Feature by Ellie Garno
At age 17, I went through one last growth spurt and did my eyebrows in such a horrible way. Mallrat, however, is gearing up to release her debut EP. Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, the indie hip-hop artist is equal parts Grimes, Charlie XCX, and Yung Lean. Mallrat has been featured by tastemakers Hilly Dilly, Triple J, and Pigeons and Planes; her new single, “For Real,” is now streaming on Stereogum. It starts off easy with 80s dance piano and snaps. Mallrat comes in soon after, rapping/singing—almost delicately—with a thick accent, à la Lily Allen. On the surface, the lyrics are playful like the tune (e.g. “You didn’t even wanna die once this week/And when you’re around I feel less of a freak.”). But while written for the young, they’re about problems for the old. It’s upbeat, but is “For Real” a happy song? “I hope people can attach it to some memory and decide for themselves,” Mallrat answers. And that’s what it’s all about.
Filed under: feature friday, Features Tagged: feature friday, for real, mallrat