Disclaimer
Transcripts may (read: definitely will) contain typos. We use software to transcribe the show and American artificial intelligence is apparently not intelligent enough to understand the Irish accent; go figure!
In time, if people read these, we'll have them fully proof read by human intelligence and corrected for grammar and syntax.
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[00:00:00] Chris: [00:00:00] Welcome back to another week of the one DMC podcast. I'm Chris and I am your co-host this week. We had the absolute pleasure of hosting Maliki and Matthew Harris. And if you like our intro music and a couple of the jingles that we have throughout the podcast, Matthew Jairus is the mind behind that the musical genius that is Matthew, um, can put his hand to many instruments and it has a great voice as well.
[00:00:26] I've since found out and along with Matthew, we have Maliki. I'm a rapper that I have come to really, really, really like your music over the past few months, I actually found out about him last summer. And prior to listening to Maliki's music, I would have probably discounted Irish hip hop in general. I would have said that.
[00:00:46] It wasn't for me. But since then, I think he has been the catalyst for me to look at some of the new artists emerging. And there's a really, really strong burgeoning hip hop scene in Ireland. Um, if you're interested, these two guys are, [00:01:00] you know, a barrel to last, to be honest with you. And the banter was plenty for this episode, and you can really tell that these two are best friends and they've been through a lot together.
[00:01:12] They have a great back and forth with each other, and I think their timing and their humor and Sater is kind of, you know, it really adds to the conversation. We did talk about some deep stuff. Obviously this is a DMC. So there were a couple of things that we discussed that were. You know, on the method side, both does episode in general, I think is more upbeat than usual.
[00:01:33] And I had a lot more fun. You know, I came off this one really buzzing. Um, you know, I spent the day listening to monarchy's music and Matthew's music, you know, afterwards, I just, you know, I really want to empower everyone to go to their Spotify or go to wherever else. You can find the music, YouTube or wherever and take a lesson because.
[00:01:56] I think the first time you hear either of them, you'll be blown away at the talent. [00:02:00] And it's just amazing, you know, Maliki from a guy who was writing poetry to all of a sudden making his way into the world of rap and hip hop and Matthew who is monthly instrumentalist, who can pretty much put his hand to anything and make it sound cool as far as I've seen anyway.
[00:02:16] So without further ado, this is the one DMC podcast with Matthew Harris and Maliki. You're really going to enjoy this one. So once more, this is the intro music, which always makes me happy. Three, two, one, let's go jump
[00:02:31] Malaki: [00:02:31] that I got into in the currency to send to the
[00:02:38] a morning cup of butter.
[00:02:43] Noel: [00:02:43] That's Molokini and Matthew you're very welcome to the one, the MC podcast. It's great to have you, um, thank you for having us. The, uh, the first question of the podcast is, is consistently the same. It's it's how are you? And the, and the reason why we're asking that is, I suppose we want to just get people a bit more in tune [00:03:00] with that question, with answering that question and what it can mean to you.
[00:03:03] Um, now obviously you don't have to be asking your friends or these random strangers as you're walking down the road, or you can, if you want, but it's, it's having that kind of time when you're amongst friends, especially where, or even yourself, you just kind of ask yourself, how are you and your, and your honestly, answer it.
[00:03:18] Um, so on after our last Maliki and
[00:03:22] Chris: [00:03:22] Matthew
[00:03:26] Malaki: [00:03:26] yeah, go for it. I'm good. I'm good. Thank you for asking. Yeah, I think I agree with you. I think, um, I've always, I think in the last two or three years, I've taken a, how are you a lot more seriously? So I think in Ireland, it's a very. Generic response. I'm grant long. Good. Don't worry about it. You know, it can have 1,001 meanings, but no, I'm, I'm doing quite well.
[00:03:48] Thank you for asking. Yeah, I've been busy. I've been working away, keeping my head and my routine in check, so yeah, overall quite good. You know, I've been there. I've been enjoying myself.
[00:03:59] Matthew: [00:03:59] Okay. Yeah. [00:04:00] It's, I'm a mixture of stress and excited. I'm excited for so many, but stress about finishing assignments at the moment.
[00:04:06] Yeah, I've been called it. So it is, um, it's crunch time for sure for me, but, uh, I'm balancing it pretty well. I would say
[00:04:16] Chris: [00:04:16] what do you guys, uh, sorry, go. Did you always think that, um, Andrew now question is, is a difficult thing that, that puts you, um, on edge being asked that question.
[00:04:28] Matthew: [00:04:28] Um, I think being asked is the second time, and vehicle's kind of drawn to the fact that I shouldn't just do my normal responses a little bit pudding by that, but I think, um, uh, fortunately I, I wasn't sad doing terribly, so it didn't, it didn't throw me for a loop.
[00:04:46] Malaki: [00:04:46] I think it depends on how you're feeling. Doesn't it? Yeah. I don't know. I've been asked that a lot and I, like I said, I take care of you quite seriously. So, um, no, not really. And you know, no, no, I I'd be quite confident in answering it, you know? And if, if, [00:05:00] if my response is what scares people, I think that's what I need to ask the other person.
[00:05:04] Chris: [00:05:04] Yes, absolutely. Like that's very important. I think, I think people normally would answer that with a default kind of busier grind because they're perhaps afraid of what the response might be exact. Don't want to bring down to mood or you don't want to put people off kilter. You know, it's very hard to say someone.
[00:05:24] Um, I feel shit, you know, I'm having a bad day or I'm having a bad week or everything's going wrong for me right now. Cause it's very hard to add to that. How does someone say, what do you say to someone who says like I'm feeling terrible? You know, because it's very easy for the other person to say, Oh, when you're busy.
[00:05:37] Oh, well, great. Fantastic. Isn't that great? What is the default response for everyone? It seems, uh, but we always like to start this by kind of going back into the past, you know, but a Naval gazing goes a long way. And my understanding from researching the two of you is that you only got to know each other, um, in your kind of late teens, early [00:06:00] twenties.
[00:06:00] So there's a kind of a separate past there at our separate paths there that we can perhaps take a look at. So I'd like to understand, obviously music is the theme of the day and music is a very heavy influence in your life. But growing up in terms of heroes and heroines, who would you have, uh, looked up to.
[00:06:22] Malaki: [00:06:22] That's a good question. I think everyone, I think that's a harder question than how are you for me? You know, I think no one really has a definitive answer, but I, I, um, you know, I think I looked up to a lot of my family members, I think now maybe not growing up, I use my sister definitely as a role model these days, my mother, um, I think when I was younger, I think I was so naive and kind of caught up with my own and my own self cause I was a very outgoing hyperactive kid, you know, I didn't really have any role models or heroes.
[00:06:53] It was kind of just enjoy your life, have fun with your mates. And don't really think about that kind of stuff until you get old. I was very [00:07:00] much just live in the moment, have the crack at school and enjoy my life. I don't think I was like, I'm living my life to that goal or to that person. I think it was just trying to enjoy my life, you know?
[00:07:10] Yeah. I think it
[00:07:10] Chris: [00:07:10] was like a reflection.
[00:07:12] Matthew: [00:07:12] It was kind of like looking back and, uh, kind of. Coming to see what people actually did shape me as I grew up. Um, definitely think there was some teachers. I had a big role, not as you said, like family members, my parents as well. Um, and yeah, I think it was just like local people.
[00:07:33] Like just, just people that, you know,
[00:07:36] Malaki: [00:07:36] the local, the local local roams, the streets. Yeah, exactly. The
[00:07:43] Chris: [00:07:43] character. Were you a bit of a rule breaker growing up? Was I,
[00:07:48] Malaki: [00:07:48] yeah, I think I was a bit of a loose cannon. I think I, you know, Uh, road wrecker
[00:07:55] Matthew: [00:07:55] rule breaker.
[00:07:57] Malaki: [00:07:57] I had, I had a bit, I had a few run ins with, [00:08:00] what did you say?
[00:08:01] A road
[00:08:01] Dan: [00:08:01] runner,
[00:08:02] Matthew: [00:08:02] a rule, a rule breaker, a home record road runner, a rule
[00:08:07] Chris: [00:08:07] breaker.
[00:08:09] Malaki: [00:08:09] I thought you said a road record. I was like on a zap. Yeah, I would say so. I, I, I very much lived on my own terms and put that when saying that, you know, I think I want to reach the round 16 and school. I bet Richards. And, but no one, like I definitely had run-ins with the police where school and stuff.
[00:08:25] When I was younger, I was kind of just my own person, you know, I didn't, I didn't, I like I abided by the rules, but if they weren't within my, like, if I, if they are kind of, uh, like annoying with my morals, you know, if I didn't feel they were kind of in keeping with how I felt dumb in a second, you know, kind of a.
[00:08:44] I kind of very much keeps my own, my own self with that kind of thing. But, uh, you know, has its pros and cons, like I said, there was a few run ins with police, nothing mad, you know, just, just misbehavior issues. But I think, as I say, once I reached 16, I started growing up and maturing and I kept my own [00:09:00] hyperactive self, but, uh, I think I just treated, I think, especially in school, my staff and students with respect, and then I just had a better time in school then, you know, I find, um, I, I could have the crack, the same crack with the students as a coach with the staff.
[00:09:15] And I think that was really important, you know?
[00:09:19] Chris: [00:09:19] Yeah. That is very important. And I think I'm, I'm attracted personally to, um, irreverence, you know, I like people who, um, use their own powers of deduction to look around and kind of make their own minds up about stuff. And like people can't see you right now.
[00:09:36] Okay. But at a cursory clients, both of you, to me, my first impressions of you would be like, these guys are definitely, um, you know, rulebreakers like Matthew, when I, I to give people a backstory of, and kind of connect the dots here. Okay. Um, you know, are our intro jingle our intro music or whatever you want to call it, that Matthew is a mastermind and behind that, and another guy called Amad with love, um, is the lyricist [00:10:00] and rapper on that two very talented.
[00:10:02] I'm going to say kids, I'm a little bit older than you. Right. But when I met Matthew for the first time, we kind of met up and had a coffee. And, um, we were just chatting about the idea. I was telling him what I was doing. And, you know, when you meet someone for the first time, you can't help it. You just have first impressions.
[00:10:18] And this guy walked up with a Cameron. What color your hair was at the time? I think it was blonde on the top. Uh, I shaved on the sides right now. It's green and purple and a couple of different colors. He, he also, the first thing I noticed about you is you got painted nails and, uh, like, I, I love people who kind of don't give a fuck.
[00:10:43] Okay. And my first impression of you was like, this guy does not give a single fuck what people think about him. Like no fucks are given here. And, you know, I think that's great, you know, because I, you know, grew up in a small town in rural Ireland, Ireland, and [00:11:00] it was quite difficult to be in any way different.
[00:11:02] So I'm always very attracted to people who like are overtly different and don't really care, you know? But what I, what I be right in saying Matthew, that you don't care what people think, um, you know, is my, you know, a cursory look at you or my, my interpretation of you. Correct?
[00:11:20] Matthew: [00:11:20] I think, uh, I definitely do care what people think.
[00:11:23] I think it would be. It'd be wrong of me to say that I, I don't care at all. I definitely do care about people's perceptions of me, but just on, um, that kind of first impression thing, like, I feel like I was very fortunate to have grown up in a very supportive environment and that I was encouraged to kind of express myself in whatever way I wanted to.
[00:11:44] And, um, I think for me to make decisions like that and kind of have weird hair or is, um, kind of coming from a privileged place, almost of just being able to yeah. Kind of having the confidence to do it, knowing that [00:12:00] I'm not going to have any backlash against it or anything like that, or, you know, um, have kind of people with closed minds and just kind of, and making judgements on that.
[00:12:10] But, um, yeah, I think I, I do, I do care what people think, but I also would put my own preferences above that. Definitely
[00:12:26] Chris: [00:12:26] did. Um, first, sorry, I live next to the train tracks. There's a train about the combine, but I'm going to continue to talk that first impression is ever go against either of them,
[00:12:37] Malaki: [00:12:37] like what people thought of me
[00:12:38] Chris: [00:12:38] first.
[00:12:39] Yeah. Yeah. Just, just Maliki to, to like, uh, I'll give you kind of first impressions. Yeah. Um, I don't know if you've ever seen the film, like green street are like that. Like you obviously have a shaved head, you know, the type of clothing you wear. Um, like when, when you listen to your music, you can tell that you're a deep soul.
[00:12:59] You [00:13:00] can tell that you have a lot to say, and you, you can tell that you have waited years to, to get it out. And, you know, we'll discuss that later. But when you look at you from across the street, um, you know, you've got a shaved head, you got, you kind of wear this kind of, um, I dunno what this style is, but you know, everyone, when they, you know, put on their clothes is trying to kind of, you know, send a message or they're trying to find a sense of identity, but I'm wondering because like the two of you seem to be, you know, in that way, irreverent or you, you seem to be a little bit counter-cultural.
[00:13:34] Has it ever gone against you? Um, in anything you've ever done?
[00:13:40] Malaki: [00:13:40] I mean, it's tough to say. I mean, I've always been someone who has to express myself through the way I talk my mannerisms and the way I dress. And like Matthew said, I was very much in a supportive household, like dressing, like, and like, if, if I came back with a tattoo or a dodgy hairstyle or weird [00:14:00] clothes, it was more like, Oh, that looked great.
[00:14:02] Like it wasn't from a place of. Uh, like what are you doing now? I was supposed to wear that. So I was, I was really happy. I think I would express myself in that way. I think when I was speaking to people, I think with the skinhead and the way I dress, obviously people got these preconceived ideas, but then you meet me and I have a smile on my face and I've a normal Dublin accent.
[00:14:23] I'm not from a rural area. It would be quite a neutral accent. I think both was happened, you know, it's, um, I think it never really bothered me too much because I know once I meet people, I'm going to have a smile. And I think once they get that reassurance that I'm a friendly kind person, it, all of these ideas or these judgements just go straight out the window and they realize that you're only just here to have a chat and make sure you're okay.
[00:14:48] I suppose, you know, just be a friendly character.
[00:14:50] Chris: [00:14:50] Yeah, well, I suppose that's the truth behind all the laws, but it it's very difficult for people to, um, get to that point. You know, I read a book recently called range by a [00:15:00] guy called David Epstein and they talk about from a sociological perspective, there are these two, two learning environments.
[00:15:05] One is a client journey environment where, you know, um, you grow up in a situation where people are encouraging and, and they're, they're asking you to pursue things and they allow for failure. And, you know, you're, you're constantly being instilled with a sense of confidence in an era we could learning environments where, you know, all the variables keep changing.
[00:15:23] You're moving around. You know, you you're possibly getting constant nos from the people closest to you. Unfortunately, you know, um, we are affected by our environment. We're affected by the people that are around us. So it's really nice to see. Two young guys, we've obviously grown up in, in client learning environments.
[00:15:41] Obviously you've had your ups and downs, but people that have most influenced you and Olivia to answer that question, but the people who most influenced you have obviously influenced them in a way that is conducive to confidence, you know, uh, being yourselves. Um, and it's something that I think is important for young men to understand, and to have an interpretation of is, is, you know, the idea [00:16:00] of, of masculinity.
[00:16:01] Um, and it would, would it be fair to say, I'll go with you Matthew first. Like for me, when I grew up in school, uh, you know, painting my nails would have be an indication of, um, you know, emasculation, like I would have been made fun of for sure. Yeah. So I wanted to ask you both, um, about your interpretation of masculinity and what it means for you guys in 2021, you know, as two young guys.
[00:16:28] Matthew: [00:16:28] Oh, it's a difficult question. Um,
[00:16:35] Dan: [00:16:35] I think.
[00:16:40] Matthew: [00:16:40] It's not something that I think about a huge amount. Um, like I guess being in school, you kind of are given, um, roles that you have to perform as a, as a Geier as a girl. Um, you know, you're given like to study different uniforms and you're as a [00:17:00] guy you're not led well in my school. Anyway, you were in today to grow a beard or do anything weird that your hair have to be very like SAS kind of, um, images.
[00:17:10] Cause it was kind of the, the school wanted to portray an image about themselves. And I think that kind of trickled down into a kind of masculine representation, which you, I think carry into college, um, for the first few years. Anyway, I think some people carry it into life, unfortunately, and kind of can't get away from that very easily.
[00:17:31] But I think coming into college, I was very fortunate to. Uh, meet a group of people and be surrounded by a group of people that, um, were just very accepting and very excited to kind of push the limits of, of what masculinity means, I guess. Um, I think what we're starting to see now, which is good is [00:18:00] that kind of trend of, um, like the feminine masculine kind of, you know, painting the nails and doing the hair and stuff like that.
[00:18:08] And you're seeing it in like Harry styles and stuff like that. And people like Kate Cuddy even wearing a dress that one of the SNL performances recently, I think. Um, and it's great. I mean, I think it's great. Um, but uh,
[00:18:26] it's changing a lot. I think, I don't feel like I have a, a very, um, Sat kind of idea of, of masculinity or what or what it means to be a man. It's just something that is evolving Anaconda learn from the last 21 years to not a pin pin it down in my mind, and to kind of close my mind to an idea that I decided, I think it's important to be open, to change and to allow people who wanted to change to have a voice in, in the conversation as well,
[00:18:55] Chris: [00:18:55] 100%, you know, we can be liberal about these things.
[00:18:57] I think you do have an idea. You have a, [00:19:00] you have a philosophy about it. You know, you, uh, you're speaking very intelligent there about, you know, what your idea of masculinity is. And, you know, I think the lesson from perhaps your story there is that if people are finding it difficult to be themselves in groups, uh, are in the group that they have grown up with, you know, there is a transition when you got from secondary school into university, And everyone goes through this and it's kind of a shaky time in our lives where we get this freedom to kind of figure out who we are.
[00:19:29] And it can go either way. You can either get in with the wrong crowd or you can get in with the right crowd. But ultimately everyone has a choice about who they hang out with, you know, at the end of the day. And hopefully the people you choose to hang out with are people like the people Matthew has chosen, hung out with that, allow him to be himself and to do whatever he wants, because there is a lot of fluidity with, with, you know, masculinity and femininity.
[00:19:52] And there are a lot of, there's a lot of, um, you know, research around, uh, our feminine side, uh, [00:20:00] you know, young at the anima and animus and there's loads of stuff behind this, but it's just people. You know, as you say, it's about image. No, like that's funny that you used the analogy of the school, that the school would want it to portray this image of the masculine and feminine.
[00:20:13] And you know, the guys probably as a tie in the fucking whatever, um, and females have to wear the skirt, but thankfully in 2021, those, those, those lines are being blurred and fucking rightly so, you know, and it's not a new thing, like in rock and roll, um, you know, in the sixties, you know, guys were wearing like Tyson that was fucking considered.
[00:20:30] Cool. Then it's just coming back now. So over to you, Malika, you know, how do you feel about, um, about masculinity now? And then what does it mean for you?
[00:20:39] Malaki: [00:20:39] I think when I was younger, I didn't, I don't think really, because it's just kind of embedded into you. It's ingrained into you. I mean, like when you're younger, these idea of this idea of masculinity, I think from your father mainly, and just the other role, male role models around you.
[00:20:53] But I think I was more, I rubbed off more on my sister and I, my mother, I think, you know, when I was younger, I [00:21:00] was. I put myself in the high yields where my sister's dresses run around the place before I, I enjoyed making people laugh and I performing to people, you know what I mean? So it was something that was in, like, if I wear this dress, what are they gonna say about me?
[00:21:15] It was more just like, I'm getting a laugh out of these. That's your goal? That's, that's, I'm happy out. Um, so I think for me, yeah, I just, that gave me confidence when I was older. So I didn't really, as a grew old in secondary school, I didn't really care too much about what people taught to me. Um, until I started getting, I think, 18 or 19, but I was very much just doing stuff on my own terms.
[00:21:37] I think masculinity was really only something I've started thinking about in the last few years. I think in the different friends group, friend group I hung around with, there was one that it was one side of them that you wouldn't really see step at align, which I'm asking in the, and the other ones would take you for your, for any way, shape or form.
[00:21:56] And. You know, and it was a nice contrast between the [00:22:00] two and, you know, I kind of hang around with the other, the more that would take you for a, as you are rather than the other ones now, obviously for obvious reasons. But, you know, I think I've just kind of always been myself. And I think only in the last few years, I've tried to take what I feel, uh, masculinity is and kind of form it into how I feel now, you know, I've always said it's showing your vulnerability and I like, I've never really seen it in the last one is manly traits.
[00:22:28] It's more just as a human trait, you know, it's not something that we should pinpoint be like, this is what, how man should feel. I think everyone should feel the same way. I think man or woman, you're going to feel vulnerable. You're going to feel weak sometimes you're going to feel shit. Um, so I think I only in the last two or three years, I've realized it's, it's kind of came to me.
[00:22:47] What I truly feel about being a man is because I think I've always just been myself. I've never really been a man. I've just been myself.
[00:22:56] Chris: [00:22:56] Yeah, this one, I think, um, the reason I always think about [00:23:00] masculinity is because there's nothing wrong with being overtly masculine or overtly feminine. What's wrong is people's perception of someone who chooses to be one or the other, I think.
[00:23:11] And, you know, fortunately, or unfortunately, um, you know, there's this idea of looking at ourselves. So we are like, as some of, you know, what goes on around us and who accepts us in the feedback loops of who doesn't accept us. And some people deal with that really well. And some people don't deal with it at all.
[00:23:27] Um, but I think some people just, unfortunately, you know, perhaps that group that you were referring to their Maliki where they're a little bit more in the masculine side who wouldn't have been as accepting, some people stay with that. Uh, and they, they continue with that identity for the rest of their life.
[00:23:43] And then there's a cycle where they pass that onto their children who pass it on their children. And I think that is breaking. I think those cycles seem to be breaking. Um, you know, I think that it's a very positive, um, I think that's happening and I [00:24:00] honestly, you know, it makes me happy to hear you guys talk about it because you're probably one generation behind me are probably 10 years younger than me.
[00:24:09] Um, and it, it, you know, brilliant to hear two guys talk about it in the way you talk about it, which is, you've obviously thought about it. You've obviously considered it. You've obviously found people that are accepting of you both. Um, and I just think that's fucking fantastic. So I want to ask how did you guys meet?
[00:24:27] Okay. So one of you is from Don Leary, I believe. And one is from Oregon. Um, so where where's the, the meeting point for Maliki and Matthew
[00:24:36] Malaki: [00:24:36] meaningful? I think it was in his school. Like that was our, that was the meeting point on. It's funny. Yeah. Cause it's where's, the college is white where Marty went to an, all you live maybe 15 minutes away from there.
[00:24:48] I used to hop on a Lewis or on a 75 after. Pretty much every school day, because I was addicted this girl that I was seeing in his school. So I'd hop on a bus after every, after every, every school study, after school study, he used to [00:25:00] do that some more time, texting her on the table being like, yeah, I'll be there in 40 minutes.
[00:25:05] And then me even halfway to hop on a 75, meet her. But, you know, I used to run into Matthew a lot in the school. And I used to hear about this guy, Marty, because he was a, he's a play music used to do music. I, my ex used to do a bit with him. Um, and until I saw him on graduation day, performing darkness as cities by the red hot chili peppers, uh, I was shooting on base.
[00:25:33] Yeah. Yeah. He was on the base, but I was shocked because for about a year, year, I think I was really starting to get into music really. Like, you know, this is the only thing I'm finding. Interesting. It's the only thing that's kind of give me purpose to my life at the moment. And I had no one that did music.
[00:25:49] Like I said, there was, none of my friends were interested in it. Aside from the, like the odd Tupac's you call a song, they play in the back lane of the smoke. It was very much like that's rap music, that's [00:26:00] it don't try it. So when I was writing and I saw that guy, I was like, that's the man, that's all I need to speak to.
[00:26:05] Let's do this. And so I met him afterwards and I met her, seeing the content and I was like, yo fleet would have been proud of that performance, man. I came up to you and I shook your hand. And, and I think it kind of gradually grew from there. I got closer to him, me and my ex split up. And then we stuck together and the bond grew stronger, I think, through, uh, a bit of turmoil, a bit of music.
[00:26:28] And, um, from there it just kind of, yeah, it just grew from there. It was interesting. It was a weird, a weird, a really weird experience. Cause you know, when people meet us, I think they've, we've met, we've known each other for so long, but it's been about two years of like really strong friendship, I think ups and downs, but you know, it doesn't ever.
[00:26:47] Chris: [00:26:47] Do you believe in face Matthew
[00:26:50] Matthew: [00:26:50] fate? Yeah,
[00:26:53] Malaki: [00:26:53] definitely. Does it, Blake,
[00:26:59] Matthew: [00:26:59] I [00:27:00] believe in creating your own fate has the us.
[00:27:03] Chris: [00:27:03] It's nice. I just think it's interesting that you would, you would, um, you know, serendipitously meet at a time in your lives where, um, you may both have needed each other. And there's been a couple of incidents in my life where I've met a certain person at exactly the right time.
[00:27:23] And my understanding, um, from reading about your respective stories is Matthew. You are multi-instrumentalist you like, I've never met someone with, um, like to give you an anecdote. Matthew was producing the track for one DMC, and I only realized after he. Produced it with, um, uh, with love and sent it to us that he can see.
[00:27:50] And I had been listening to Maliki's music and, you know, I really liked the, you know, a cup of tea, the, the, the, um, the chorus singing that away. And then [00:28:00] after I was like, what the fuck? That's math, that's the guy who doing my fucking music. And so you, you obviously grew up around music. You're very musically talented.
[00:28:09] You play lots of different instruments and, and, um, molecule from your perspective, uh, my understanding is that you were more of a, you know, a boarding port, you know, you were, you were writing in journals and this was what was, um, you know, helping you to make sense of the world. And these two worlds meet.
[00:28:31] And, you know, um, at the right time and perhaps Matthew encouraged you Maliki to start putting notes to your words. And all of a sudden you've got this like, fantastic sound. So when I say fate, I don't believe in fate it's determinism. I also think that you kind of create your own fate and then everything else is just random, but you know how fortunate we are to be able to hear the music or some random event of two of these worlds colliding, [00:29:00] um, uh, you know, where Maliki and Matthew Matthew meet.
[00:29:04] Um, but I think the first track you produced together was call me by your name. Is that right? Carlos blonde, M's call us by our names. And like when you listen to this track, I, I get the sense that there is a lot of, uh, pent up creativity, um, you know, to, to go from, you know, writing in your journal and writing, uh, lyrics or poetry and going from spoken word to creating a track.
[00:29:30] Yeah. You know, was there, you know, this sense that you just needed to get everything out on, on paper and needed to get me out into the world? Maliki, was there kind of this kind of dam of creativity waiting to explode?
[00:29:44] Malaki: [00:29:44] Yeah, I think that's a good way of putting it. Um, it was, uh, I think two years, I'm going to say two years in the making that I really wanted to collect these tarts, put them on paper and then [00:30:00] kind of just spilled them out through a microphone and then eventually into people's ears.
[00:30:05] Um, I, I was struggling to know how to do this because I think for a long while we were trying different ideas, some of them work, some of them didn't, um, you know, just different ways. I think I was just tiptoeing around different ideas and we could never find the right one that we both felt we wanted to release.
[00:30:27] Um, and I think until. My mental health deteriorated. Um, we, I kind of came up with the lyrics. I think it say like w really reached that low points in my life and then kind of got a bit higher. I was able to write down exactly what I was feeling. I was frustrated. I was angry. I was, I was confused and I didn't know what else to do.
[00:30:51] So I think if I didn't have that turning point in my life, that song may not have ever came. And if it did, it would have been maybe in years ago. [00:31:00] So until that happened, um, uh, I think, I remember just lightening my beds. It was just sitting there. Yeah. One day and I ran into my sister. I was like, I think I just wrote something.
[00:31:08] And she was like, what do you mean? I was like, I think I just wrote something really good. And I just spotted out to her and she was like, Oh shit. And, uh, it was like, was definitely a spoken word. It didn't have the same roaming scheme as a normal 16 by rap. You know, it was, yeah, it was very much a poem. Um, I went to Marty with it.
[00:31:26] He just hopped on the piano. Hopped on the keyboard, changed the function on to this kind of weird electronic sounding one. I was like, I like that. I
[00:31:34] Matthew: [00:31:34] like that dance bass sound on a, on a really bad keyboard. I just played the piano line really high up. So it's not actually a keys at all. It's actually a bass.
[00:31:46] Oh,
[00:31:48] Malaki: [00:31:48] okay. No, not like, and then, um, yeah, I think I was trying to rhyme ath, like I said, it was a poem, but I was trying to rhyme it in the way that he was playing the instrument, [00:32:00] which wasn't working. And he was like, man, just say it, just talk us like you're in front of a therapist and they're asking you how you're feeling and I'm going.
[00:32:07] I want to go backwards. I want to go back to when people out of walk by, you know, it's, it's not, it's, it's more of a conversation with the world and myself rather than me trying to wrap it out and get it as quick as possible. And I think when we finished, I was like, that's it. That's the warm, because I think releasing a first song, especially cause I think a lot of people knew what was open to me and what happened.
[00:32:30] I didn't want it just to be any song. I want it to be a reflection of what I've gone through, what we've gone through and what will, what is to come. And I think once they heard that, I think that was it. Yeah. I think for me, I was like, this is it. This is what I want to do.
[00:32:46] Chris: [00:32:46] It's funny. You say it's like a conversation.
[00:32:48] Cause you know, uh, I'm a massive as, as Matthew Italian, um, hip hop head. And I have been since I was a kid and you know, those Tupac's songs were like some of the initial stuff I would've listened to. And you know, [00:33:00] I think my first CD I ever bought was, um, purple Hills with D 12. Yeah, it got taken off me after about five seconds.
[00:33:10] It wasn't under there. It was still the first thing I bought. Um, but what I, you know, I, I would have always, um, stayed away from Irish. Hip-hop. Irish rap or anything like that. I just couldn't get over the, um, the accidents. And I always thought it was kind of like, you know, the people trying to be American, but what I, the first song I heard from you was paper prophecies.
[00:33:35] So we've a mutual friends. Um, Michael Fitzpatrick, very talented videographer. And he sent me the, the YouTube video. And when I like something, I can't stop looking at it or our, our, um, our listening to it. And I watched the video like five times in a row. And I watched it because like the combination of visuals and your lyrics and [00:34:00] what you were saying, like each, I just felt like you were S you know, I, I resonated with you and I, I felt you were telling the truth and there was a lot of genuine emotion in there.
[00:34:12] And. I just kind of like, fuck, this guy is like, unbelievable. And you, you actually opened the door for me to start looking all your other Irish.
[00:34:21] Malaki: [00:34:21] Yeah. Thank you. Good.
[00:34:23] Chris: [00:34:23] Cause I really, I really just have kind of discounted all your ship off. Like it was just not a thing. And uh, you know, now I've started to find other artists like I'm with love on unbelievable.
[00:34:33] If people hadn't, haven't heard them before and I'm trying to like, you know, create a playlist with, with different artists now. Um, and you have quite a few, few songs in it. Um, but it is that genuine nature of, of your lyrics. I like, um, you know, Lyrica rappers, I like the old school stuff. And when I heard you first.
[00:34:52] Um, they're not gonna blow smoke up your ass here, but doom and law coroner came to mind to kind of like a cone, uh, and [00:35:00] it kind of, you know, how you hit the beach and you know what you're doing with the royalty schemes and stuff. I was like, fuck, I can absolutely listen to this guy. And I really like it.
[00:35:09] So do you, do you, would you classify yourself as a lyricist first and perhaps a rapper second? Um, or how do you look at
[00:35:17] Malaki: [00:35:17] it? Yeah, I think it's a weird woman. Um, I think, you know, just when people ask me, I think it's just easier to just say hip hop artist, um, wrapper. And I like, I'm not a musician because I don't play an instrument per se, but like, I mean, I'm an artist.
[00:35:32] I think I want to take them myself as an artist more than anything, because I don't want to put myself in that box, especially because, I mean, I'm not necessarily your average rapper. I don't want to think of myself as an average hip hop rapper. I'm trying to kind of make my own sound or break boundaries a little bit.
[00:35:47] That's why I love spoken word things. And I like writing poetry and I like. Putting that inside of, uh, your regular hip hop track. Cause it's a little bit different, like you said, it's something you haven't listened to before and it kind of [00:36:00] it's different. Um, so I think when people ask me, I think my go-to thing is just to say wrapper just to make it easier.
[00:36:05] But I mean, I want to be an artist I want to in time, start messing with the boundaries of wa on the laws of what hip hop means to people. I want to, I want to try new things. I maybe start singing like a year or two, who knows, maybe start putting music, star jazz. I don't really care. You know, I'm going to try whatever I can because I don't just love rap.
[00:36:27] I love music. I love creativity. I love ours. That's I'm not in it for rap music. I'm in it for the art, you know, it's more so an expression of my thoughts. Um, not just because I like it fucking biggie, small song. It's like, because I like, I like queen. I like, uh, like old Irish poetry, you know, it's everything, it's an amalgamation of all this art that I've listened to over years.
[00:36:49] What it means to me. So I'm trying to do my own thing with it as much as possible. And I think that's why Matthew is a, is a great friend that advanced a tab because he's a multi-instrumentalist. So it breaks, breaks down the [00:37:00] boundaries of what people think K-pop music is because you hear these instruments that you wouldn't necessarily link to a hip hop song.
[00:37:06] Yeah. I'm like kind of rapping over it. So it was really great to, to work with him. But, um, no, I think, I think an artist thinking artists would be the best thing to call myself.
[00:37:16] Chris: [00:37:16] Yeah. And I think it's that, um, at Genesee or diversity there, like Matthew, I think the, the, the genius of this music is that I know that in the background you have like a very wide, um, eclectic music interest.
[00:37:33] Um, you know, I have one of your playlists on Spotify and it's like, you know, it's wild, you know, there's, there's a spectrum of music there and. Like when we were back and forth on the, you know, the intro, you know, I was spitting out songs and you knew all the songs I was talking about, but when you listen to your own tracks, um, it's much more in the kind of, um, I, I would, I wouldn't want to put it in, but [00:38:00] it's more musical, you know, it's, guitar-based, there's some scenes and stuff in there.
[00:38:05] Um, so do you think the melding of, of that let's say, you know, Matthew, all of your diversity and water you're interested in, does it help you, you and the creative process like you guys are obviously in a room room together? You know, I would imagine Malika comes with, uh, some lyrics are, comes up with them as you're you're together.
[00:38:25] And there's all this stuff firing from, from different angles. So, Matthew, do you think that that helps in the creative process, like you're coming from different worlds almost, and you have different interests and, you know, uh, um, different musical influences. Yeah, it
[00:38:42] Matthew: [00:38:42] definitely does. I think it does help.
[00:38:44] Um, it opens up a load of doors, I think, uh, which can be a bad thing because at the end of the day you have to pick one of the doors and that's kind of yeah. Problem that I run it from the problem that I tend to run in, [00:39:00] I think, um, and it's something that I'm just trying to hone in on is just good.
[00:39:04] Decision-making because it's very easy. I think, to just sit on a load of different ideas, a lot of different songs that sound very different, different kind of loops and stuff and say, okay, this is great. I have all these different ideas, but if you can't form them into something coherent at the end of the day and like actually create something that people want to listen to, then it's useless.
[00:39:26] Really it's it's, there's no point in having it all. So it's, it comes down to decision-making but I think, um, it is, it's definitely been what helped us stand out at the beginning. I think, uh, in terms of like Irish hip hop, it was. It is a lot just, um, very standard kind of UK or American influenced beats.
[00:39:49] Um, and then as you say, the Irish shots I'm coming over, I know there's a lot of kind of drill that's coming in as well. But for us it was, we [00:40:00] allowed each other, a lot of room within our own fields to experiment and make decisions based off of our own tastes. So Hugh, Hugh would kind of be working away on the lyrics and I wouldn't have a huge input on that and I'd just kind of let him go whatever he felt and when it came to the music, um, he didn't really restrict me in terms of if he was on familiar with it.
[00:40:25] He would be very much open to trying it out. And like, I think that like our first, the run of our first five singles. Are all quite different, like very different songs. Um, and it's kind of, you know, there's some kind of soul in there. Some folk, some Indi, um, definitely it's, it's a weird kind of clash backdrop to put, um, the lyrics over.
[00:40:48] But I think it's what helped us stand out at the beginning.
[00:40:51] Chris: [00:40:51] Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Like my, my favorite song of yours Maliki is actually cavalier. I wonder is that, um, your favorite song and in [00:41:00] your mix, but it's, to me it's very like modern hip hoppy. Um, yeah, but it's not the, one of the things you've seen in your music is there's a definite range there, you know, um, there there's a you're I can see that both of you are trying to figure it out, figure out your place, who you are like Matthew, since I've met you you've started three or four different projects, you know, you've just become chameleon.
[00:41:27] Right. Um, and I wanted to understand from you specifically, you, Matthew, is this, uh, you trying to form an identity that you are comfortable with. You know, I would imagine it's very hard for creative souls to put their, you know, the thing they love most, which is, you know, what's come out of them into the world and it almost does it in injustice that people have to hear it.
[00:41:50] No, but it's the best thing about it, but it's also could be the hardest thing about it. Um, so is this you going through a process, Matthew of, you know, finding who you are in that [00:42:00] space and finding what your sound is and what's acceptable to a market, or is it just you basically saying, you know, I want to find something that is, um, congruent with who I am inside that I can reflect in, in my music.
[00:42:13] And, you know, if I put it out there, people can take it for what it is.
[00:42:17] Matthew: [00:42:17] I think it's a little bit of both. Um, I definitely over the last year have kind of come to fully understand. The importance of finding a balance between just purely creating what you want to create and then kind of taking in, uh, outside kind of perspectives and trying to not, not play to, to audiences, but just understand what kind of the reality of the music landscape is around you at the time.
[00:42:55] And then trying to understand how best you can enter it [00:43:00] and, you know, reach people and hopefully move people. And, um, I, I'm definitely really inspired by artists who can kind of do a lot of everything. Um, Donald Glover, childish Gambino being one of the many, um, like he's a great musician writer, actor. He literally does it all.
[00:43:23] And I think it's really inspiring to see. That that is possible. I know that it doesn't always work on, it's probably the minimum of people that can make it work for them, but I have decided to try and to give it my best shot. And I think that is what led me to creating these kinds of different avenues of music.
[00:43:44] So the three that you were talking about, one of them is like dance and, uh, kind of electronic inspired stuff, um, kind of house and like techno influenced. And then the other one [00:44:00] is under my own name, which is kind of more indie folk. And then the chameleon, uh, as well, which you just mentioned is, is a new one, which is more in line with kind of the stuff that I'm making with you.
[00:44:12] And it's more, more kind of beats more focus on production and stuff like that. But I kind of see it as a three headed monster of my character. Um, it kind of allows me to. Um, go back to a time when I was able to create free of having to worry about whether it was going to have a place or, or where I could put a day to.
[00:44:42] Um, because I really don't like feeling constricted by, uh, playing on to people's expectations or like, you know, trying to make decisions based on what people like. So I just decided I have loads of different interests. I can make lots of different genres and I want to be able to do that. I want to be able to wake [00:45:00] up one morning and feel like I want to make folks on, and I want to be able to the next morning to wake up and feel like I want to make a house tune and doing or creating the three, um, is allowing me to do that.
[00:45:13] So hopefully I'm able to keep
[00:45:16] Chris: [00:45:16] them all up. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like it's, it's so it's so important. I think generally for people to just. Try and be themselves, but you're in an industry, unfortunately, where it can be constrictive. You know, from my understanding, I know a few people in the industry, like there are so many people are going to be hanging off E telling you what you should be at what works and what's worked before and what you need to do to get to point B.
[00:45:43] And there's always going to be this interplay between like artistic pride, you know, just being proud in what you're doing and who you are and believing it's true to yourself. And then external validation, you know, you, you live in a world of social media and I don't know how much you, like, if you put up a post, I don't know how hard it is for you not to [00:46:00] look at how many likes you're getting are, how many listens you're getting on Spotify?
[00:46:03] You know, like that must be this difficult thing to wrangle with, um, all of the time. Um, but, uh, before Nolan James in here, I just want to ask one question of you, Matthew, because you released a new song recently called, um, uh, a difficult winter and man, the lyrics, like are. Super powerful. Um, thank you. So like, not only are you a musical, but you know, from a, from a writing perspective, you know, I thought it was very, very powerful.
[00:46:34] And I want to kind of ask you about the song. I haven't talked to you about this specifically, but like, you know, I just want to read the verse here. Uh, I have nothing to say a million ways to say it. I can't write songs for the life of me. So I write them for the last few who sucked the air right out of this room.
[00:46:50] This song sounds like it's like, it's either matter for Arco. Um, and you, you know, it's, it's, you're talking metaphorically about a difficult winter, [00:47:00] winter being a representation of, you know, um, you know, bad times or whatever, or it's figurative and you, you had a difficult winter, you know, did, did you have a difficult winter, figuratively, you know, were you feeling low?
[00:47:12] Um, last year? Um, you know, is it something you'd like to talk about?
[00:47:19] Matthew: [00:47:19] Yeah. Um, it was very difficult. I think figuratively on the. Metaphorically as well. Um, it was a tricky time for everyone. I think it was like, it was really the first, um, winter where everyone was forced inside, forced to not see people.
[00:47:34] They wanted to see. Um, you know, you kind of only realize last winter, how much we rely on meeting up with people in that time, when it gets really dark, really early, it's really cold. Um, and how much you just rely on being inside and stuff like that. And, um, that was very tough. Um, in terms of my mental Headspace, definitely wasn't in a good place either.
[00:47:58] I, it was quite a tricky year, [00:48:00] um, for me on my family. Uh, I lost my mom in February and that winter was kind of the first Christmas time, um, that she wasn't there. So it was very difficult for, for us to come to terms with that I think. And. You know, that paired with the kind of landscape we were facing just really was hard.
[00:48:28] It was hard to work through. And that song, um, came at quite a good time. When I felt that I was struggling with lyrics or struggling with writing music. Um, I was struggling with figuring out how to express myself and I kind of felt that I couldn't figure out how to be genuine in my music or how to not come across as, um, fake, I guess.
[00:48:55] So that song was just me making the decision to really give it [00:49:00] my best shot. And, um, it kind of came from me journaling a little bit, uh, just sitting down one day and just. Writing down all my talks, everything I was thinking about, literally anything at the time, um, everything that was going on. And I just had a big lunch list of notes of sentences and, and random things.
[00:49:20] And as I would ride, I would kind of see comparisons between what I was going through and images, imagery that it could use in eracism. So it was kind of happening at the same time. Um, and I just sat down on my bed with my guitar, which I hadn't done in a very long time. Um, and I just went back to basics and just came up with the guitar line of the chords, came up with the melody and then just picked out the bits of the, of the journaling that I done to kind of create some kind of a collage of, um, emotions and feelings.
[00:49:55] So it could come across it's slightly scattered, but I [00:50:00] think that was the best way to represent the time.
[00:50:02] Chris: [00:50:02] Yeah. It's not scattered at all. And I know it's incredibly powerful and, um, I think understood. I'm so sorry, but your mom and I didn't know that and when we were working together, um, and I think that no, that I understand that, um, it's going to be a little difficult to listen to that song without, uh, being emotionally, you know, because it's very powerful, very, very powerful, and the way you deliver it to, and even the music video, um, you know, it's, uh, a beautiful piece of art and I can say that, um, absolutely, uh, genuinely, you know, um, but you know, in terms of writing and getting that out, I would imagine it's cathartic.
[00:50:41] You know, I don't know, I'm not musical in any way. So I, I have a huge respect for, for people who are artistic in any way, because I'm just not, you know, it's the one thing I I'm of the opinion that we can pretty much learn anything and apply yourselves and, you know, give us enough time and we'll be, um, you know, [00:51:00] relatively good at something in the top decile.
[00:51:02] Okay. But when, in terms of. Your voice or, you know, you know, your, your creativity, creativity might be something practice, but it's not something I could ever learn. Right. Just won't it won't happen. I can't sing well. So I'm never going to fucking be a singer, you know, like there's too much time for me to ever become a good guitarist or whatever, but did you find that process cathartic Matthew for you that did it help you?
[00:51:28] Matthew: [00:51:28] Yeah, it was deeply cathartic. Um, it was kind of the first time in a while in which I was able to write about an immediate experience. Um, you know, rather than trying to reach back into the past and write about something from the past, or kind of imagine a scenario and I kind of realized just how comforting it is to be able to represent, represents something, um, that's going on in your life, honestly, [00:52:00] and to, uh, be committed to.
[00:52:04] Just representing it truthfully, I guess, and putting that out, um, it was in terms of release I've done before. It was definitely one where I was kind of less worried about perceptions or what people were going to say. It wasn't really something that I was putting out to say, okay, this is me starting a new image, or like, okay, this is the first single everyone makes sure you're listening.
[00:52:28] Uh, it was just, this is just what I wanted to say at the time. And I wanted to make a video that I thought would be powerful to go with it. Um, and I think that inevitably led to a really good response from people and people were very open to it and it kind of naturally played out quite well. Um, but it was, it was very cathartic and it was a big learning experience for me because it's kind of taught me different ways to write and [00:53:00] approach subject matter.
[00:53:01] Chris: [00:53:01] Are you truly yours? Yeah.
[00:53:03] Noel: [00:53:03] Sorry, are you noticing, I suppose from that and you'd see this and I suppose I'd see this and, um, lots of different, whether it's sports, whether it's music, whatever it is. Um, obviously something big happened to you that just said, don't mind the mind, the noise, the mind, the pressure, the mind, the expectation of anyone else, like what do you want to do?
[00:53:25] And you did what you want to do. Have you seen that follow on since then, w with all the stuff that you're not just the music that you've worked with, which is the way you're being of thought that, which is very, it can be very difficult to get. And sometimes quite more often than not, I would see that we work towards that of being who we want to be like, this is the way I want to do it.
[00:53:48] So I'm going to do it. But there are other times when significant life events happen to us where it's like, we wake up one day kind of thing. And we said, right, this is what I'm going to fucking do. Um, have you seen that then follow on with the rest of your [00:54:00] music? Do you think.
[00:54:02] Matthew: [00:54:02] Or, uh,
[00:54:03] Noel: [00:54:03] and then into your laces now I'm going to be who I want to be.
[00:54:06] Um, this is what I like. So I'm going to deal with,
[00:54:11] Matthew: [00:54:11] yeah, definitely 100%. I think it kind of gave me clarity in terms of what it wants to do. And it was around that time that I decided to, um, set up the chameleon project. So, um, it opened the door to, or I guess it was an, it was an exercise in blindly committing to a gut feeling or an instinct that you have in terms of what you want to do and not really caring about the results.
[00:54:47] And that exercise showed me that it was possible and not, it was kind of the best thing to do. Um, it's. I would, I would say that it's, uh, a difficult [00:55:00] thing to carry into your everyday life. Um, it's very easy to go from that experience and to be instantly whipped up and the kind of, uh, distractions of life and social media and stuff like that.
[00:55:14] And there's just so much going on that it's very, like, everything's very busy and you really need to check in on yourself a lot to, um, remind yourself about why you're doing what you're doing and, and just recenter yourself in terms of where you're putting your focus. Um, but it was a pivotal moment and it was a necessary moment for me to go forward with music on my life.
[00:55:41] I think. Yeah.
[00:55:42] Noel: [00:55:42] I think it's a great thing that you're able to use that like, like I said, it doesn't, it has, of course it's harder to do it in everyday life. I just wondered if it was kind of, if it had seeped into that, but in some smaller ways that can be the Genesis of ours and then slowly but surely there's a shift as a kind of that's where [00:56:00] your path could've gone.
[00:56:00] Right. You've put your talk the left. And, um, I suppose, especially for,
[00:56:06] Matthew: [00:56:06] um,
[00:56:08] Noel: [00:56:08] I was going to say kids, but I'm really old, whatever Chris is all the new, I'm really older than you. So I'm going to say it's no disrespect, no young adults, young men, teens, people that would look up to years. I think you're, you're fantastic to have on the shelf to look at and kind of button, as I say that, I'd say, don't mind that you're up on a shelf.
[00:56:27] If you're not on a shelf, you do, do you just keep doing what you're doing, what you're doing and doing your own thing. Cause I think that's important. Um, but it's. It's fine. And friend groups, and just come back to what you were saying earlier, but finding friend groups and the facilitator, I always talk about quality connections and, you know, we'd have friendships where I have lots of connections.
[00:56:45] I was like, yeah, but what's the quality of those connections like, and Marty, you were talking about earlier about masculinity and then, and, and Monica, you were talking then about, um, the different kinds of music, such a musics music that you liked, the [00:57:00] genres and different stuff like that. But the principle for me was the exact same there.
[00:57:03] And you, and you actually said the exact word Marty, that I was going to say was, the doors are open. There was just open doors there and go on through them, go off from walk and have a look, have a nose around. Do you like that word? And I will go have a look. I think that's a great thing to be able to have, um, And then it comes back to that, that you're just open to it.
[00:57:21] Like I was listening to the music today and I think from a young age when people say, Oh, what kind of music genre is it like fucking no it's music, you know, we've, we've had, um, Dave moron who like, who was Madden to end sync, but also, you know, I think he picks, he picks and sync a gig over the head, like a D a heavy metal band.
[00:57:40] I know it was, it was it wasn't Metallica actually anyway. Yeah. Like compare it. And that's what I loved that kind of stuff, because it's just what you like. I like music and, and that can transfer into every part of your life then. And just on that, was it hard or has it been hard to kind of [00:58:00] push away from the pressures, whether it's external?
[00:58:02] I don't know, but the pressures was the pressures within each of you, um, to, to keep doing what you want to do. And this is what I want to do. So I'm going to do it.
[00:58:19] Malaki: [00:58:19] I don't know. I think, I think music for me, I didn't come from a musical background at all. I very much had to make my own musical journey with a lot of influence from my brother, I think because he was a massive hip hop head and used to show me your tribe called quest and NAS. I took so much influence from them.
[00:58:40] So I think what I, my brother, I may not have got into rap as much, or maybe later in my life book, like Matthew comes from a very musical background. He plays a hate Brown instruments. I was very, was just a journal and a pen. You know what I mean? That was my instrument, I suppose. Um, I don't know. I think, uh, I think there was a few [00:59:00] pivotal moments for me, musically that made me do it.
[00:59:03] I think a lot of it was like the deterioration of my mental health and using it as pet therapy. There was also seeing a lower coroner concert live in the book factory in 2017. That was almost like a, it was like that time. There's a word for like, when it's almost like God coming down from having what's that word to describe that it's a Mo a moment when it's almost like divine intervention.
[00:59:29] Thank you. It was almost like, it seems a bit extreme to describe it like that book, everyone, the crowd was jumping leaping and hopping into each other and Marsh pits and stuff where I was stood static does directly staring at him. And, um, that was another moment that I said, that's what I want to do. It was, it was, it was weird for me.
[00:59:48] You know, it was a few things in my life that made me want to do this. I think more and more as I am starting to mature around 1920, 21. And I just wanted it [01:00:00] even more and more when I heard the response from people and the respect it was getting purely because it was just showing such a vulnerable side to me and to man, which not a lot of people would talk about.
[01:00:11] And I, the way I was able to. Do it with music and allow it to be listened to on like a national then eventually an international level was insane that people are hearing about my struggles and like taking respect in it and finding their own solace within that. I was, I mean, you're not, you're obviously going to feel great about that, you know, and I don't even maybe want to do it more on a, on Marty probably got dry because once we got the better, the better it did, the more I wanted to make music.
[01:00:36] And then, uh, what, you know, he's in college and I'm not. So he had to find that balance. Whereas I was just like writing every single day and coming in some way, coming to him with new, new versus new new ideas. Um, but yeah, we all kind of did it our own time, but for me it was, I think when people kind of the response from people was really what made me do better and get better, you know,
[01:01:01] [01:01:00] Chris: [01:01:01] I think, um, in your lyrics I've encountered.
[01:01:04] Um, and I understand from the way you, um, You write that you've had your own struggles Maliki, and you refer to sertraline a few times. There's a line in paper prophecies about, um, stress. I try and remember it.
[01:01:23] Malaki: [01:01:23] That suppress stress. I would bathe in it, lay it as comfortably milk
[01:01:28] Chris: [01:01:28] waterline. Okay. So it's it's is it fair to say that
[01:01:34] Noel: [01:01:34] he said this is not Chris, but I'm going to go ahead.
[01:01:38] Matthew: [01:01:38] Fuck up
[01:01:40] Chris: [01:01:40] to say that, uh, you, you have had your own metaphorical difficult winter Matthew. Um, and can you tell us a little bit about if you did
[01:01:51] Malaki: [01:01:51] for me? Yeah. Did I have my own side? I say that again. I have my own,
[01:01:55] Chris: [01:01:55] I said, did you have your own kind of metaphorical difficult winter? Did you have your own struggles with mental
[01:01:59] Malaki: [01:01:59] health?
[01:02:00] [01:02:00] Hey, yeah. I mean, I think not use as kind of, like you said, more focused on around that time. Um, For me, it's been a long-term thing. I don't know, in the light. Well not, I mean, not until I turned 19, I think I started taking antidepressants in 18 and then 19, nothing got better at 20. I just got progressively worse and worse.
[01:02:22] So it wasn't so much of like, uh, you know, I think we all kind of struggle in our own way, shape or form, but for me it was like two or three years of just in like this bottomless pace and I wasn't getting out of it. And it was, it was pretty tough, you know, I think as a young kid trying to figure himself out, and the only thing I kind of had was the pen and pad, like I said, because, uh, when it was at its worst, I felt I didn't really have any mates, concerns, my friends, my family as well.
[01:02:51] And you know, my only friend was like the people in the center, which I went, it was a good day therapy. I went to every day. [01:03:00] And it was funny because I did demographic was, was EV like I was the youngest, I was 18 there, but there was a 65 year old woman, you know, there was people in their forties, there was multicultural.
[01:03:09] It was amazing. It was really cool. It gave you a really good perception of not, uh, not only you going through this. So it was really great for that, but like, they were my only friends, you know, I'd go and get a chicken roll with 50 year old Mark. And we'd all, we just talk about our feelings. It was really weird, you know, that, that was the only, at the time I felt I had the friend, but like, obviously I'd Matthew and stuff, book.
[01:03:28] There's a lot of stuff you'd like to keep to yourself. And I think only in that environment, I can really talk about us and the more I got over it, the more I was vocal about it. Um, but for a long while, it was very much pen and paper use that as my therapy go to Matthew, uh, come up with the ideas, release it.
[01:03:48] And then when people listen to it, like, I always say, you know, if they are getting their own therapy from it or they're getting their own. As some, like finding their solace within my music and my struggles. That's, that's just a massive [01:04:00] bonus for me. You know, it's something that I really take pride in because I used it as my form of therapy.
[01:04:04] And then when people feel some sort of, um, you know, positivity from, or just comfortable in hearing my lyrics and my struggles and they say, you know, like I felt that as well, it's a massive bonus for me. I love it. I love it. It's really why I started it, you know? Hmm.
[01:04:19] Chris: [01:04:19] Yes. Do you feel that, um, from your experience that you have, um, Developed an awareness or developed a toolkit or, you know, how do you maintain a kind of a sense of equilibrium now?
[01:04:33] Um, because, you know, from my experience of, uh, depression goes up and down, you know, you can't of, but some days you feel good, you know, three or four days you feel terrible. Um, but I have different techniques I'd like to use to, to, to help me. Is music your only restbite or do you have other things that you do?
[01:04:51] Malaki: [01:04:51] Yeah, I mean, it used to just be music. Um, you know, I'd always pride myself on like talking, but, you know, there's some days we don't want to [01:05:00] talk and we let it eat it off, eat us off. And, you know, at one stage I kind of just allowed us, you know, you just get, as I said, in paper prophecies comfortably, and I think that's an, a pink Floyd lyric as well, you know, where it took reference.
[01:05:13] Just comfortably normal. And w we get so comfortable with these feelings, and I've always been someone like you got to talk, you've got to let your emotions out, rely on your friends, but you don't want to be a burden as well at the same time. And I think for me, that was a big thing. I think the more people knew about my struggles, the less I wanted to talk about.
[01:05:31] So I was happy that they aware of it, but I just didn't want to annoy people, you know? And that was a huge thing because I think at our age, so many kids, so many kids are struggling and it's hard to find that balance sport for a long time. It was just a pen and pad, you know, but I loved it. You know, I didn't really need anyone else.
[01:05:51] Once I was just in that space, it was all Anita. And, you know, if I didn't have the domain not have been a Maliki, you know, I've said numerous times, [01:06:00] Bata key has saved my life. Um, But I don't know what I'd be doing. I'd probably still be scanning, barcodes inspire, and I would have hated myself, you know, next, please.
[01:06:09] Like I wanted out of it. Shit. You know, now I'm shouting to hundreds of people in, in, in, uh, on stage, you know, it's a, it's a weird feeling of, um, it is a weird feeling, but, uh, I think now I can say I I've come to terms with how much of myself I want to allow people to know about, you know, what I listened to music.
[01:06:29] And, uh, I think I've found a balance somewhat, but also bearing in mind other people's feelings, you know? Cause I was someone that was really struggling. People are aware of that, but I think when you, when you go through it, you, you then see had hard times, you know, I think, I think it's just trying to find a band it's like, we always kinda, you know, but, uh, when you're in that moment, it's kind of easy to get stuck in your selfish ways and only really care about how you're feeling.
[01:06:54] So it's easy to lock yourself away, put out. You know, it all comes down to just talking about [01:07:00] thankfully like myself and Matthew have went through shit together. So there's not really anything we wouldn't talk about unless we're not comfortable with it, but, you know, we would have that chat. Um, which is very, I was something I always took.
[01:07:13] Uh, I admired about my you, because we, we, before we started music, we would have a chess. And that was really important for us. Yeah, no, it wasn't just straight in. It was how are you first have you feeling? And, uh, you know, it definitely impacted the music in a positive way because when I would talk about some of the lyrics, it it'd be weird for me to come out with a song, no paper prophecies with that much like vulnerable, really within the lyrics.
[01:07:40] And then now talk about it after it would be a bit like awkward, like, right. You've just sparked that into a microphone, but you can't say it to me. It would have been like what's going on there. So it was really good that we were able to have those that's before realize how we're feeling as humans and then go into that kind of artistry that you had.
[01:07:58] See what comes out,
[01:07:59] Noel: [01:07:59] I think by [01:08:00] talking about us, like, it's the, it's the mix of both there. Yes, it is. It's important to talk. Look, of course, I'm going to say that I'm a therapist it's, it's, you know, kind of calls with the child and it goes with the life. But I think a big part of it as well is, and this is isn't that I kind of learned of, of trying to fix and whatever.
[01:08:18] So for myself and my own stuff, um, was just actually being able to set. With the emotion I feel share today. Oh, okay. You know, we don't have to change it or anything like that. Just accept. And that's biggest things for me would say my own depression and anxieties was that I had to try and fix it. And then when they'd come back, like, Oh fuck, they're back again.
[01:08:35] I'm never going to be able to fix them. And I realized for me, that's why like I embrace was the big word for me. And that's, uh, in my work that I often talk about it and use the phrase, the importance of being able to accept that and embrace these things, you know, that the harsh way to say it is just get on with it.
[01:08:51] But, uh, I don't really go along that way. I think it, yes, it's great to talk and it is important to talk about it. And it was a really good point. You made there a molecule [01:09:00] of saying, you know, people are aware of it, aware about it and we can't because we can't get a bit kind of tired of talking about it because it can be kind of heavy.
[01:09:09] Um, but it's great to be able to kind of go do you know, it's, it's, it's heavy, but I'm okay. And I'm comfortable sitting in that uncomfortable SRM comfortably norm, but. Not in a negative way, in a really useful way, because especially then, like if you're a musician or artist, whatever that art is, um, across all genres of art, you can use that you can harness it.
[01:09:33] And I think that's really important. That's fantastic. That's killed to hear you just kind of say to have the chat, um, just beforehand, because that's a perfect example of, but getting it out there, we're both on the same page. So let's, let's harness that. And, and the, you think that, you know, we we've talked about flow and other times before, and, and, um, you know, do you think that helps you find a flow or get into some sort of creative flow with each other?
[01:10:03] [01:10:00] Malaki: [01:10:03] Yeah, I think it's really important to create a comfortable environment because. Especially, because it was very much like it was a motto like music room, we call it, it wasn't a studio, you know, the walls were covered in board games. And like, there was a drum set in the back toys on the floor and a box of costumes and weeks, you know, so it was a weird environment, but we w you know, and obviously I'm going to grab a wig and start spitting some buyers.
[01:10:27] Cause I've just, well, you know, it was, we definitely created a comfortable environment for us. There was, it was a place of non-judgment. You can say what you like in that space, and there'll be no sort of jokes, but, you know, I think that was really important for us and whatever you want to say, just get it out.
[01:10:47] It was really cool. You know, I'm glad it was in that space and not spend a couple of hundred year old at a studio because. It makes things you're under time pressure. You're aware of the money and you're also just nervous, but like I knew [01:11:00] if I wanted to, I could go outside and take a piss or make a bagel, or I got a glass of water.
[01:11:04] It was, it was this home homely feeling what, even though it wasn't even in my house. And that's when I got really close with his family and his dog and stuff, you know, and it was, it was really nice because there was no restrictions. It just felt like making music, you know, it was really comfortable,
[01:11:22] Noel: [01:11:22] but, and that's it, it's not just about kind of, okay, what can I do or sorry, big say, right.
[01:11:28] I realized I needed to accept and embrace these feelings and this what was going on, but that's only half the kind of battle, not even half the button. I think that the majority of the butterflies were okay, what are you going to do to make that happen? It was like, no, they need to do this. And it's. So by, by creating that flow that comes from you facilitate that again.
[01:11:49] It's all about facilitation throughout this and through life. It's about facilitation. I get you each facilitated. It, you've both facilitated each other to grow and to flow. You [01:12:00] know, you for your friend groups, facility, Matthew will you, you spoke about kind of coming from secondary school and then into the different friend groups, they facilitated you to grow and, and, and kind of vice versa, but it's, I think that's a massively important part to, if you want to do something, it's like, okay, this is what I identify.
[01:12:16] What I want to do is you guys wants to make great music together. Um, and then it's doing the things to help do that main thing. If that makes sense. I think it's
[01:12:29] Chris: [01:12:29] super important. Malika who's Calavera.
[01:12:33] Malaki: [01:12:33] Ah, good question. Eh, Calvera is my alter ego that will be coming out. Um, I've enjoyed, I've introduced him as a new character, a new role within my music, and you can see it being repeated in the first video of me being beaten from an outside. Uh, it's outside the frame.
[01:12:51] There's faces slap coming in. It's basically me being beaten into this character. It's basically a personification of all these negative emotions. I felt over the last [01:13:00] few years, not as that represented the type of music I'm making. So I've always had an interest in alter egos and different personalities.
[01:13:09] I think what MF doom, you know, he has about four or five different alter ego. And with that, it's a different style of how he would speak, how we would act and the character he wants to get across. So mean M and M husband, you know, there's martial matters. There's there's, uh, M and M and then his own Stan, isn't it or slim?
[01:13:29] Shady. I mean, and so it's something I've always had an interest in. Alvero was now my alter ego. So expect to see a lot of weird stuff over the next while. Um,
[01:13:40] Chris: [01:13:40] but I think, I think it's, I'm sorry,
[01:13:43] Malaki: [01:13:43] go ahead. Yeah, it's always my, I think it's my favorite work I've done today. You know, I think I was over somewhere, me and Matthew kind of, I was away for a while and I had a lot of time to think a lot of time to think about myself.
[01:13:54] Cause you know, we would work together and I kinda just conceptualize these ideas in my own time. And then when [01:14:00] I, uh, shown them to Matthew, he loved it. And you know, we just like, we would always respect each other's opinion and advice. And so I told them about it and uh, we've just been working away and at the last wall and I'm really excited to put it out there because I think it's the only time it's, I don't think any older artists than, and at the moment it's definitely not hip hop.
[01:14:18] Artists has done this kind of alter ego kind of thing. And it's always about an interest in, they know the theatrical pelvis. And so for like performances and stuff, like I'll be wearing the suits. We won't have the full face of makeup, the gold tooth and the black slits in my eyes. You know, I really, I really liked taking it that step further and doing these performance pieces, you know,
[01:14:38] Noel: [01:14:38] To get to get that part of your cross.
[01:14:40] Like you think of Bowie and keep it a ton of music is hard, all these different kind of ways, but it's a fantastic, it's almost kind of like you're giving yourself permission. It's like, there might be an element of, of Hugh that's I'm a bit afraid to do so it's like, okay, I'll do that again. It's that?
[01:14:54] It's this, what do you want to do here? I want to, I want to go here with this. I was like, okay, welcome. What do [01:15:00] we need to do to make that happen? And it's not, it's a cool thing to do to
[01:15:04] Malaki: [01:15:04] cover. We'll take the reins, like, you know, let him do his own thing. Yeah. He'll look
[01:15:07] Noel: [01:15:07] after me.
[01:15:27] Dan: [01:15:27] All right.
[01:15:32] Yeah.
[01:15:47] Malaki: [01:15:47] Exactly.
[01:15:54] Yeah. I'd say that's it. Yeah.
[01:15:58] Chris: [01:15:58] Calavera, give you an [01:16:00] opportunity, uh, Maliki to perhaps, um, is it like a safe space for you to, to express yourself? I always wonder this about artists that changed their names. Um, and I always wonder do they do that because they embody, um, like a representation of, you know, I remember being 21 or 22 in college and listen to a Joe Rogan podcast where he talked about, um, imagining the hero that you'd like to be in playing the hero in your own movie.
[01:16:28] And that always struck me for you. Cause it was the first time I thought about, Oh fuck. You know, I can actually kind of like manifest this into existence. If I want, like I can play the person I want to be. Do you think that like, you know, your alter ego is quote unquote, give you that option?
[01:16:42] Malaki: [01:16:42] Definitely.
[01:16:42] Yeah. I'm really excited to be the villain, you know, and I'm really excited. I love it. You know, I think I've always had an interest in the antagonist of the story. You know, like his, his, his role is just to create chaos in every way, shape or form. And I think, [01:17:00] and I've, I've, I, I'm a nice soul and I'm a caring person.
[01:17:05] I'm a friendly person, but you know, I think everyone has that little bit of crazy inside them. And it's matter of time when it comes out and, uh, maybe just little minuscule things you see, maybe like someone pushes you and you see their teeth grind a little bit. Or maybe just if they finish their finishing an exam late and they throw the paper in there.
[01:17:22] I think everyone has these little manic episodes. And build bits in their life that they just want to go crazy and they want them they're these Butler up emotions and release them. And I think for me, Calvera with that character, a, like I said, it's personifying all these negative and chaotic emotions, which I felt, and we've got like, we've got a music video coming out on the seventh, which is called Dublin's burning, which I haven't actually released the title of the album.
[01:17:49] It's called Dublin's burning and exclusive. Yeah. If you watch that on the 7th of May wait. Yeah. And on the 7th of May. So if you [01:18:00] watch that video on YouTube, you will get an idea of what this character is like. He's erotic, he's crazy, but he's also very comfortable and his motions can switch like that. So it's something, I think only I touched on with paper prophecies when performing that and call us by our names.
[01:18:16] When I perform those two songs live back in the day, there was a different side of me that came out. Then doing cup of tea, cup of tea was very jolly and happy and, you know, big smoke rise into this. And it was fun, but caught us by names and paper prophecies. I would go into this space and it was almost like this comfortable anger, and it allowed me to express those feelings and show to the microphone.
[01:18:42] And I grab people off stage and look them in the eyes. I re I've always loved that kind of thing. You know, it's just raw emotion. And I think we're, calvarial, it's out, it's raw. Um, so I'm excited to see what people think.
[01:18:54] Noel: [01:18:54] Usually important thing that I'd see Como for a lot of people and myself included is that there's, [01:19:00] I'm put on this note, I'm a nice person.
[01:19:02] And then there's our angry, that's something. And like emotions are dare to there to tell us what's going on. Like if it usually, if we're frustrated, it means we haven't been heard or listened to if we're angry, it's because we've been wronged in some way. And, and we deny ourselves so much. There's anger, there's frustration there for years, but by the sounds of it, there was.
[01:19:21] No, I'm lucky you weren't, you didn't feel heard. And then I didn't know. Maybe I screwed myself over someone screwed me over and on, but I think it's important that we facilitate that because if we don't, if it's like, we deny ourselves those feelings, so that they're going to come off, you can be sure as hell they're going to come up.
[01:19:39] I'm sure now. And so if we can, if we can harness them, you can, some good can come from that. Uh, lots of good can come from those things, but it's great to be able to are actually like, what, what was that like for you kind of the mixed message, like the, the confusion there, because I know that's such a common thing, especially around the kind of late teens, early twenties.
[01:19:59] Cause all of [01:20:00] these emotions and moods are still kind of going on and then the brain is developing a little bit more. So what was that like for your boat? Um, To, to kind of, to be happy. And one, side's kind of, to be maybe sad on the other to be angry. Another part of you, what, what was that like for you is, was, or did you even understand that at the time?
[01:20:19] And maybe understand it more now?
[01:20:25] Malaki: [01:20:25] I don't know. I think it's a constant, constant struggle, you know, I don't, um, I was, I was good at dealing my emotions, but like I said, when I was younger, I kind of just was me. I didn't like if I was happy, I was happy if I was sad, I'm sad, but I was always a very happy go lucky kid, you know? So I never really felt those emotions until around 18 or 19 when I started getting anxious and then eventually depressed.
[01:20:47] But I dunno, it's a, it's a weird, like you said, it's just, you're, you're constantly figuring out what I think. What about you want to
[01:20:56] Matthew: [01:20:56] yeah, the same really? I think like, it [01:21:00] is so common for both of us to have ups and downs. And I think, um, the best thing that you can do in either scenario is just to.
[01:21:09] Experiment with different ways of dealing with both of those motions and unkind of harnessing, no more trying out different things that you think could help. Um, not just, not just like sitting in it or being frustrated at the fact that you're frustrated, just like saying, OK, I'm frustrated or I'm angry or I'm low.
[01:21:29] Like what hasn't worked before, what have I not tried? Like what, what can I do to help the situation? Yeah,
[01:21:38] Chris: [01:21:38] yeah. Last personalities or, you know, multifarious and multi-dimensional, and there's whole psychological theories and schools around this whole thing around, you know, the shadow archetypes and different archetypes and whatever.
[01:21:50] So by doing that in embracing it, you know, I think you're gonna find a lot of Catholicism and I think you're gonna find a lot of release and you know, most people in their lives never. [01:22:00] Uh, engage with their shadow personality, the part of themselves that they perhaps don't like, or the chaotic parents that they want to suppress.
[01:22:07] Um, but we are kind of approaching the, um, our 30 Mark here now. And we want to kind of normally finish up around 90 minutes. So I want to ask you both, um, I feel it's, um, something that would be very important for you in your lives going forward. Um, because ultimately we have to be, we all have to define our own version of what success is and what success is not right.
[01:22:29] Otherwise, if we don't define it, you know, fate and other people will determine for us, um, what it means. So do you both have your own interpretation of what success means for you and your futures? Um, and w would you like to tell us what that is?
[01:22:44] Dan: [01:22:44] Cool.
[01:22:45] Malaki: [01:22:45] I think you're setting yourself. Yeah. Tough one, a tough one.
[01:22:51] I don't know. Um, I think I, the last while people have come up to me, you know, as things are kind of progressing. And we're kind of getting a little bit more out there. [01:23:00] People are like, Oh, you're going to be famous. Oh, come. And I'm just like, you know, that's never been the goal for me. A definitely not. I think, depending on how successful you gassed inevitably, that is how it works, depending on how much you want to show of yourself.
[01:23:15] Of course. But to the public book, I don't think success for me was that, eh, a thing of like object or, or, or like, you know, a physical truth things. It's more success with my feelings around myself. I think being a successful artist and being successful, successful person, I would treat my friends and my family, um, and how I treat myself, you know, it's, it's a constant battle, but I, I really just I'd love to be in a place.
[01:23:52] I think I said this with Lucy Mateo at the start of our career where. We can be in a comfortable space with each other. We can talk if we want, we [01:24:00] can have fun and we can create beautiful music and memories. I think DOD is success in my eyes. I don't think it's one thing or one tray or one physical attribute that we have.
[01:24:09] I think it's kind of an amalgamation of success with relationships and friendships have always just been such a, my life has always been so open down in the last one. I think as a kid, I never really taught about much, except just to have them full of, and we're at this stage in our life now where we kind of have to think about these kinds of things, which is, you know, it's shit in one way, but it's good.
[01:24:34] Cause I mean, we're growing up army and we all have to book. I think I'm just excited for the future. I think I'm the closer I got with Matthew. It makes me more and more excited. The more people that are listening to the music, I just, I can't wait to see what the future holds and I guess we'll see, I guess we'll see, but I'm not stopping anytime soon.
[01:24:54] So. Expect a lot more things, I suppose.
[01:24:58] Matthew: [01:24:58] Yeah, I think, um, [01:25:00] yeah, I think what you said as well, but uh, for me, it's like, like my idea of success changes all the time. Like if I asked myself three years ago, what I thought I'd wanted to do is probably to be a filmmaker and that's completely changed. So I I've just opened myself up to the possibility of not having a clue where I'm going to be in 10, 20 years to be honest.
[01:25:21] But I really am someone who does not like to be stagnant. Um, I want to be excited by things all the time. I want to feel like I'm running toward things, building up to things. Um, I think I'm the type of person that like, if I hit one good marker or have one small success, I'm going to instantly want to move on to the next thing.
[01:25:44] Um, but I think in general, I'd just love to be able to have music be a part of my life and, and be able to be. Have a, have a comfortable life from that. Um, have [01:26:00] creativity remain a huge part of my life and, um, be committed to trying to make that work? Uh, no matter what. So yeah, I think that's,
[01:26:15] Chris: [01:26:15] um, with timestamp this, right, when board a viewer going down the graph, the street, or on the street in your Lambos,
[01:26:25] Tanner notes out the window, hanging around, hanging around with Conor McGregor, you'd be like, yeah. You know, we don't care about the success of the money fucking balling down the street then 10 years time. But one thing I say to you both is the reason I asked that question is not because I, you know, um, I'm trying to envision success, you know, classical success for you, you know, a joking about the fucking Lambos.
[01:26:49] What I'm trying to ask there is not I'm trying to display to you is you can define your own version of success. You know, you can define your own version of [01:27:00] retirement. You know, for me, people always ask my job as an investor. And I always joke about retiring by 35. And what I mean when I say that is when I wake up in the morning.
[01:27:12] If I feel like working then I'll work. And if I don't feel like working, then I won't work. That's my definition of retirement. It doesn't mean I'll stop working, you know, to work for me is something that I enjoy doing and I want to enjoy doing and equally for you, success would be whatever the hell you want it to be.
[01:27:27] You know, Matthew, if you say like, I want to have music in my life, then, you know, write that down somewhere, you know, use this as a timestamp and come back and go, okay. You know, this was my core value. When I started, there's an absolutely that I can change and will transition over time. Right. But as long as you can find congruence with what, you know, your, if your actions or behaviors are matching, how you feel about it, Um, how you feel about it, not how everyone else wants you to be that I'm sure that that would be your version of success and equally for you Maliki, you know, it is, if it's, you know, people are going to try and hamper all of the stuff with Calvera and all the different things, and you guys [01:28:00] are, I would see as holistic artists where you it's the videography and the music and the lyrics, and it's all encompassing.
[01:28:08] And sometimes in the world of music, they kind of like want to drill you into one narrow niche and you've got to do this and you got to find your audience and, you know, a thousand true fans and all the bullshit. Everyone will tell you about marketing. Um, but you know, that might not be your version of success.
[01:28:22] So I'm hoping that in your futures, you both have the courage and the, um, let's say the mental fortitude and resilience to be able to go, yeah, we are going to define our own fucking version of success and it might not be Lambos, but if it is a Lambo, just make sure it, give me a call. I'd like to get a spin, get a spin.
[01:28:40] Yeah. But we, we always finish up with what we call the quick fire round. Yeah, and people never really fucking answer it in the time allotment, bro. I'll tell you anyway, it's 45 seconds or less. You're going to answer the questions of the two of you. So the way we'll do it is I'd ask the question. Monica, you answer first and Matthew, you, you get an [01:29:00] extra couple of seconds to think of a good answer.
[01:29:01] So they better be fucking good. You both ready
[01:29:09] Dan: [01:29:09] around the book?
[01:29:12] 10
[01:29:13] Malaki: [01:29:13] questions. Come on five seconds on the clock. We already know y'all need quick questions. Come on, pick up.
[01:29:22] Chris: [01:29:22] So question one. What is the last YouTube video or piece of content you shared with someone
[01:29:28] Malaki: [01:29:28] and how did Mark Miller make circles?
[01:29:34] Matthew: [01:29:34] Oh, mine was a video essay as well about why the most recent arts at monkeys album is a masterpiece.
[01:29:41] Chris: [01:29:41] Okay. Exact
[01:29:42] Noel: [01:29:42] same thing. Do I just
[01:29:43] Chris: [01:29:43] watch that quick question to desert Island discs? What album would you bring? If you could only bring one album with you, you're going to be stranded on a desert Island for the rest of your life. You got to listen to this thing over and over. What would it be?
[01:29:57] Malaki: [01:29:57] King cruel, six feet beneath the moon
[01:30:00] [01:29:59] Matthew: [01:29:59] at Bonnie.
[01:30:00] Very 22 million.
[01:30:02] Chris: [01:30:02] Okay. Question three backstage. What are your writer? Requests?
[01:30:09] Malaki: [01:30:09] A therapist, a bottle of water. And, uh, my mom,
[01:30:16] Matthew: [01:30:16] uh, I'm going to go for a load of sweets, snacks, cookies, Christmas chocolate based goods. And
[01:30:26] Chris: [01:30:26] what is deep and what is sweet? Uh, or sorry, question for name something weird or absurd that you love
[01:30:36] Dan: [01:30:36] them.
[01:30:45] Malaki: [01:30:45] Pogo sticks,
[01:30:46] Chris: [01:30:46] train journeys, long train journeys as well. I fucking love them. There you go. It is very weird. I take the train to read on the train. I just find it so fucking peaceful. I dunno.
[01:31:01] [01:31:00] Matthew: [01:31:01] Yeah, that's true. That's true. Longer-term journeys is more in line about a second
[01:31:09] Chris: [01:31:09] name. Something that you couldn't live without
[01:31:13] Malaki: [01:31:13] music, you know? Yeah.
[01:31:17] Matthew: [01:31:17] Yeah.
[01:31:17] Malaki: [01:31:17] It's a good,
[01:31:20] Dan: [01:31:20] uh, ice cream.
[01:31:26] Malaki: [01:31:26] Six years later, it was like the flavor of ice cream ice cream.
[01:31:33] Chris: [01:31:33] All right. Question six. If you were the last person on earth, why would
[01:31:38] Matthew: [01:31:38] you still do,
[01:31:46] Malaki: [01:31:46] uh, immature minds here popping up? And
[01:31:52] I suppose I think I think of his last, I think go for ruins. If I was the last person I'd go for runs, like [01:32:00] see what the crack is with the rest of the world. This dystopia start roaming around like a bit of, I am legend vibes with my dogs. Just run around. I
[01:32:07] Matthew: [01:32:07] give you an hour in the car, but I don't know how to drive because no one's around.
[01:32:12] So I'd just
[01:32:13] Dan: [01:32:13] drive.
[01:32:16] Chris: [01:32:16] All right. Um, if you could broadcast a message to everyone on earth, what would it be?
[01:32:21] Malaki: [01:32:21] Um, 10 or
[01:32:28] Dan: [01:32:28] a
[01:32:39] Malaki: [01:32:39] bit more PG. Oh God, I don't know. Smile more
[01:32:45] Matthew: [01:32:45] drink water
[01:32:53] Chris: [01:32:53] question eight. What advice should young people ignore
[01:32:58] Malaki: [01:32:58] egg? Go to college right after [01:33:00] school. Fuck that man. Take a year out.
[01:33:03] Matthew: [01:33:03] I actually back out.
[01:33:06] Malaki: [01:33:06] No. I said social constructs and do make your own pods.
[01:33:18] Matthew: [01:33:18] Uh, you're doing better than you think you are. Ooh deep.
[01:33:24] Chris: [01:33:24] That's the first deep answer. No, from Matthew. Well, okay. Question nine. If you feel overwhelmed, what do you instinctively do?
[01:33:33] Malaki: [01:33:33] I think I, this was embedded into me by like the therapist I used to see. It's literally just breathe and walk away from the, the environment that is causing that stress a day.
[01:33:42] Just breathe very much. Just go to a safe place and start breathing into your nose, into your mouth. I used to think that was obviously bollocks. I think when people would say that to me, just take a breath in through your nose, out through your mouth. I was like hanging out about like, what's that going to do for me?
[01:33:55] No touch. It helps. Like if you do the day, like a hot, a little [01:34:00] bit of a panic, and I literally just started breathing and relaxing and I was sitting in my car and your man across the way you could just see, you got to go was like, who is this weirdo? Like
[01:34:13] Matthew: [01:34:13] you, I think going outside, uh, just like stepping outside of any kind of indoor environment, just feeling the wind on your face. Definitely releases a lot of endorphins. So yeah,
[01:34:22] Chris: [01:34:22] that's both, both is both scientifically proven also. So awesome. Now question 10, finish this sentence at the end of the day, it all comes down to
[01:34:35] Malaki: [01:34:35] sorry.
[01:34:43] at the end of the day, factual statements here, spit facts at the end of the day, it all comes down to,
[01:34:54] I'm not in a relationship. So I got the hug with her at the end of the day. It all comes down to, [01:35:00] um, I dunno, I think a healthy relationship
[01:35:07] Matthew: [01:35:07] perspective.
[01:35:09] Chris: [01:35:09] Uh, very good. No, that's, it's been an absolute fucking pleasure. And I think I came into this, um, you know, Acknowledging the fact that there was two of you there, but I'm thinking I'm coming out of this with, um, an appreciation for your relationship.
[01:35:23] No, I think it just fucking shines through that. You have a mutual respect for each other. We're not going to say you knew each other, but I think you bring out the best in each other and it just, it, it, it completely shines through, um, in, in the way you speak and how you carry yourselves. So before we conclude this, um, I'm sure you have stuff you want to plug, you know, May 7th.
[01:35:45] Uh, the video is coming out from Allison, Matthew, and you just dropped, um, on Instagram. You guys want to let the audience know what's what's coming up.
[01:35:56] Matthew: [01:35:56] Uh, yeah, chameleon, um, at chameleon.love, [01:36:00] go follow me on Instagram. There's going to be some exciting stuff coming up. We've got a single that's going to be coming out very soon.
[01:36:04] So just keep an
[01:36:05] Malaki: [01:36:05] eye on that. It's the first I'm hearing of this, you know this, Oh, it's one. Oh, okay. Sorry. Busy, which is a good thing. Um, yeah. Comedian from RTO and myself is Maliki, uh, which is spelled M a L a K. I underscore Dublin on all social media platforms on Spotify. Yeah. Go check us out. Is
[01:36:30] Noel: [01:36:30] there a gig later on
[01:36:32] Malaki: [01:36:32] in the year we're towing
[01:36:37] the possibility.
[01:36:39] Noel: [01:36:39] Is there stuff on Ticketmaster or anything like that?
[01:36:41] Malaki: [01:36:41] Yes, that's good. Yeah. Thank you for a mindless. Yeah, we have a tour, you know, uh, me and Matthew performed together. So, eh, the Maliki tour is now up on Ticketmaster. Um, so that's straight up, just look up Ticketmaster online and we have a tour going from December 1st, the nine.
[01:36:58] So that's Belfast, cork, [01:37:00] Limerick, Galway, London, and Dublin. So if you were any way interested in going to any of those places, having a good time, having a beer and having a laugh, hit us up.
[01:37:10] Chris: [01:37:10] I've already got tickets to that's your super fan right here. Already got tickets on the release, I think are three or four.
[01:37:14] So I'll bring it with me. So I'll see you there. All right. This concludes the episode. I think this is episode 13 of the one DMC podcast. Thank you very much for tuning in over and out. Thank
[01:37:26] Matthew: [01:37:26] you.
[01:37:38] Malaki: [01:37:38] If you've got a problem or a squabbling or an issue, we can talk it out. Stretch your legs. Matter of fact, cause we could walk it out. Cold, cold case. No raise what you talking about? USB looking both ways with auto parts about LPs, pray for your peace of mind, VCRs and a peace of mind. That was me before I keep ignoring it to keep it low and none at dark makes way for the shine.
[01:37:57] Dan: [01:37:57] Oh. [01:38:00]
