Mallrat EP ‘In The Sky’ Out Now Via Nettwerk; Read Billboard Q&A Here
June 7, 2018 BY Nettwerk
“All the awkwardness and annoyances of suburban teenage life find their way into the songs of Grace Shaw, a 19-year-old Australian who calls herself Mallrat. She worries, and doesn’t worry, about fitting in or being liked; she mocks the comforts of sterile surroundings. Her songs turn mild rap cadences into singsong melodies, set to vamps that match guitar or piano chords with perky electronics.” – The New York Times
“Why We’re Excited: A singer, songwriter and rapper who records under the name Mallrat, Grace Shaw is taking off internationally on the strength of “Better,” an irrepressibly sparkling slice of dreamy pop. The only downside to “Better”: If you crank it on the year’s first spring day, your heart may actually explode with happiness. (Still, though, you should try it.)” – NPR Music
+ praise from The New York Times, NPR, NME, Paper Magazine, NYLON, Idolator, Stereogum, V Magazine + more
Having garnered attention from The New York Times and NPR, it’s quickly becoming apparent that 2018 is the Year of the Mallrat, with the release of her highly anticipated sophomore EP In The Sky (out now via Nettwerk Records).
Her refreshingly honest observations of day-to-day life, her relatable and confessional lyrics, and her penchant for writing sticky melodies that you just can’t shake have all shaped 19 year old Grace Shaw into the kind of artist that is perfectly positioned to be Australia’s next big name in pop music.
The shower of acclaim she’s received in accordance with that recognition has been universal and from as diverse a range of outlets, such as the New York Times, NPR, NME (having been recently named in The NME 100: Essential new music for 2018), Billboard, Beats 1, Noisey, V Magazine, Paper Magazine, Pigeons and Planes, Stereogum and Rolling Stone to name a few.
She recently sat down with Billboard to discuss the album for their current issue (on stands now).
Meanwhile, she’s also forging a reputation as one of the most endearing live performers, having supported international stars like Post Malone and Maggie Rogers in Australia. She captured the hearts of audiences on her US tour in March, playing in major markets like New York City and LA, as well as a busy SXSW. NPR included her in their coveted “Austin 100,” and The New York Times selected her as one of the “Top 17 acts to that stood out” at the festival.
In The Sky follows the 2016 debut EP Uninvited, which cemented Mallrat as one of the most exciting names in pop. Armed with an expansive collection of tracks, In The Sky continues to fulfill that prophecy. Nestled in between the saccharine melodies of EP opener, “Groceries,” or the low-key pop anthem, “Better“, are songs that deliver a stark contrast – like the slow-burning and restless soundscape “Make Time“.
Collaborative track with friend and fellow Australian artist, Allday, “UFO” falls into a much darker and brooding territory. Its dense production and layers of hypnotic melodies highlight her vast development as a composer and producer since the release of her debut EP Uninvited, back in 2016.
Mallrat has a penchant for finding beauty in the mundane – whether it’s meeting a friend at the mall, the pain of unrequited love or just the quiet moments spent looking out the window, her lyrics perfectly encapsulate all the wonder that comes with being a teenager. The future’s looking bright for Mallrat.
Critic Quotes:
“If you’ve been sleeping on Brisbane’s latest export, Mallrat now is the time to wake up. The recent high school graduate is both manic-pixie and bonafide badass, taking the Australasian pop scene by storm one cherry-flavored folky-funk tune at a time.” – Paper Magazine
“The 17-year-old Australian is the latest in a line of young millennial women — like Lorde, Alessia Cara and Clairity — who’ve reacted to growing up with social media saturation by making misfit pop.” – Idolator
“Her last single hit number one on the Hype Machine. Meet Mallrat—the 17-year-old Aussie singer telling it like it is.” – NOISEY
“The juxtaposition of Mallrat’s bubble pop music and her IDGAF attitude may just be our favorite thing about the 19-year-old Aussie singer.” – Milk.xyz
“Coming straight out of Brisbane, Australia, Grace Shaw — aka Mallrat — has emerged as a talented young singer and rapper to watch.”- The Recording Academy (Grammy)
