

Attention fans of Bastille, Lorde, and The Weeknd: MAALA is an electronic-pop maestro from Auckland, New Zealand. His voice cascades with satisfying intimacy—at times soulful (“Unbound,” “Touch”), at times plaintive (“Magic”), always listenable. A sturdy electronic base is boosted with piano and atmospheric touches. His five-song EP also showcases a songwriting prowess that backs up the voice with clarity of thought.