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Mal Blum
Mal Blum in June 2015
Background information
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
LabelsDon Giovanni Records Saddle Creek Records
Websitemalblum.com

Mal Blum is an American songwriter, musician, writer and performer from New York. Blum has released six full-length albums, most recently Pity Boy in 2019.[1]

Career

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Blum spent their[a] early career promoting self-booked DIY solo tours[3] and also self-released their early albums before signing to record labels.[4]

In 2014, they signed to punk label Don Giovanni Records and announced they would be working on a new album produced by Marissa Paternoster of the band Screaming Females.[5] After the Don Giovanni release of You Look a Lot Like Me in 2015, Blum began touring nationally with a band, contributing to what critics called a "more developed but still gritty, punk" sound.[6]

Blum was a recurring musical and comedic guest on The Chris Gethard Show[7][8] They have also appeared as a musical guest on the Welcome to Night Vale (WTNV) podcast and have toured extensively opening for WTNV's National and International live shows in 2018, 2019 and 2023 [9][10]

In February 2019 Blum released a new single, "Things Still Left To Say,"[11] and in March 2019 they toured with Lucy Dacus.[7] That year they released the album Pity Boy,[1] recorded with Joe Reinhart of Hop Along at Headroom Studios in Philadelphia.[12] Pitchfork's Abby Jones categorized Pity Boy as a shift "into potent pop-punk that recalls both Hop Along and Titus Andronicus." noting the newfound focus on guitarist Audrey Zee Whitesides' electric riffs, while maintaining the lyrics as "the album's centerpiece" writes Jones,

If the electric guitar had evolved into a supporting actor by Blum’s last album, 2016’s You Look a Lot Like Me, then it’s the lead on Pity Boy. The nimble, vigorous riffs [...] ricocheting like rubber balls around “I Don’t Want To” and “Not My Job” with Blum’s vocals surging in countermelody.[13]

Max Cohen, in their review for Bandcamp's "Album of the Day" series, writes of Pity Boy's production value:

It’s punk in spirit, but the production is rich and warm, wrapping the power chords and solos in a sunny, welcoming fuzz. At their best, as on the jangly opener “Things Still Left to Say,” they sound like The Buzzcocks, if The Buzzcocks opted for compassion instead of bile.[14]

On Oct 20, 2020 Blum announced a new single to be released on Saddle Creek Records as part of the label's 7 inch series.[15]

In August 2020, Mal Blum was tapped to write music for Season 2 of Netflix's Trinkets television show. They wrote the song "Passenger Seat" to be used in a recurring story arc for the character Elodie.[16]

Blum signed a publishing deal with Terrorbird Media seemingly during this same time period [17] and began contributing music to other tv and film projects. Upon co-writing with other artists on the roster, he forged a connection with Kyle Andrews and together the two worked remotely during the pandemic on a collection of 6 songs that would ultimately become the EP "Ain't it Nice."[18]

On April 15, 2022 Mal Blum released "Ain't it Nice" which critics described musically as "a bridge between indie rock and Americana" [19]

Thematically, writer Mel Woods described the EP as

a dust-covered collection of tracks that wouldn’t sound out of place in a wayward diner off the side of the highway. Drawing inspiration from John Prine, Bruce Springsteen and others, Blum has crafted a record steeped in pandemic loneliness and the messiness of queer and trans masculinity.[20]

On February 11, 2023 Blum announced plans to record a new full length album with producer Jessica Boudreaux of the band Summer Cannibals [21]

Personal life

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Blum is openly transgender and queer. They have spoken about their voice changing while recording "Ain't it Nice" in 2020 [22]

They attended State University of New York at Purchase.[23] They are Jewish.[24] Hannah Fleischman of Hey Alma magazine wrote:

Although their songs’ subject matters often touch on heavier subjects, Blum’s dry approach to otherwise difficult topics typifies Jewish humor.[4]

Blum was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age.[25]

Discography

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Albums[26]
Title Album details
Goodnight Sugarpop
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: self-released
Every Time You Go Somewhere
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: self-released
Tempest in a Teacup
  • Released: 2013
  • Label: self-released
You Look a Lot Like Me
Pity Boy
  • Released: July 12, 2019
  • Label: Don Giovanni Records
EPs[26]
Title EP details
Ain't It Nice
  • Released: April 15, 2022
  • Label: self-released
Singles[26]
Title Single details
"Nobody Waits" /
"San Cristobal"
"Xmas Eve"
  • Released: December 1, 2023
  • Label: self-released

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Blum is non-binary and transgender and uses they/them and he/him pronouns.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Wolper, Caitlin (July 12, 2019). "Mal Blum Explores Self-Destructive Habits On 'Pity Boy'". Nylon. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  2. ^ Keller, Jessica (October 26, 2016). "Hanging Out With Mal Blum". Her Campus.
  3. ^ "Mal Blum". Mal Blum. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Fleishman, Hannah (February 19, 2020). "Mal Blum's Music Was Made For Queer Jews".
  5. ^ "Mal Blum joins Don Giovanni Records". Mal Blum. January 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  6. ^ "REVIEW: Allison Weiss, Mal Blum, Winter, Kid in the Attic, Dump Him at Cuisine En Locale (11/4) - Allston Pudding". November 10, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Shows". Mal Blum. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  8. ^ "I think we can all agree that Mal Blum has been a... | The Chris Gethard Show". Thechrisgethardshow.tumblr.com. November 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  9. ^ Merka Nelson, Kelly (November 24, 2017). "Welcome to Night Vale Brings Eldritch Weather to San Antonio". San Antonio Current. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  10. ^ Biese, Alex (September 10, 2018). "Mal Blum on tour with Welcome to Night Vale for A Spy in the Desert". app. USA Today. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  11. ^ Zhang, Fengxue (February 15, 2019). "Watch: Mal Blum Returns With 'Things Still Left To Say'". NPR.org. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  12. ^ "About".
  13. ^ Jones, Abby. "Mal Blum, Pity Boy, 7.5". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  14. ^ Cohen, Max (July 25, 2019). "Bandcamp's Album of the Day". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  15. ^ "Nobody Waits b/W San Cristóbal".
  16. ^ "Mal Blum on Writing Music for "Trinkets," Queer Representation, and the Trans Narratives of Bruce Springsteen". September 15, 2020.
  17. ^ "Mal Blum on Writing Music for "Trinkets," Queer Representation, and the Trans Narratives of Bruce Springsteen". September 15, 2020.
  18. ^ "Get to Know – Mal Blum". May 4, 2022.
  19. ^ "Mal Blum's New Americana • Country Queer". April 15, 2022.
  20. ^ "Mal Blum, Pity Boy, 7.5". April 14, 2022.
  21. ^ "Mal blum on Instagram: "Lots of mixing and odds and ends to come but basic tracking is DONE. We are both very pleased and very tired. Thanks for everything, Jessica 💚"".
  22. ^ Keller, Saskia Maxwell (August 11, 2021). "Mal Blum Returns to Live Music". The Provincetown Independent. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  23. ^ "Josh Gondelman and People He Admires". www.unionhallny.com. Retrieved March 19, 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  24. ^ Yashwina (April 15, 2022). "Mal Blum on the Queer Americana of Their New EP "Ain't It Nice"". Autostraddle. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  25. ^ "With 'Pity Boy,' Mal Blum made the rock album we all need in 2019".
  26. ^ a b c "Albums". Mal Blum. Retrieved April 21, 2024.


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