The music that influenced CIAO MALZ’s debut EP, Safe Then Sorry
Brooklyn-based Filipino-American indie artist CIAO MALZ (Malia DelaCruz) has released her debut EP, Safe Then Sorry, out now via the non-binary-owned Audio Antihero Records. The EP showcases her most eclectic and unrestrained work to date, blending surfy textures, glistening production, and introspective lyricism. Inspired by Jordana, Elliott Smith, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Men I Trust, Safe Then Sorry captures the layered complexity of her experiences as a young woman of color while maintaining a sonic bounce that is both vibrant and deeply personal.
The following songs are the records that influenced Safe Then Sorry.
“Two Feet Tall is about the feeling of losing an inch every day you put off making that call you really need to make. It’s the pile of clothes growing bigger and feeling yourself getting smaller. Regardless of the overcompensation, the mountains to hide behind — that unsettling feeling persists. I wanted to evoke the feeling of stagnation while everything else is in motion, so the lead on this track quivers in front of the persistent drums that push the scene along.”
– Malia DelaCruz (CIAO MALZ)
Beach Fossils – ‘Down the Line’
The bouncing, surfing, pretty guitars in this song are a constant source of inspiration for me. The voicing feels both majestic and deeply nostalgic, evoking a sense of warmth and timelessness. Whenever I’m in the studio mixing different guitar tones, I always think of this track. The way the tones pair so seamlessly creates a sound that’s both rich and effortless.
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Jerry Jeff Walker – ‘About Her Eyes’
Sometimes I get so lost in this song I wonder if I’ll ever come back. I am a sucker for saturation and this might be the best because it’s natural. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to recreate the warmth of this song but I keep trying. The lap steel is one of the brightest stars in this song. I keep forgetting to learn lap steel.
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Joe Armon-Jones – ‘Almost Went Too Far’
Butter. I may never have the technical skill to pull off something this intricate, but I’ll keep trying. The lush sound of this mix is exactly what I’m chasing. The cool breeze of the intro sweeps you into a full-fledged dreamscape. Every solo feels effortless, delicately balanced to avoid stealing the spotlight. Lyrically, it unfolds like an inner monologue emerging through the fog. The line “almost went too far” mirrors the instrumental tension, steadily building but holding back just enough.
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Men I Trust – ‘Sugar’
The bass so far up in the mix shows me how important the bass is. The bassist in this band made me rethink the way I play every bass line. It’s not so much of a call and response as it works more like a ballroom dance here. Carefully it follows the lyrics, but never takes over. Dark and slightly distorted, I’ve visited several subreddits trying to nail this tone.
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Dido – ‘White Flag’
This is one of the best examples of commercial yearning I’ve ever heard. When I think of big, emotional choruses, I think of lines like, “I will go down with this ship.” There’s an urgency, a fullness—everything. The soft strings woven into the background are barely audible but absolutely vital to the song’s build. It’s a reminder that background tones shouldn’t just fill space—they should work. I love driving at night to this track. Even if I’m just moving my car to a new parking spot, it feels like I’m embarking on a journey.
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