Alex Mali – Phenom [EP] + Good Good [Video]

Labor day has come and gone. Fall will be here before you know. For some of us, that’s not such a bad thing. But for others, the passing of that last holiday of summer marks a steep descent into cold weather, short days, and long nights. On a positive note, singer Alex Mali’s new Phenom EP redoubles that easy-flowing feeling of summertime by offering listeners 17 minutes of slick hip-hop soul that has a shimmering dancehall vibe to it. Welcoming ditty “Shook” has a rumbling, street-oriented energy to it, yet still manages to feel bright and breezy at times – like something Kelis would’ve put together during the early part of her career. On this first track, Alex proves herself to be a smart lyricist early on – showing that she knows how to engage with her producers as well as her audience. “I Know” is slinky and sassy and carries its “don’t let ’em dull your light, baby” confidence like a boss. It’s a well-chosen follow up to “Shook” while adding a bit of collar poppin’ cockiness to the mix. Mali also shows how adlibs and harmonies can be used to add a richly layered glow to the sparse sound of a drum-driven trap-soul beat. “Fighting Words” quickens the pulse of the album with its Caribbean/Reggaeton movements. It’s probably one of the sweetest treats that you’ll hear all year long even though the lyrics have a bit of a bullying bite to them. Next up is “Good Good“, which adds a pinch of simmering sexiness to the brew. Mali really embraces her love of Afro-Caribbean culture on this one, hitting listeners with a clubby number that invites any and all would-be partners on the dancefloor to back up all that bragging and boasting. By this point in the album, you can’t help but take notice e of the fact that Alex has a real gift for making her confident attitude come across with charismatic appeal. It’s similar to the way that feeling your lady’s nails dig into your skin makes a sweet embrace all the more memorable. This is a great time to bring up the “heat” that accompanies the “sweet” in Alex‘s music as the track “Control” switches the vibe from an energetic reggaeton to trap-steeped R&B. The switch brings a welcomed, grind-your-body-close-to-mine sexiness with it. The start of “Control“ seems to give us a glimpse of a soft-spoken, slightly more vulnerable Mali. But the warnings of not being able to control herself quickly begin to feel less like a plea for mercy and more like a warning that if you’re looking to start something with our young siren, then you better make that you have what it takes to follow through. The EP closes with the rumbling cut “Problem“, which reintroduces us to the collar-popping maven from “Shook” and “I Know“. Mali and company give us a slick and stomping bit of trunk-rattling funk that makes her ice-cold “that sounds like a YOU problem” choruses all the more infectious.

By and large, the Phenom EP is a youthful and ambitious outing that is full of life and presents us with a confident young singer performing at her best. A nice late summer surprise that made me a fan of reggaeton while I wasn’t paying attention. You can show your support by purchasing the Phenom EP from your favorite spot below as well as check out more from Alex Mali by visiting the links listed.

vibes – youthful, expressive, driven, ambitious, fresh, full of life, vibrant, spirited, dynamic, club-friendly, confident, pulsing, slick, charismatic, sexy, fun

Stream & buy Alex Mali’s music on…
( Amazon | Bandcamp | Deezer | Google Play | iTunes | Spotify | Tidal )

https://listen.tidal.com/album/149659530

Connect with Alex Mali on…
( Facebook | Instagram | Official Site | ReverbNation | Soundcloud | Twitter | YouTube )