MAALA Rolls out Debut Album Composure

The past few years has seen Aucklander Evan Sinton, better known as MAALA, transform from New Zealand’s Got Talent star to brooding, mysterious electronic artist. With his debut album, Composure just out, Rolling Stone caught with the 21-year-old to discuss his wild ride from unnoticed frontman of a jangly high-school rock band to earning props from fellow New Zealander, radio DJ Zane Lowe.

“[In high school, the band was] a four piece, your classic rhythm, lead guitars, base and drums. At the time, the big thing was Vampire Weekend, so it was that indie, hipster sort of thing. We loved that. It was good. Very rhythmic and bouncy and fun, and dorky,” MAALA recalls.

“I did [New Zealand’s Got Talent in 2012] for my dad, you know. But not like in this passionate way. It was just ‘this will be funny’. There’s no way in hell this is going to be anything, I’m going to entertain the idea for him.

“[The show] was a great stepping stone, and a great tool to try things out and find an audience.”

MAALA is signed to Sony. He performs in Wellington and Auckland on 11 and 12 August respectively.

Original article by Jonny Nail, Rolling Stone Australia, July 27, 2016.