We had the pleasure of interviewing Malavika over Zoom video!

International R&B singer-songwriter, Malavika, has released her empowering single, “Overdrive”. A full-package entertainer, Malavika draws on her globe-spanning influences to craft a mélange of r&b, hip-hop and pop from a unique perspective. "Overdrive" is truly a global collaboration, created across three continents - Berlin, Dubai, and LA; including an Indian vocal sample sung by Malavika herself. She says “"Overdrive” is a song that showcases a different side of my personality. It’s confident, sexual and empowering. It’s about taking control, reversing gender stereotypes and expressing yourself unabashedly. But at the same time it’s a sexy R&B love song that is in an ode to your person.” Malavika’s intoxicating vocals are on full display, as she initiates romance with her lover over a pulsing beat, with natural confidence and sultry playfulness.

Following the organic success of the only other two singles to her name, “Don’t Let Go” and “Sugarcoat,” “Overdrive” was created with all the elements that Malavika is most inspired by. She expands “Vocally I wanted to go in on the song in terms of the harmonies, layers and adlibs. It’s stacked and is reminiscent of early 2000s R&B, one of many eras where the ad libs really mattered. I have this moment in the second verse where I wanted to have a Queen inspired harmony moment.” With West Coast legend DJ Quik, as her mentor, “Overdrive” showcases a combination of Malavika’s confident writing ability, commanding vocals, and musical influences. Alongside songwriting, Malavika has also found herself an advocate for infiltrating her culture into everything she creates. She expands; “The influences in my music are unique to my experience and upbringing, including the exposure to multilingual music. I try to incorporate sonic and visual elements of my culture whenever I can in a way that’s natural and organic, because it’s a part of my identity.”

Born and raised in India, Malavika began to display a profound love for the performing arts from her earliest years, and began performing at just 3 years old. Being exposed to various contrasting worlds and cultures throughout her childhood has had a transformative role in Malavika’s development as an artist. Imprinted with her parents’ love for music, Malavika grew up idolizing Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Tina Turner, alongside Indian masters like A.R. Rahman - not to mention the harder-hitting hip-hop of Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Kanye West and Drake. These influences helped push Malavika to make the move to Los Angeles to pursue her career, where she was discovered by West Coast legend DJ Quik, who is now a mentor and collaborator furthering her development as an artist. DJ Quik and Malavika have since worked on a variety of records, and toured together performing her music at the Novo in LA and venues all across the Bay Area. In 2020, Malavika’s debut single “Sugarcoat” premiered via Flaunt, and was followed by her 2023 release of “Don’t Let Go,” which premiered on BBC Radio. During quarantine Malavika posted a cover “All N My Grill” on social media which warranted a response from the legendary Missy Elliott herself. Her vision is to not only become a global artist, but also to create music and art that go beyond borders to integrate various cultures and their musical identities. Bringing people from all parts of the world together into the same arena is what Malavika strives for.

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