Mali Hâf is an artist known for combining Welsh folk influences with contemporary, fiery, electronic beats. Live, the artist takes notes from icons with theatrical flair, adorned in Celtic war paint and commanding the stage with a ritualistic sensibility. In her records, Mali adds fierceness, she brings together ethereality and self-expression.
Mali Hâf recently unveiled the soul-thumping new single ‘Esgusodion’ once again balancing her fierce Celtic roots with a pulsating pop sound sprinkled with just enough mythical ethereality. Moments of heaving synth influence lead to shrieking hits and fuzzy lead lines climbing towards the sky, whilst the overall mix still takes a raw acoustic influence, the drums finding more than enough power in its pounding kick and shuffling percussion.
Allowing the synths to loom with a fire on picturesque scenes, Mali’s vocals take control as an unphased leader, a commanding tone in her home language of Welsh laced with a slightly sultry, almost R&B delivery, that makes for a pure fizzing energiser as listeners progress through the landscape.
Mali explains the track’s themes, “Esgusodion translates to Excuses Are you tired of hearing excuses? Excuses from politicians, excuses for self-serving unethical behaviour, even for war and genocide; excuses from the ones you love; And let’s face it, excuses from your very own brain!
They are undeniably everywhere in life, but if you can rise above them and throw them away for a while, be true to your inner courage, then freedom and peace can follow (and we need more of these!) I hope you hear some of that in this song. Frustration with the world, yes, but expressed with some tongue-in-cheek humour, to take refuge in courage, fun and freedom of mind”
