Latest news with #Dr.Dust
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
The Doctor is in
Her latest track is the dark and gritty single, Dr. Dust. In quite a departure from her usual sunny offerings, Dr. Dust has a grim vibe—both in its earthy tonality and the sinister narrative which focuses on cults and gangs that weaponise hope. 'I was so intrigued by this world where people, especially the younger generation, fall prey to cults,' says Mali. The underlying message also questions the tortuous nature of controlling and authoritative relationships in general. The character of Dr. Dust, which Mali herself embodies in the video released along with the song, represents all forms of control and authority. Currently garnering praise, the track faced its fair share of challenges before seeing the light of day. Mali shares, 'It took a long time to produce Dr. Dust because producer Rohan Rajadhyaksha and I wanted to get the sound right. We made around four different versions of the song before arriving at this one. I think patience is key while working on creative projects because timelines aren't well defined and you can lose vision and momentum the more you work on it. It helped that we collaborated with musician friends like Mallika Barot on backing vocals, Nathan Thomas on bass and Nicky Vasudevan on drums and percussion.'
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Mali On Crafting Cinematic Pop: 'Dr. Dust Had To Feel Both Comfortable And Unsettling
Last Updated: Mali talks to News18 Showsha about her latest single Dr. Dust, her creative process, cultic visuals, and staying honest in today's music industry. Mali, the evocative moniker of singer-songwriter Maalavika Manoj, is not just an artist—she's a storyteller who makes sense of chaos through melody. With a discography that spans tender introspection and bold experimentation, she's steadily become one of the most magnetic voices in India's independent music scene. Her latest single Dr. Dust is both a sonic departure and a philosophical reckoning—a hypnotic piece that wraps themes of control and vulnerability inside synth-heavy grooves and cinematic visuals. Born in Chennai and raised on a diet of AR Rahman, Ilayaraja, and Joni Mitchell, Mali's music today is a shimmering blend of retro nostalgia and contemporary texture. Whether she's unpacking personal journeys or offering quiet critiques of societal structures, her songwriting pulses with poetic melancholy and fierce self-awareness. She's not afraid to be vulnerable—because, in her world, truth is the core of every song. In this candid conversation with News18 Showsha, Mali opens up about the cultic inspirations behind Dr. Dust, the emotional and artistic duality that defines her sound, and what it means to be a woman creating art in the digital age. From early roles as a background artist to performing at Wembley Arena, from working with legends like A.R. Rahman to crafting Tamil synthpop, Mali charts a path that is fearless, fluid, and deeply rooted in feeling. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mali (@maalavikamanoj) Here are the excerpts: 'Dr. Dust" feels both personal and socially reflective. What inspired this track, and what does the 'dust' symbolize for you? Dr. Dust to me represents all forms of subversive control. It was inspired by controlling power dynamics that go unnoticed in everyday life but are potentially extremely dangerous. There's a hypnotic groove and a cinematic quality to the music video. How involved were you in shaping the visual narrative, and what message were you hoping to convey? Very involved. I became obsessed with the world of cults and how so many of them were just bizarre in their belief systems but still found loyal followers. I shared this fascination with Hitaali Dharamshi, the director of the video and we both conceptualized a story based on a fictional cult. In the belief system of this cult, a leader had to be ritually sacrificed before a new successor could rise to her position, and that circle of life carries on. The track evokes a kind of dreamy disillusionment. Was there a specific moment or event that triggered its creation? It was meant to sound like a confusing feeling – at once both comfortable and unsettling. Rohan Rajadhyaksha, the producer of the track and I spent a lot of time fine-tuning the arrangement to get it to this place and we may have come up with a few different versions of the song before arriving at this one. You've often been praised for your evocative lyricism. What comes first for you—melody or words? Or is it more intuitive? It's always a tough question. For me, they both come together at the same time. The melody informs the turns the lyrics take, and the other way around. Which non-musical art forms—literature, films, or even visual art—influence your songwriting the most? I would say visual art and films. Your writing has a sense of poetic melancholy. Do you journal often, or is songwriting your primary mode of expression? Songwriting is my primary form of journaling. If you were to string all my songs in chronological order it could in some way spell out the journey of my life through various trains of thought. Your music blends classic pop nostalgia with modern sonic textures. How do you navigate those eras in your songwriting? It comes pretty naturally since I listen to various kinds of music without discriminating or putting them in boxes. You've collaborated with icons like A.R. Rahman and represented India on global stages. How have those experiences shaped your creative voice? It's always nice watching other artists at work and observing how they approach certain things. I believe it's the most enriching to experience all types of musical pursuits, as you never know what it might lead to. You've said before that being vulnerable in your music is a strength. How do you stay rootedand authentic in an industry that's constantly evolving? I only write or release what I feel strongly about and for a song to make it to the production stage, it has to be something that resonates with me on multiple levels. From Spotify's RADAR artist to performing for Apple CEO Tim Cook, how do you manage the balance between artistic expression and commercial visibility? I believe that if you do something with consistency and honesty, people will eventually take notice, so I don't necessarily think artistic expression and commercial visibility are mutually exclusive. Do you think Indian indie music today allows more space for introspective, genre-bending artists like yourself? I think so. It's happening more and more every day and it's good to see a market of listeners that are willing to be more experimental in the musical discovery aspect as well. You've been a strong voice in India's independent music space. What changes would you like to see in how the industry supports indie artists? I think the biggest issue plaguing indie artists is the lack of independent venues for bands to perform. Most of our venues are essentially bars, nightclubs and restaurants that favour artists who serve more lively performances and fuel more alcohol sales. We need non-nightlife venues that can foster the growth of younger musicians and bands and also open their doors to audiences who don't necessarily want to make a night out of attending a gig. What kind of stories are you most drawn to telling next—more personal, more experimental, or perhaps both? Both. But let's see. You've spoken about being inspired by artists like Joni Mitchell. Are there any contemporary songwriters today you feel a kinship with musically? Madison Cunningham is an excellent songwriter, composer, and guitar player. When you look back at your earlier music like 'Caution to the Wind," how do you feel your sound has matured since then? I always like changing things up and trying new approaches with my music, so my sound is constantly evolving between releases. What was it like performing at Wembley Arena and Le Zénith? How did those stages impact your presence as a performer? They gave me something to aspire to. Have your Tamil roots ever found their way into your songwriting or sonic palettes, consciously or subconsciously? Yes, I have a song called Anniku Raathiri, which was composed by myself and written by Madhan Karky. I grew up on a lot of Tamil music by AR Rahman and Ilayaraja and wanted to pay homage to the music culture I was raised in by attempting to introduce something that hasn't been done before – Tamil synthpop. As a woman navigating both the music industry and the digital age, what are some lessons you've learned that younger artists might benefit from? To stay consistent and find a way to have a balanced relationship with social media, streaming numbers, fan relationships and the self. I'm dabbling with the idea of working on a new album. I'm currently in the process of writing some new songs and planning the next steps. First Published: May 30, 2025, 19:41 IST
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Maalavika Manoj's new single ‘Dr. Dust' explores cult culture
After a year-long break from releasing music, Maalavika Manoj, aka Mali, has returned with a dark, esoteric concept and an arresting music video that dives into the world of cults and control. 'Dr. Dust', which released on April 24, is about manipulation masking as care. It starts like a lullaby, and a deceptive, sweet melody accompanies an unsettling undercurrent as it reaches a crescendo. The song was inspired from watching and listening to many stories about subtle as well as extreme cases of interpersonal control, ranging from domestic issues to sensational cults. 'The more I sat on it, the more I was intrigued by this world where people, especially the young generation, fall prey to these luring cult spaces. It also brings up more relatable questions about controlling relationships in our everyday lives,' says Mali. Directed by Hitaali Dharamshi, the song's music video stars Mali as a charismatic cult leader whose sacrificial ceremony makes way for a successor. Interestingly, Mali and Hitaali both share a morbid fascination with darker social phenomena, and Hitaali had been wanting to make a film in this space. The most obvious way to portray control was through the cult narrative, which explores the cyclical nature of control, identity, blind faith and dependence. 'There was something eerily compelling about how belief systems can be built and distorted. We wanted the video to capture that surreal, off-kilter vibe — something that felt performative on the surface, but hinted at something darker underneath,' says Hitaali. Shooting the video was an intense, playful process — somewhat like staging a dream sequence that constantly shifted between whimsical and unsettling. Hitaali says. To make it a little more fun and collaborative, Mali featured her fans, handpicked through social media, most of whom are creatives themselves — musicians, designers and artistes — in the video. Mali has a dedicated fan following since her debut feature album Caution to the Wind (2021). She began working on it in 2019 with her then producer Arnob Bal. It took shape around the pandemic with its many social and personal restrictions, and ended up being released in 2021. 'The album itself became more about carefree living during an apocalyptic period in history,' recalls Mali. Similar to 'Dr. Dust' are some of Mali's previous singles, including 'Mango Showers', 'Age of Limbo', 'Semi Automatic Butane' and 'Anniku Raathiri'. What connects them all are the darker lyrical elements. So, while 'Mango Showers' is about foreseeing a dangerous situation, 'Age of Limbo' is inspired by the war in Syria. Similarly, 'Semi Automatic Butane' is about smoking and oral fixation, and 'Anniku Raathiri' is about a murder mystery. In the past, Mali has collaborated with AR Rahman, Amit Trivedi, Indus Creed and Raghav Meattle, among others. 'When collaborating with other artistes, what is most intriguing is to see each person's style of working and way of interpreting the same emotions. We end up having so many in-depth conversations around it, and that sometimes becomes a bigger takeaway than the actual music we work on. But the music lives on as a souvenir of those thoughts,' she explains. A Forbes 30 Under 30 inductee, Mali won the award for Best Indian Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2024. She was the first Indian artiste to be selected by Spotify to be a part of its RADAR program. BBC featured her in a music documentary called Rhythms of India. Mali has performed at some of the most prominent venues around the world, including SXSW Sydney, Music Matters Singapore, Le Zénith in Paris, Wembley Arena, and Lollapalooza India. Mali was also invited to perform during the inaugural event of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center in Mumbai. Recently, Mali also opened for Ed Sheeran during the Bengaluru leg of The Mathematics Tour. 'Performing to a large audience really pushes one's abilities as a singer as well as a performer. It was also really beautiful to see how everyone was so participative and appreciative of the songs during and after the gig,' she says. Up next, Mali has a few more singles — including one called 'Saviour Complex' in the pipeline.
