By creating a collection of tracks that feel deeply personal and universally intriguing, Ciao Malz’s latest EP, Safe Then Sorry, weaves an intricate tapestry of diverse genres and storytelling. With themes spanning unlikely connections, bursts of frustration, and nods to literary antiheroes, the project showcases Ciao’s ability to blend indie rock, alt-country, and dreamy folk-pop into a cohesive sonic journey. Recorded in a modest basement studio and shaped by subconscious inspiration, Safe Then Sorry captures raw energy and unfiltered creativity. In our conversation, Ciao dives into the processes, influences, and stories behind the EP, offering a glimpse into the artistic world that brought these songs to life.
ATN: Safe Then Sorry has a lot of themes around unlikely connections and raw emotion. Can you talk about the process of writing these songs and how they took shape after your work hours?
CM: These songs were pretty random and unrelated at first glance. I had the first line to every song and spent a long time making sure they still made sense by the end. The only song I didn’t have trouble with was “Gold Rush”. It’s sort of like magic when you can just keep speaking related words in time. “Gold Rush” is loosely based on one of my friends, and we had hung out that day. A lot of the songs are like callbacks to something that happened earlier that day.
ATN: The EP features a mix of styles, from indie rock to alt-country and dreamy folk pop. How did you approach blending these diverse sounds into one cohesive project?
CM: I start playing every song on guitar and I only have four pedals that are dramatically different. I’d like to think that’s how those three genre’s get blended because distortion, chorus, and delay are tricky to use together. I had to focus a lot on the dynamics and the specific emotion of each song to tie it back together.
ATN: You mentioned wanting the recording process to feel as unrestrained as when you first experimented on GarageBand. What specific techniques did you use to capture that raw, playful energy?
CM: The studio I recorded this at has a live room and a closed off control room. Since I recorded this by myself I was leaving the control room unattended after hitting the record button. This wasn’t great for creating a super clean sound, but it did remind me of the playful GarageBand creations I used to make.
ATN: “Two Feet Tall” brings a sense of frustration to the forefront. How did you channel those feelings into the instrumentation and arrangement?
CM: I think the saturated worry sounding guitar brings a lot of that frustration to the surface. I never set out to make such an anxious riff but it happened. There’s a lot of tension throughout the song that is released in the chorus. It felt necessary to have a few instrumental breaks in there.
ATN: The song “Bad for the Bad Guy” has a reference to ‘Frankenstein’ and a country influence. What inspired this combination, and what’s the story behind that track?
CM: I was trying to read Frankenstein but I’m a bad reader and the language is old. I got more obsessed with Mary Shelley than the actual book. I started reading about her life and how she was maybe even queer. She was not the original creator of the antihero but it got me thinking about my own favorite antiheroes, and how I feel bad for them.
ATN: You’ve cited artists like Elliott Smith, Jordana, and Men I Trust as influences. How did these inspirations shape the mood or sound of the EP, and did they influence any specific tracks?
CM: I’d like to think Elliott Smith influenced bad for the bad guy. It’s the most acoustic guitar song I’ve ever done and the lyrics were just off the top of my head. I think he would have probably sang about Mary Shelley.
ATN: You’ve talked about how the songs on this EP came to you subconsciously. Can you describe how these “characters” appeared to you and how you decided to give them a voice in your music?
CM: I think of the characters as the songs themselves. The songs are their own people with their own traits and they all have a little something to say. I sort of leaned into what they were trying to say and built a musical world around them.
ATN: The project was recorded in a basement studio, and you made sure to capture the raw emotions within those four walls. What challenges did you face in bringing out that emotional intensity, and how did the space influence the final sound?
CM: The space is small and old, so I had to be mindful of electrical buzzing and unexpected feedback. Being underground and well-padded, though, it gave me the freedom to get as loud as I wanted. There’s something empowering about knowing no one can hear you—it brings a certain confidence that lets you fully embrace those loud, raw emotions without holding back.
ATN: With Audio Antihero’s eclectic roster, what drew you to work with a non-binary-owned label like them, and how has that partnership impacted your approach to releasing this EP?
CM: I was initially drawn to Audio Antihero through a band called Frog. I love Frog so much and they are a huge inspiration. Audio Antihero’s support has made it easier to trust my instincts and take creative risks, knowing they genuinely believe in the music and its message. It’s been empowering to work with a label that values artistic integrity over fitting into a mold.
ATN: You’ve played with Brooklyn’s Sister. trio and have collaborated extensively in New York’s indie scene. How have those experiences influenced your sound and the themes you explore on Safe Then Sorry?
CM: I’ve been lucky to be around some of the best musicians I know. It makes me so happy to go to shows and recognize people from the last. Being able to work with some of those musicians on my record has been a life changing experience. Everyone brings something of their own to this record making it especially unique.
ATN: What song are you most excited for fans to hear for the first time?
CM: I’m excited for fans to hear “Gold Rush”. I think it’s one of the best songs I’ve ever written, and the vibes are so pretty.
ATN: What’s in store for the rest of 2024 and on the horizon for 2025?
CM: Continuing to make music and get better is always in store for me. In 2025 I’m excited to put together a couple of live shows!
SAME 3 QUESTIONS WE ALWAYS ASK
ATN: Artist / band that you feel is the most underrated and why?
CM: I think Phil Collins is underrated. I think he has some of the best songs and it’s a shame we don’t see him everywhere.
ATN: Artist / band that you would like to collaborate with and why?
CM: I would love to collaborate with The Mountain Goats. I’d love to meet up with them on a bad day, and write a crazy miserable song.
ATN: Artist / band that you would like to tour with and why?
CM: I would love to tour with Kacey Musgraves. I think she has a great sound, and an audience that really loves and respects her.
Photo by Alex SK Brown
