New World Artists, Exclusive Booking Agents for 20-year old powerhouse Mallrat.
When a songwriter allows themselves to expose their emotional self to the world, it takes their music to another level, opening up a whole new world of connection between the artist and their audience.
On her latest single, ‘Charlie,’ Grace Shaw – aka the rising Australian pop star Mallrat – took the bravest step of her songwriting career, writing the most heartfelt and illuminating song she’s ever penned, detailing her strained relationship with her parents, and her quest to find real love and joy in the simplest moments of life.
The song was instantly recognised by the world at large as a special moment in her evolution as an artist, with numerous fans, friends and industry outlets praising its emotional purity and the simple brilliance of its composition (care of producer Big Taste). A gentle combination of woozy piano chords and Mallrat’s subtle, vulnerable vocals in her patented lackadaisical and charming delivery style at the forefront, the stripped-bare nation of both its musicality and its emotional content seemed to also peel away layers of the Mallrat persona we’ve grown to love, and revealed a greater glimpse of Grace Shaw the person, in a way that we’ve never really seen before.
‘Charlie’ was merely an introduction to the powerful vulnerability laid bare on Driving Music – officially released today via Dew Process and Universal Music Australia. The record opener ‘Intro’ is a brief sketch of unrequited love, but despite its brevity its impact is heightened by the richness of the production packed into its 1:20min timeframe. It’s followed by the hypnotic ‘Drive Me Round,’ as close to a title song as we’re going to get, but also a song that clearly informs the rest of the record in its diversity of sound and its openness expression of love for a close one.
On ‘Circles’ she sings an incredible vocal hook that pulls you into its orbit through her delicate vocals, its repeatable rhythm, and the magnetic lyrics:
“Keep me safe, guide my faith / Dress in white, stay up late / I’m not tired, it’s just dark / I can’t find where you are”
Through ‘When I Get My Braces Off’ she simultaneously captures a portrait of being an angst-riddled teenager with a delivery that recalls her idol Kanye West – an artist who made his name through his incorporation of emotional confessions alongside brilliant music. With very little imagination you can easily picture the cloud of festival fanatics screaming, “Bet you hate what I like,” back at Mallrat as she spins on stage in a signature bright floral dress and an even brighter grin.
Then comes the bedrock of ‘Charlie,’ before the record is closed out by the dreamscape ‘Stay,’ a song that brings to mind the production of the legendary Postal Service classic ‘The District Sleeps Alone Tonight,’ while once again injecting imagery from Shaw’s personal life and her relationship with her sister alongside the records ongoing narrative of conflicted feelings of love. From start to finish, Driving Music is a breath-taking display of an artist that had already set herself apart from the pack, and is finally ready to elevate to an ethereal level – like an angel in the sky to borrow a trope from the artist herself.
The release of the record comes off the back of what has also been a huge year on the road for Mallrat, having supported King Princess and Maggie Rogers on international tours, as well as selling out her own headline shows across Australia, and increasingly across the world. She’s currently in the midst of a run of huge dates with her friend and collaborator Allday. They’re about to finish their Australian major venue tour this weekend in Adelaide and Melbourne, before embarking on a US tour together later this month. She’s also set to perform a number of big festival slots for the rest of the year, waving the flag high for Australian music alongside a cavalcade of international superstars. Dates and ticket info below.
