember their cutesy performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Kimmel would struggle to recognise the Leilani shown in the music video for lead single “Cut”, in which they’re seen drenched in blood.” – ATWOOD MAGAZINE

“The song goes down easy. Patao has a knack for melodies, and “Red Hair Dye” displays that from the jump.” – THE ALTERNATIVE

“Brooklyn artist Leilani Patao is determined to get out of cyberspace and into the real world, one zine and one single at a time. We talk their upcoming EP daisy, and how they are building a world we all want to live in. – RAINBOW RODEO


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WATCH: The Noisy Debut for Audio Antihero with Vampy Music Video”Twos”

Philly dream pop/synth rock band The Noisy announce signing to Audio Antihero (Frog / Avery Friedman / Magana / CIAO MALZ) with “Twos,” a vampy, queer, and silent-movie-esque new music video from director Sam Cush, which teases ‘The Secret Ingredient is Even More Meat,’ an upcoming deluxe edition of their debut album.

Featuring practical effects and vampire makeup by Philly drag talent, “Twos” channels gothic-glam in the spirit of vintage cinema, dripping with theatrical flair and midnight movie camp. Starring local icon Miss Thing, the video follows the success of “Violet Lozenge,” The Noisy’s most recent drag-forward release, which WXPN praised as “glamorous, retro, and proudly queer.”

Front-person Sara Mae Henke (they/them) comments on the upcoming music video for “Twos”:

“I wrote this song like a pop song but wanted the production to bend towards Mannequin Pussy with sludgy guitars and twinkly keys. The music video literalizes the too much-ness of the story, Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Grey Gardens meets two dates to the prom.”

The Noisy got its start in Knoxville, Tennessee, as a project of award-winning poet Sara Mae Henke. In spring 2023, after evolving from a solo project to a full band, they released “Morricone” with a Strega Nona meets Clint Eastwood music video, launching a crowdfunding campaign for their debut album, ‘The Secret Ingredient is More Meat.’ The band sold merch, raffled a cowboy hat, and ran a GoFundMe alongside a month-long tour, raising over $3,000 to bring this debut to life—an album for their queer community.To celebrate the first anniversary of ‘The Secret Ingredient is More Meat,’ Audio Antihero will be issuing a deluxe edition entitled ‘The Secret Ingredient is Even More Meat,’ which will include new and reimagined songs.

Praise for The Noisy:

“Dynamic sound, charming energy, and a confessional tell-all spirit that’s as charismatic as it is irresistible.” – ATWOOD MAGAZINE

“Glamorous, retro, and proudly queer.” – WXPN

“The Noisy’s sound isn’t exactly noisy in the abrasive sense, but it is boisterous, embracing the crunch of grungy pop rock and the twang of Sara Mae’s Knoxville roots to create a muscular and freely associated alt-country belter.” – POST-TRASH

“It sounds really formative. Being “sixteen and see-through” is such a vulnerable feeling, one that “Grenadine” captures really well.” – THE ALTERNATIVE

“Their work examines the surreal, the uncanny, body horror, and intimacy.…Their album The Secret Ingredient is More Meat is an intoxicating experience.” – RAINBOW RODEO

“Rich, polished pop-rock sound with pieces of dream/chamber pop, synth pop, and even a bit of electric alt-rock thrown in.” – ROSY OVERDRIVE

“Unconventional at every turn, with Sara Mae’s background as a poet coming through in their unique, free-form writing style.” – TROPICAL GOTH MAG


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Frog KEXP Session + Avery Friedman Updates

Excited to share some updates from Frog and Avery Friedman!

Frog KEXP Session:

The video of Frog’s KEXP session for The Afternoon Show with Larry Mizell Jr. is live now! It even features an unreleased new song.

Frog’s ‘1000 Variations on the Same Song‘ is available now on Bandcamp and Spotify. Vinyl and t-shirts are also available.

The response to the record has been brilliant with sessions for WFMU and KEXP, interviews with R/Indieheads, WKDU, WZBC, WVKR, The Hobbyist, If It Be Your Will, and more. Plus, killer reviews from Pitchfork, Stereogum (Album of the Week), FLOOD Magazine, Post-Trash, The Alternative, and more.

Avery Friedman Updates:

We’d also like to thank KEXP for putting Avery Friedman’s “New Thing“ into rotation! Avery has been pretty busy since the release of her acclaimed debut album with a sold-out release show at Union Pool (Brooklyn can catch her again on August 10th at Elsewhere [Zone One] with Thomas Flynn and Hudson Freeman), and heaps of press and interviews.

Recent highlights have been an interview with Joseph Jr. Mastel of Out Front Magazine, the second-oldest independent LBGTQIA+ publication in the USA, and a wonderfully in-depth radio feature with Windsor, Ontario’s CJAM courtesy of Absent Sounds.

Plus, lots of great stuff you might have missed with The Line of Best Fit, Beats Per Minute (Track-by-Track), Atwood Magazine, Rainbow Rodeo, WNYU, Rockerilla (Italian Print Magazine), AnalogueTrash (Guest Mixtape), Love Music; Love Life (Influences Feature), Spare Notes, If It Be Your Will, OMSB Podcast, The Ugly Hug, and many others.

Avery Friedman Interview
It Marks Such a Beginning for Me: Avery Friedman Chats About ‘New Thing’
Track-By-Track: Avery Friedman guides us through the foundations of her debut album, New Thing

‘New Thing’ is out now on Bandcamp and Spotify. Cassettes are shipping now, and vinyl pre-orders (co-released with Softseed Music) will be shipping at the end of July.

Praise for ‘New Thing’:

“If you’re into intense, dreamy, subtly imaginative singer-songwriter-ly pop, people like Squirrel Flower or maybe the softer moments of Big Thief, don’t miss the debut album by the Brooklyn singer Avery Friedman. Her songs are a cocktail of anxiety and uneasy beauty with chiming, ringing arrangements that really get under your skin.” – NPR MUSIC (All Songs Considered)

“New Thing is going to be one of our albums of the year.” – ANALOGUETRASH

“Her full-length debut, New Thing, is a work of raw singer/songwriter confessionalism, evoking the knotted melodies, homespun arrangements, and searing edges of musicians like Squirrel Flower, Babehoven, or Adrienne Lenker.“ – UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE

“The promise you are left with as a listener, that there is a beauty in uncertainty and becoming, that flowers that die will surely grow again.” – THE LINE OF BEST FIT

“It’s not PR spin when I tell you that’ll be a contender for a spot on my AOTY list.” – ON REPEAT RECORDS

“Damn, I adored this record. I loved the writing. So image-rich and vivid, each song feels like its own universe. This is to say nothing of the diversity of soundscape – truly felt like a Writers Album.” – HANIF ABDURRAQIB

“New Thing, the scarily accomplished debut album from Avery Friedman, is all about change and growth…Friedman inhabits a complex emotional realm where nervousness can coexist with (and inform) ideas of sexiness, sadness, tenderness. Her world is fragile but appears to have arrived fully-formed.” – KLOF MAG

“New Thing is as much about community as it is Friedman’s individual journey. The album will thrill those who yearn for the days of sad indie bands in Williamsburg clubs. While Friedman and her band might be further along on the L train, they’ve moved past the detached melancholy of that cohort and instead utilize the same musical strains to confront and move beyond the pain that holds them back.” – NO DEPRESSION

“Friedman captures the uncontainable mess of being alive – the beautiful, brutal blur of becoming.” – ATWOOD MAGAZINE

“If you’re looking to fill your musical roster with one of our favorite up and coming indie pop artists, look no further than Avery Friedman!” – THE HONEY POP

“Hidden gems occasionally shine brighter than polished diamonds. Enter Avery Friedman, who’s debut LP New Thing presents itself as a labor of love. Plenty of stakes present themselves in debut efforts, but Friedman stands before audiences fearless – 5/5” – NEW NOISE MAGAZINE


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Out Now: Avery Friedman – ‘New Thing’ (Debut Album) + Live Shows

Avery Friedman’s gorgeous debut album, ‘New Thing,’ was released on Friday. After premieres with Under the Radar, Atwood Magazine, and The Alternative, we’re so excited to finally share it all with you. The early response has been pretty amazing, and we deeply appreciate any and all support.

Tapes, Vinyl, and Lossless Digital are available via Bandcamp + the album is streaming on Spotify & everywhere else. We’re co-releasing the vinyl edition with Softseed Music, who have an exclusive variant edition available on their store too.

There’s also some great new features with Avery if you’d like to learn more about her: The Line of Best Fit (Interview) / WNYU (Radio Interview) / Atwood Magazine (Interview) / OMSB Podcast (Interview) / Spare Notes Podcast / Beats Per Minute (Track-by-Track).

Praise for Avery Friedman’s ‘New Thing’:

“If you’re into intense, dreamy, subtly imaginative singer-songwriter-ly pop, people like Squirrel Flower or maybe the softer moments of Big Thief, don’t miss the debut album by the Brooklyn singer Avery Friedman. Her songs are a cocktail of anxiety and uneasy beauty with chiming, ringing arrangements that really get under your skin.” – NPR MUSIC (All Songs Considered)

“Her full-length debut, New Thing, is a work of raw singer/songwriter confessionalism, evoking the knotted melodies, homespun arrangements, and searing edges of musicians like Squirrel Flower, Babehoven, or Adrienne Lenker.“ – UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE

“The promise you are left with as a listener, that there is a beauty in uncertainty and becoming, that flowers that die will surely grow again.” – THE LINE OF BEST FIT

“Damn, I adored this record. I loved the writing. So image-rich and vidi, each song feels like its own universe. This is to say nothing of the diversity of soundscape – truly felt like a Writers Album.” – HANIF ABDURRAQIB

“New Thing, the scarily accomplished debut album from Avery Friedman, is all about change and growth…Friedman inhabits a complex emotional realm where nervousness can coexist with (and inform) ideas of sexiness, sadness, tenderness. Her world is fragile but appears to have arrived fully-formed.” – KLOF MAG

“New Thing is as much about community as it is Friedman’s individual journey. The album will thrill those who yearn for the days of sad indie bands in Williamsburg clubs. While Friedman and her band might be further along on the L train, they’ve moved past the detached melancholy of that cohort and instead utilize the same musical strains to confront and move beyond the pain that holds them back.” – NO DEPRESSION

“New Thing is going to be one of our albums of the year.” – ANALOGUETRASH

“The influence of artists like Adrianne Lenker, Squirrel Flower, and Babehoven can be felt, but Friedman’s voice doesn’t mimic—it emerges from the same headspace, full of static, heat, and careful tension.” – IDIOTEQ

“Its sophistication is simple: circling emotion without trying to pin it down, finding meaning in what’s left unsaid. The sort of record that doesn’t insist on being heard, but ends up being remembered.” – GOD IS IN THE TV

“Friedman captures the uncontainable mess of being alive – the beautiful, brutal blur of becoming.” – ATWOOD MAGAZINE

“Hidden gems occasionally shine brighter than polished diamonds. Enter Avery Friedman, who’s debut LP New Thing presents itself as a labor of love. Plenty of stakes present themselves in debut efforts, but Friedman stands before audiences fearless – 5/5” – NEW NOISE MAGAZINE

“So powerful…New Thing is an album that wants to scratch under the surface, to look at and feel the sensations of the unknown whether it hurts or not.” – POST-TRASH

“Hard to describe, hard to predict, and it definitely feels fresh. New Thing was something I didn’t see coming. But it’s not PR spin when I tell you that’ll be a contender for a spot on my AOTY list.” – ON REPEAT RECORDS

“Crisp and serene, self-assured and steady…that sense of reclaimed power is palpable in New Thing’s subtle, gentle sway.” – THE ALTERNATIVE

“Avery Friedman steps into the spotlight with New Thing, a debut album that crackles with the light and dark of new experiences, passions and self-discovery.” – JOYZINE

“New Thing works so well because of how direct and electric it sounds–music like this often falls into the realm of “bedroom folk”, but Friedman and her collaborators give it a strong, confident, full band delivery.” – ROSY OVERDRIVE

“Stunning debut album…Impossible to fathom that Friedman is a new artist. She speaks from such a deep, resonant place that transcends the here and now….New Thing arrives as a stack of Polaroids, a cluster of memories and ideas that stick to the brain like pins to a corkboard. Avery Friedman lets the songs rise and fall, as she bares her soul in crisp detail, and as the listener breathes them in, we slip into those lived-in experiences along with her. It’s hard to imagine where she’ll go next, but what is most evident is that she’s a thrilling, astute artist with plenty more to say.” – RAINBOW RODEO

“If you’re looking to fill your musical roster with one of our favorite up and coming indie pop artists, look no further than Avery Friedman!” – THE HONEY POP

“How these frustrations are navigated is what comes to mark the record. A combination of patience and burgeoning trust. Be that in the very ability of a person to come back to life, or else in the humble loves that make such a goal worthwhile.” – VARIOUS SMALL FLAMES

“It’s rare that a debut presents us with an artist operating at this level and making something so fully realized. When we get a record like this one, it’s worth cherishing…” – SWIM INTO THE SOUND

Avery Friedman Live in April and May:

Avery will be playing at the Crossroads: Springing Indie showcase at SOBs in Manhattan on Thursday, April 24th (Tickets/Info).

The ‘New Thing’ album launch will take place on May 15th at Union Pool in Brooklyn with support from Dolly and After Hours (Tickets/Info) + she’ll be playing her first show in Massachusetts at the Tourists hotel in North Adams on May 18th for Sing for Your Slumber (Info).


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New Avery Friedman Single + Vinyl & Cassette Pre-Order

Avery Friedman’s “New Thing” single was just released (Bandcamp / Spotify), and we’d like to thank Caleb Campbell and Under the Radar Magazine for premiering the song for us.

“Her full-length debut, New Thing, is a work of raw singer/songwriter confessionalism, evoking the knotted melodies, homespun arrangements, and searing edges of musicians like Squirrel Flower, Babehoven, or Adrienne Lenker.“ – UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE

Pre-Order: Vinyl / Cassette / Digital

We’re excited to share that Avery Friedman’s ‘New Thing‘ album will be released on cassette and vinyl (a co-release with Canada’s Softseed Music). It is also available as $5 digital download. Full details are available on the Audio Antihero Bandcamp page.

In addition to these transparent yellow cassette and clear blue vinyl editions, Softseed Music will also have an exclusive variant version available on their website. Cassettes will begin shipping at the end of April, and vinyl will begin shipping end of July.

In the meantime, I’d love to ask if you could pre-save ‘New Thing’ on Spotify, follow Avery on social media, and check out this wonderful interview with she did with Shea Roney for The Ugly Hug.

Avery Friedman Finds Her Place on Debut LP New Thing, Shares Title Track | Interview

Praise for Avery Friedman:

“New Thing moves forward with a steady percussive stomp, building upon its foundation of churning guitars with chiming harmonies and swirling effects. Friedman makes the track’s later moments feel like a dissociative blur, adding new layers to the winding chord progressions until it turns from a reflective meditation to an elliptical folk rock spiral. Meanwhile, the lyrics mirror these undercurrents of creeping anxiety.” – UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE

“Singer-songwriter Avery Friedman delivers a potential cult classic with ‘Flowers Fell’.” – REAL GONE

“If you’re looking to fill your musical roster with one of our favorite up and coming indie pop artists, look no further than Avery Friedman! ‘Photo Booth’ is somehow only Avery’s second release, and it already sounds so much like she’s come into her own as an artist. We can’t wait to see what’s next!” – THE HONEY POP

“Having frequented bills with artists such as Sister. and Dead Gowns for the past year, Avery Friedman has consistently left an impression on those that have caught her sets, oftentimes performing solo, creating a space in which her vivid imagery and tender melodies greet new ears with welcome and understanding. Produced by James Chrisman (Sister.) and with contributions from Felix Walworth (Told Slant, Florist), “Flowers Fell” plays to the in-between moments as Friedman defines new beginnings.” – THE UGLY HUG

“There’s this beautiful feedback buzz coursing through, and then the bottom falls out, hurtling you into this beautiful dreamland of pop magnificence.” – AUSTIN TOWN HALL“Photo Booth represents a bit of a shift for Friedman. It’s a more electronic, chirpier sound, her take on alt-pop. It’s still sparse and whispery, but there’s some energy beneath her voice, and the hook is sneakily catchy. It’s a great song.” – THE ALTERNATIVE


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Frog Vinyl Pre-Order + New Magana EP

Yesterday was a big day with Magana completing her “Teeth trilogy” with the cosy core winter pop of the ‘Bad News‘ EP, and Frog launching vinyl and digital pre-orders for ‘1000 Variations on the Same Song.’ On top of that, Frog released the “MIXTAPE LINER NOTES VAR. VII” single.

Magana – ‘Bad News’ (Out Now)

‘Bad News‘ is Magana’s third solo release in a ten-month period, following the brilliant ‘Teeth‘ LP in March and the ‘DREAMS‘ multi-media project in October (available now from Hand Drawn Hand). Jeni wrote an essay about her “Ten Months of Teeth” for Atwood Magazine:

Essay: “Ten Months of Teeth” by Magana

We would also like to thank The Alternative for premiering the EP, and God Is In the TV for premiering her ‘Hold On’ lyric video. Everything is better with independent sites like these helping us to share our work.

EP Premiere: Magana – ‘Bad News’
EXCLUSIVE: Magana ‘Hold On’ Lyric Video Premiere

Bad News is available now via Bandcamp, Spotify, and all other services.

Frog: Vinyl Pre-Order & New Single

Frog’s ‘1000 Variations on the Same Song’ will be released on February 14th, and pre-orders for the digital and vinyl release now live.

The brothers also issued the ‘MIXTAPE LINER NOTES VAR. VII’ single, which Danielle Chelosky of Stereogum was super kind about:

“If the rest of the album sounds like this single, then I’m in. “MIXTAPE LINER NOTES
VAR. VII” is lo-fi greatness, the first verse name-dropping both My Chemical Romance and Big Star (taste). In the chorus, Daniel Bateman sings poignantly, “I can’t justify it, it isn’t rational/ I get high and cry it over broken Casios.” Amazing stuff!” – Danielle Chelosky (STEREOGUM)


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It’s Christmas Time (For God’s Sake)

Having just rushed out the surprise “DID SANTA COME” single by Frog, I wanted to share a little more seasonal activity.

Firstly, it was a pretty nice surprise to hear Nosferatu D2’s “It’s Christmas Time (For God’s Sake)“ on BBC 6 Music in 2024, so I wanted to send a huge thanks to Alexander Carson for the Freak Zone spin this week (listen again here). Kind of unexpectedly the song also got recent spins from WRCT, Radio Boise, BFF.FM, WKCR, KDVS, Radio Broskant, and Amazing Radio. Pretty neat for a DIY release from 2009.

If you’re a fan of Nosferatu D2, you can get some free Bandcamp downloads via GetMusic (along with other other Ben and Adam Parker projects like Tempertwig, Superman Revenge Squad, and My Best Unbeaten Brother).

In other news, CIAO MALZ (it’s her birthday today! Buy her new EP for $1!) put together a great musical Christmas essay which is up now on For The Rabbits:

A Musical Christmas Essay by Ciao Malz

Frog also did a little Christmas Q&A for Atwood Magazine’s Mistletones feature:

Atwood Magazine Presents Mistletones: 2024’s Best New Holiday Songs, Pt. 3!

The “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point” film directed by Tyler Taormina (aka Audio Antihero alumni Cloud) was named the #2 movie of 2024 by Richard Brody for The New Yorker and it’s available now to stream too. I really recommend it.

I’d also like to dust off this gloomy guest feature I did for Various Small Flames last year:

I Just Can’t Love Christmas: A Holiday Mix by Audio Antihero’s Jamie Halliday

Lastly, I’ve made a wee Christmas playlist of songs by Audio Antihero artists and alumni.


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OUT NOW: Frog – “DID SANTA COME” Single

Frog just released a surprise Christmas single. Thanks to you for supporting it, and folks like Pitchfork and Stereogum for covering it.

Following the critical and commercial success of their 2023 ‘Grog’ LP, cult New York Indie duo Frog have returned with a festive new single and announcements for a new LP and their largest tour to date.

“DID SANTA COME” single is the first preview of Frog’s upcoming sixth album, ‘1000 Variations on the Same Song,’ which will be released in February and followed by a North America tour in March and April. 

Frog have touched on the sadness of the holidays in the past with songs like “Wish Upon a Bar” and “Space Jam,” but new single, “DID SANTA COME,” leans into the season with newfound enthusiasm and naiveté, inspired by Daniel Bateman’s young son:

“This song is about my son when he was two years old at Christmas time. Every morning for 2-3 weeks after, he would wake up and ask, “Did Santa come?” Seeing the world through the eyes of your children makes it all very beautiful.”

Since Frog returned from hiatus in 2023 with the addition of Daniel’s brother Steve Bateman on drums, they’ve received significant critical acclaim and enjoyed a run of sold-out shows in the Tri-state area. These 2025 dates will see the band joined by Frog co-founder Tom White on bass and will take them to cities like Los Angeles, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Boise (Treefort Music Fest), and more for first-time-ever shows.

2025 Tour Dates: Tickets & Information

  • 8 MARCH – Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, US
  • 22 MARCH – The Echo, Los Angeles, CA, US
  • 23 MARCH – Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA, US
  • 25 MARCH – The Black Lodge, Seattle, WA, US
  • 26 MARCH – The Fox Cabaret Projection Room, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • 27 MARCH – Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR, US
  • 28 MARCH – Treefort Music Fest, Boise, ID, US
  • 3 APRIL – Bowery Ballroom, New York (NYC), NY, US
  • 11 APRIL – Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, US


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OUT NOW: CIAO MALZ – ‘Safe Then Sorry’ EP

Super happy to release this gorgeous ‘Safe Then Sorry‘ EP from CIAO MALZ today.

It’s $1 on Bandcamp, plus available wherever you stream. Your support would mean a lot to us.

Thanks to Under the Radar Magazine for premiering the EP yesterday. That was exciting.

Praise for CIAO MALZ:

“Expertly crafted pop songs…It’s a real gem, and it already seems likely that DelaCruz has a big future.” – KLOF MAG

“It’s an EP that rewards careful listening, with the kind of nooks and crannies that only can come from an artist approaching their work with a sense of exploration rather than a paint by numbers fealty to any particular genre or sound. It’s the kind of project that invites multiple listens, and when you check it out you’ll want to make sure that at least once that you listen with headphones.” – THE ALTERNATIVE

“The EP is a work that celebrates restlessness and idiosyncrasy. DelaCruz’s songs are slight and sometimes sparse, yet they are never boring. Her melodies rarely move as expected, darting and drifting atop hypnotic mazes of instrumentation. Some of the record’s most blissful moments come as these tracks’ knotted guitar work resolves into soaring choruses, pivoting between unconventional indie melodicism and clear-eyed pastoral pop songcraft.” – UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE

“I gotta say I dig the vibe so far. I’m not sure whether to call it twee rock or indie pop or just straight up indie rock, but the execution is crisp, the emotion is raw, and I find myself enjoying the song every time it comes on.” – INDIE SHUFFLE

“The EP feels grounded, raw, and real—a snapshot of an artist in motion, unafraid to lean into the messiness of creation. It’s an honest, emotionally open debut that leaves you wanting to hear what’s next.” – GOD IS IN THE TV


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OUT NOW: “Two Feet Tall” by CIAO MALZ + ‘Safe Then Sorry’ EP available for pre-order

Audio Antihero is very excited to be working with CIAO MALZ, the NYC-based project from Malia DelaCruz with James Chrisman (Sister.), and Felix Walworth (Told Slant / Florist). If you’d like to say “hi!” to Malia, all her links are here.

The gorgeous “Two Feet Tall” single is out now as a free/pay-what-you-want download, and is streaming everywhere. It’s taken from the December 6th ‘Safe Then Sorry’ EP, which you can pre-order via Bandcamp for $1 and pre-save to your app of choice.

Released just 1.5 weeks ago, we’ve been thrilled with the response for the single, which has been put into rotation by KEXP, as well as receiving airplay from BBC 6 Music (New Music Fix), BBC Radio Scotland (Roddy Hart), NPR: WFUV (NY Slice), and found national airplay on Kosmos 93.6 (Fresh Unlimited).

Press has been brilliant too, after initially premiering the single with God Is In the TV, CIAO MALZ has been picked up by sites like Indie Shuffle, The Alternative, HighClouds, KLOF Mag, The Autumn Roses, Loud Women, AnalogueTrash, and Various Small Flames, which has helped her reach the #1 spots in both the “Popular Now” and “Most Posted Artists” charts on Hype Machine.

We’re also really happy with all the new listeners the single has found on Spotify (follow here / stream here), and we’re mad grateful to people like BIRP!, Grimy Goods, KEXP, Indie Shuffle, WFUV, Gunk, One Chord to Another, GRRRL Music, David Dean Burkhart, and many others for helping to make that possible.

I initially met CIAO MALZ in 2023 via this lovely cover of Frog’s “You Know I’m Down,” and while it’s horrifying to be old enough to release records influenced by the records I’ve released, it’s also a pretty special thing too.

Having returned from hiatus at the end of 2023 for ‘Grog‘ by Frog, and been inundated since with with life changes, an insane pet cockatiel, and Antihero PR campaigns, this new Audio Antihero is a work-in-progress, and adding the first new artist to the label’s roster since 2016 (unless you count the different projects of Ben and Adam Parker), feels really really good.

As ever, if you’d like to potentially review/interview/feature CIAO MALZ then contact me via Antihero PR!

Early Press for CIAO MALZ:

“Expertly crafted pop songs…It already seems likely that DelaCruz has a big future.” – KLOF MAGAZINE

“Over propulsive drumming from Told Slant’s Felix Walworth, DelaCruz laments her ability to “find new ways to disappoint her,” but I’m not sure overcompensation has ever sounded so good.” – THE ALTERNATIVE

“Malia DelaCruz is gearing up to release Safe Then Sorry in early December, and I gotta say I dig the vibe so far. I’m not sure whether to call it twee rock or indie pop or just straight up indie rock, but the execution is crisp, the emotion is raw, and I find myself enjoying the song every time it comes on.” – INDIE SHUFFLE

“The winning combination of voice, lyrical content, and overall atmosphere makes the likes of British indie-folk visionary Richard Dawson a fitting musical comparison for MALZ’s approach as the well-considered stylings of Elliott Smith and Jordana.” – ANALOGUETRASH

“The Ciao Malz sound pairs equal parts upbeat energy and probing introspection to explore themes of identity and love in young life….Lead single ‘Two Feet Tall’ introduces the project to the uninitiated, embodying the release’s unguarded nature with lush textures and a binding sense of forward motion.” – VARIOUS SMALL FLAMES

“CIAO MALZ has also dropped the fiery debut single, “Two Feet Tall,” a breakneck indie rock anthem fueled by frustration.” – HIGHCLOUDS

“It ripples with glistening guitar motifs, twitchy percussion, and bittersweet vocal melodies that bristle with an undercurrent of longing and frustration. It’s a delicious earworm, ripe with glowing homespun melodies that approach tender feelings at a cautious angle.” – GOD IS IN THE TV