Cristina Malakhai Releases “Mala Pell,” her first EP in Catalan, a bold and fresh proposal that reflects her artistic evolution and fusion, which was shaped by her work in Los Angeles. “Mala Pell” exudes sensuality with a breath of fresh air and a slap at the same time, featuring sweet yet rebellious vocals and sophisticated and daring lyrics. A Pop R&B voice blends seamlessly with urban beats, including Hip-Hop, EDM, Drum & Bass, and LoFi synths, with strong bass lines and rhythms. The EP also includes a track where Cristina sings and raps accompanied only by a piano, delivering a passionate, defiant, and bittersweet experience.
The artist has built an indelible bridge between Barcelona and Los Angeles, where she resides while staying motivated to create more music rooted in her homeland. This is evident in Mala Pell, a project tied to her hometown of Sabadell and inspired by the local saying “Sabadell, Mala Pell.” Cristina has brought the sound she has been crafting in LA studios and paired it with Catalan lyrics to bring it back home and unite her influences.
The EP features contributions from producers and engineers based in both Barcelona and Los Angeles. Among them are Kleoz, a Barcelona-based producer and sound engineer specializing in sound design and LoFi, who contributes to music libraries for TV and film in the UK; Jordi del Moral, a DJ and producer from Barcelona known for his LoFi and melodic electronic sound; Marc Ferrando, a pianist and producer from Barcelona who has worked with Ix!, David Palau, Rojas, Joan Tena, and Los 80 Principales; Pablo Mirete, an LA-based producer, ambassador of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, and a 2022 Goya Awards nominee; and Rob Jiménez, producer at Orangewood Studios in Los Angeles.
The EP includes two singles with accompanying music videos: “Pluja“ and “La Veritat.” The first was directed by Gigi Carapia, a Mexican filmmaker based in Barcelona and a pioneer of urban audiovisual production in Spain, who has worked with artists and brands such as Henry Méndez, Víctor Magán, Pimp Flaco, José de Rico, Adidas, and Fundació Joan Miró. The second video, “La Veritat,” was directed by Mark E. Murray, an Irish filmmaker (U2, Rihanna, The Cranberries, Game of Thrones). With vibrant colors, a Mediterranean-inspired garden, and nods to Ophelia from Hamlet, the video perfectly captures the track’s passionate, defiant, and bittersweet tone.
Cristina Malakhai is a Barcelona singer, songwriter, producer, radio host, and actress. Her previous project reached #1 on iTunes Spain, leading to a tour of over 100 concerts across Europe and the United States. She is a voting member of the Latin GRAMMY Academy and a graduate of UCLA’s Independent Music Production program, where she studied on a scholarship from the SGAE Foundation. She works at a music company based in Los Angeles and is preparing new releases with producer Marcus “Bellringer” Bell (Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, Timbaland). Together, they have a single and music video -set for release- that has already garnered over a dozen awards and nominations at film festivals in Los Angeles and Latin America. In addition, she collaborates with artists and producers from the United States, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Argentina.
Recent Highlights: Cristina Malakhai opened the Awards Ceremony of the Brisk Festival in Los Angeles. Also, delivered an exclusive showcase during Latin GRAMMY week in Seville, sharing the stage with “Bellringer” (Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, Timbaland) and other Latin artists such as Samy Hawk (winner of MTV’s Pop Star). She was also accompanied by renowned guitarist Luis Gallo (ROSALÍA, Ara Malikian, Raimundo Amador). Additionally, she collaborated on “Daydream” with Atlanta-based producer Joie Grey, whose work has garnered over 3 million streams.
Published by: Khy Talara
