MALAYA BLUE
Acknowledgement of Malaya Blue’s continued recognition in the World’s Blues community can be measured by the quality of musicians who travelled from far and wide to record her brand new album “Blue Credentials” scheduled for release in 2022 on the Blue Heart Records label. These notable musicians are:
Richard Cousins (Robert Cray, John Lee Hooker, Etta James)
Brett Lucas (Bettye LaVette, Thornetta Davis, Jeremy Spencer)
John McCullough (Sinead O’Connor, Van Morrison)
Sam Kelly (Cymande, Gary Moore, Chaka Khan, Roger Chapman)
The album builds on the song-writing partnership with multi Grammy winning writer and producer, Dennis Walker (Robert Cray, BB King, Bettye LaVette) with contributions from Brett, Joey Delgado (Delgado Bros) and Hank Linderman (Joni Mitchell, Eagles and Chicago). It means a great deal to Malaya to be the only UK-based artist that Dennis ever worked with. “Blue Credentials” displays the blossoming of this connection, completed and given his seal of approval shortly before his passing in the Spring of 2022.
Malaya burst onto the live music circuit in 2015 following the release of her critically acclaimed debut album “Bourbon Street” introducing her intoxicating stage presence to blues audiences at The Great British Rock & Blues Festival, The Jazz Café, The 100 Club and at the Final of the UK Blues Awards. Early in 2016, Malaya released her second album “Heartsick” which introduced her music to a wider audience via continued airplay on BBC Radio 2 as well as being supported by UK-based blues broadcasters at respected radio stations across the World. This album also introduced her vocal prowess to Dennis Walker who was so impressed that he started writing songs tailored to her voice, taking Malaya under his wing to pass on his song-writing techniques and skills.
Malaya’s 2020 release “Still” firmly planted her into the Roots Music Report charts, sticking around for over a year and gaining no less than six Grammy considerations. When such iconic figures as Dennis and the godfather of UK blues, Paul Jones, not only publicly sign Malaya’s praises as a vocalist, but are happy to collaborate with her, it is time to sit up and take notice.