Ciao Malz

Ciao Malz
Ciao Malz
Genres	Indie, singer-songwriter
Occupation	Musician
Label	Audio Antihero

Ciao Malz (stylized in all caps) is a Brooklyn-based indie rock project by Filipino American multi-instrumentalist Malia DelaCruz, in collaboration with James Chrisman and Felix Walworth.

Early life

Malia DelaCruz was born and raised in Waterford, Connecticut. She relocated to New York City in 2014 to attend St. John's University in Queens.

Music career

DelaCruz issued her first single under the CIAO MALZ name (Always Be My Maybe) on May 28, 2021, following it with a series of self-releases. In August of 2023, DelaCruz recorded a cover of Frog's You Know I’m Down.

On November 15, 2024, CIAO MALZ released the Two Feet Tall single via Audio Antihero. The Safe Then Sorry EP followed on December 6, 2024.

In March, she published a cover of "Clementine" by Elliott Smith.

Discography

EPs

To Go (CIAOMONEY RECORDS, 2022)
Safe Then Sorry (Audio Antihero, 2024)

Singles

Always Be My Maybe (CIAOMONEY RECORDS, 2021)
Tracks (CIAOMONEY RECORDS, 2021)
Circumstancey (CIAOMONEY RECORDS, 2022)
Same Thing (CIAOMONEY RECORDS, 2023)
Pearl (CIAOMONEY RECORDS, 2023)
Two Feet Tall (Audio Antihero, 2024)

Compilation Appearances

Rue Defense Tape Club: December 2025 (Rue Defense, 2025) - Contributes "Two Feets Tall"

Other credits

Various Artists – For Palestine (GUNK, 2023) – Bass on "Gorilla vs. Cold Water (live)" by Sister.
Avery Friedman – Flowers Fell – Single (Self-Release, 2024 / Audio Antihero, 2025) – Additional Recording
Avery Friedman – Photo Booth – Single (Audio Antihero, 2025) – Additional Recording
Avery Friedman – New Thing – Single (Audio Antihero, 2025) – Additional Recording
Avery Friedman – New Thing – Album (Audio Antihero, 2025) – Additional Recording

References

↑ "Ciao Malz: NY Slice Session 2025 | WFUV". WFUV.
↑ "New Music Reviews (12/9)". KEXP.
1 2 3 Campbell, Caleb. "Premiere: CIAO MALZ Shares New EP 'Safe Then Sorry' – Stream It Below". Under the Radar Magazine.
1 2 3 "CIAO MALZ – Safe Then Sorry (Album Review)". KLOF Mag. November 21, 2024.
↑ "Ciao Malz — Safe Then Sorry EP – turn and work". December 6, 2024.
↑ "Ciao Malz: Always Be My Maybe". LOUD WOMEN. May 30, 2021.
↑ "NY Slice Artists | WFUV". wfuv.org.
↑ Team, Unheard Gems (November 16, 2021). ""Tracks" – Ciao Malz | Review". Unheard Gems.
↑ "EXCLUSIVE: CIAO MALZ (Malia DelaCruz) 'Two Feet Tall' Single Premiere - God Is In The TV". God Is In the TV. 2024-11-14. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
↑ "BBC Radio 6 Music – New Music Fix, Spotlight on New Delhi's experimental electronic scene". BBC.
↑ "BBC Radio Scotland – Roddy Hart, 19/11/2024". BBC.
↑ "WFUV On Air Playlist | WFUV". October 3, 2024. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024.
↑ Glab, John (2025-02-19). "CIAO MALZ - "Safe Then Sorry" | Album Review". POST-TRASH. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
↑ Staff, The Alt Editing (December 6, 2024). "EP Review: Ciao Malz – 'Safe Then Sorry'". The Alternative.
↑ "BBC Radio Scotland – Roddy Hart, 13/05/2025". BBC. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
↑ "Muso's Guide - Ciao Malz Covers Elliott Smith In Session". Muso's Guide. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
↑ "ALBUM REVIEW: Avery Friedman's Debut Is A Bold, Instinctual 'New Thing'". No Depression: Roots Music and Culture Journalism. 2025-04-14. Retrieved 2025-12-14.

External links

CIAO MALZ Bandcamp Page

[auto7-1] "Ciao Malz: NY Slice Session 2025 | WFUV". WFUV.

[auto4-2] "New Music Reviews (12/9)". KEXP.

[auto3-3] 1 2 3 Campbell, Caleb. "Premiere: CIAO MALZ Shares New EP 'Safe Then Sorry' – Stream It Below". Under the Radar Magazine.

[auto-4] 1 2 3 "CIAO MALZ – Safe Then Sorry (Album Review)". KLOF Mag. November 21, 2024.

[5] "Ciao Malz — Safe Then Sorry EP – turn and work". December 6, 2024.

[6] "Ciao Malz: Always Be My Maybe". LOUD WOMEN. May 30, 2021.

[7] "NY Slice Artists | WFUV". wfuv.org.

[8] Team, Unheard Gems (November 16, 2021). ""Tracks" – Ciao Malz | Review". Unheard Gems.

[9] "EXCLUSIVE: CIAO MALZ (Malia DelaCruz) 'Two Feet Tall' Single Premiere - God Is In The TV". God Is In the TV. 2024-11-14. Retrieved 2026-01-23.

[10] "BBC Radio 6 Music – New Music Fix, Spotlight on New Delhi's experimental electronic scene". BBC.

[11] "BBC Radio Scotland – Roddy Hart, 19/11/2024". BBC.

[12] "WFUV On Air Playlist | WFUV". October 3, 2024. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024.

[13] Glab, John (2025-02-19). "CIAO MALZ - "Safe Then Sorry" | Album Review". POST-TRASH. Retrieved 2025-12-14.

[:0-14] Staff, The Alt Editing (December 6, 2024). "EP Review: Ciao Malz – 'Safe Then Sorry'". The Alternative.

[15] "BBC Radio Scotland – Roddy Hart, 13/05/2025". BBC. Retrieved 2025-05-14.

[16] "Muso's Guide - Ciao Malz Covers Elliott Smith In Session". Muso's Guide. Retrieved 2026-01-23.

[17] "ALBUM REVIEW: Avery Friedman's Debut Is A Bold, Instinctual 'New Thing'". No Depression: Roots Music and Culture Journalism. 2025-04-14. Retrieved 2025-12-14.