Today we’d like to introduce you to M A L U.
M A L U, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a youth orchestras founder and conductor in San Diego and a violin classical musician as well. It was 2015 when I attended Mutek Festival in Montreal; an electronic music and digital arts festival that I got inspired to start my electronic music project M A L U. I am basically composing music but instead of composing for an orchestra or ensemble of musical instruments, I am composing to electronic sounds and noises. I use all kinds of synths, plugging and rhythm boxes of all kinds from vintage to the newest. I usually perform live and make DJ sets with my electronic violin as well. I have been invited to perform in the US, Mexico, Canada, Europe and Asia. I have just completed three years since I started and I have been so fortunate to have participated in different festivals and media. I have collaborated with many artists and my last collaboration “The Cabinet of Tia Juana.”
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think it has being a fair road as I have been given the opportunity to participate in many events. However, being a woman brings many struggles as for traveling alone or just being in a place where most of them are men and It has its low points. It is assumed as a woman that knowledge is low or not good enough. If I have to advise young women would be, don’t listen to anyone just trust yourself and be the best you can be.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
Music has being my passion and it is my purpose to share it with others. One of the things that I have done is go to a different organization to offer and provide the tools for them to start youth orchestras, and once the orchestras are running, go to another organization and start again. My project M A L U has created its own sound mixing classical music with electronic, from contemporary classical Shoenberg’s music to Electro-House and techno and implementing it with my violin solos, I think that is what sets me apart from most of electronic musicians and classical musicians.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I think now with social media, there are many musicians and leaders that give good ideas and advice. It is always good to keep our critical thinking in place for us to select what works for us and what not. When in doubt, I go to a friend that is already succeeding and takes more personal advice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://malu.live
- Email: violinist4you@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malu_live/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Malu.Live1/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/malu_live1
- Other: https://www.reverbnation.com/malulive
Image Credit:
Raw festival crew Montreal
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
