''Sumrtime'' by Maluh Kai
GRAHAM- May 6
- 3 min read
Originating from Sacramento, United States, Maluh Kai, also known as Malachi Padilla, unveils his debut solo project with the release of his original single, "Sumrtime." Crafted from his living room, this track features a fusion of real guitars, bass, and MIDI keys. Initially inspired by a nostalgic heartbreak tune, Maluh Kai aimed to infuse it with a fresh, upbeat, and groovy vibe. The single was officially launched on 29th Apr 2025, marking a significant milestone in Maluh Kai's musical journey.
With influences ranging from Her's to The Beatles, Mild High Club, George Harrison, and Organ Freeman, Maluh Kai's "Sumrtime" stands out for its unique musical approach. The song's unconventional structure, progressive elements, and dynamic instrumental shifts reflect the artist's passion and creativity. Featuring improvised instrumentals, including a striking guitar solo recorded in a single take, Maluh Kai's dedication to his craft shines through in this release. As he shares his dreamy yet introspective musical journey, listeners are invited to join him in a realm where delusion meets joy on the dance floor.
This release is the first of Malachi Padilla's (Maluh Kai - artist name) solo project. This single was made from his living room, using real guitars, bass, and MIDI keys. It started as a revival of an old, sad, cynical heartbreak song that Maluh Kai wanted to transform into something upbeat & groovy. This release was influenced heavily by artists like Her's, The Beatles, Mild High Club, George Harrison, and Organ Freeman. Her's - took a lot from the spooky vocals in "Blue Lips." The Beatles influenced Kai heavily (vocals & guitar). Mild High Club - influenced by his heavy-eyed distorted guitar riffs & vocals. George Harrison - influenced by his song "Love Comes to Everyone" for his country-style synth, and by Organ Freeman for their funky organ-heavy melodies.
Though the lyrics are short and simple, that's the point... Kai used purposefully very naive & delusional lyrics like "If you were mine in the summertime, everything would be aligned" - meant to convey my need/desire for love, once granted, will make everything perfect in my life. It is then contrasted with the harsh reality that it doesn't work like that - 'But it was just small talk, make believe". The cool part is, although he came to the cynical conclusion there, the song still progresses into the upbeat dream-like soundscape as if saying: "Who really cares, let's dance in the delusion anyway!"
Maluh Kai's approach to music is unique; the songs in the single lack a common song structure and are all pretty progressive and ever changing, leaning heavily on instrumentals and fun rhythm/pitch changes. You can tell he had fun making this, and wants to share his passion with his listeners. "If you were mine" Starts in 3/4 with a waltz groove reminiscent of a carousel, then it escaped into an airy, bouncy, key/organ lead groove in 4/4, it then slows down and finishes off with an emotional, dark ending, with trance-like vocals repeating - "Don't you say it ain't right" as if now that he has what he wants, he can't/won't let go of it! The ending sounds huge, and a lot of instruments are at play.
The recording took place in the artists home, so the songs come from a place of love & relaxation and the release was made using a real bass & electric hollow body guitar, and all instrument parts were improvised, the last ~2 minutes of the song included a guitar solo that was improvised and done in a single take!
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