Mali (Singer) Age, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Mali (Singer)

• Mali was exposed to music through her family at a very tender age. Her parents were ardent music lovers. At family get-togethers, her grandfather would play the harmonica, while everyone would sing the songs together.
  

  Mali’s family picture

• At the age of 5 years, Mali was enrolled in different co-curricular activities like Bharatanatyam, piano classes, swimming, and drawing; however, in later years, she continued only the piano classes.
  

  Mali during childhood

• At her first singing performance for a school assembly, Mali sang ‘500 Miles.’ She was 12 years old when she performed at a party, singing Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘Fever’ with changed lyrics that suited the occasion.

• Mali composed her first song, ‘No Place Like Home’ at the age of 16 years. It was composed after a fight with her mother in which she had aggressively told her that she couldn’t wait for the day when she’d be living away from home.

• Mali went to IÉSEG School of Management, France in mid-2013 for a year as part of her twinning graduation programme at Loyola College, Chennai.

• Mali shared a special bond with her grandfather, M. C. Rammohan (deceased), who introduced her to jazz music. He played the harmonica and harmonetta for a 1950s Chennai-based band ‘Black and White’ and was her music’s best critic. He was featured, playing the harmonica, in Mali’s song ‘Play’ (2018).
  

  Mali’s grandfather, the late M. C. Rammohan

  

  Mali’s grandfather playing the harmonica at a live performance by his band Black and White

• Mali’s style of music is a mixture of iconic pop acts similar to that of The Beatles and the Bee Gees of the ’60s and ’70s and indie and electro-pop music of the ’80s.

• Her inspirational artists are A. R. Rahman, Ella Fitzgerald, ABBA, Stevie Nicks, Norah Jones, Backstreet Boys, Skrillex, Hillsong, Alanis Morissette, Savage Garden, Joss Stone, Sara Bareilles, The Corrs, Katie Melua, and The Carpenters.

• Her music career began after she formed a band, ‘Bass-in-Bridge,’ to participate in a band hunt competition, sponsored by Chennai’s radio. She was the vocalist in this band, and the band reached the finals of the competition. Band-in-Bridge dissolved in 2011 and released an album, ‘Deceptive’ (6 songs), in 2013.
  

  Mali’s Band-in-Bridge

• Mali gave herself 6 months target to decide if a music career was made for her. During this time, she established Mali Manoj Music (in 2012) in Chennai, which provides recording and production services, and vocal sessions. Before this, she always looked at music as her hobby.

• Before making a music career, Mali worked at various jobs. She was a sales intern at IBM India Private Limited and worked as Chief Evangelist at MELT Media Pvt. Ltd. in Chennai. In 2015, she joined as a social media intern at Only Much Louder.

• Rolling Stone India ranked her title track from the EP ‘Rush’ as 2nd on the list of ’10 Best Indian Singles of 2017.’

• Some of her popular songs are Mango Showers, Age of Limbo, Mundane, Changed Situations, Play, Live Again, Absolute, Horoscope, Surviva, He’s My Hero, Walkaway, Cabaret, Ashes, and Poor Girl’s Dream.
  

  Mali during a performance

• Mali’s song ‘Ashes’ is inspired by her breakup in 2020, which she disclosed in an interview. She remarked,
  

  The song is about a very difficult breakup I went through two years ago. After it happened, there was a period of time where we refrained from speaking to each other so we could heal… It was during this time I felt an immense connection with my ex because it felt as if we were both sharing an experience except that we were apart. The song is really an open letter to him, asking how it’s going and explaining how things are on my side.”

• In the Euro Indie Music Chart (2020), Mali’s song ‘Mundane’ was ranked No.1.
  

  Mali’s Instagram post about Mundane topping the Euro Indie Music chart

• In 2020, she became the first Indian artist selected for Spotify Worlwide’s RADAR programme.

• During the Covid pandemic, Mali and the American singer Erin Ray featured on the BBC News.
  

  Mali’s Instagram post about her being featured in the BBC World News

• In 2022, Mali was featured on the cover of ‘Harper’s Bazaar India’ magazine.

• In 2021, she was featured on the Indie India playlist cover by the Wynkmusic.

• In 2023, Mali was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30.

• She represented Apple Music India in 2023 during which she met she met Apple CEO Tim Cook to show him her process of music composition.
  

  Mali’s Instagram post about demonstrating her music to Apple CEO Tim Cook

• She performed at the Lollapalooza India festival in Mumbai in 2023.

• In 2023, she performed at the opening ceremony of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre.
  

  Mali during the opening ceremony of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre

• Mali is a sensitive animal and bird lover and often posts pictures of birds, dogs, and cats on social media. She especially likes cats and has many as pets. The names of some of her cats are Dali, Ollie, Cheeto, and Mongo.
  

  Mali’s Instagram post about birds

  

  Mali while admiring her dog

• Mali consumes alcohol occasionally.
  

  Mali’s Instagram post about vodka

• She is a foodie and likes tea.
  

  Mali’s Instagram post about tea

• She loves to stay in nature about which she often posts on her social media handles.
  

  Mali’s Instagram post about nature