Today, the Los Angeles-based artist and producer Mal Not Bad shares “Amorph(e)ous,” an exquisite new single that pays homage to the open-armed acceptance of rave culture. Listen to “Amorph(e)ous” here.

“Amorph(e)ous” finds Mal Not Bad conveying the tense vulnerability of opening up and the euphoric relief of community through musical gesture: skittering hi-hats and a techno pulse heightening the anticipatory cortisol spike, warm synthesizer swells and smears of guitar punctuating the rush of assurance and pursuant abandon. The sophisticated marriage of narrative and sonic metaphor demonstrates Mal’s craft and intentionality — a mastery that has resulted in collaborations with the likes of Hayley Williams, Mk.gee, Jay Som, and NoSo.

Of the track, Mal says, “‘Amorph(e)ous’ is the pinnacle of the ‘in-between’ motif that inherently has spread itself throughout this record. Its name, alone, points to feeling outside of conformity, especially in a time of transition. The song is an ode to rave culture in all of its punk glory — its acceptance of the misfits, the in-betweeners, the nerds, the loners. Initially I thought it would stay an instrumental, mixing ambient guitar-based textures with pulsing four-on-the-floor techno drum beats but melodies blossomed from the sonic bed and brought words that matched the emotional movement of the track. The first half of the song was written during the period of friction that builds in times of stillness, reflection, and anticipation. The rest of the song came in the refreshing moments after— like letting go of a slingshot, the sense of release that propels you into your next chapter.”

Mal Hauser is a Los Angeles–based artist who released their acclaimed debut album This Is Your New Life as Mal Not Bad in 2024. The record earned support from KCRW, BBC Radio 6, NPR, and major streaming playlists, with praise from The Guardian, SPIN, and NME. A self-producing multi-instrumentalist, Mal has toured internationally, and recently co-wrote and co produced Jay Som’s album Belong, and opened the Your Smith Fall 2025 tour.

Mal Not Bad’s solo project combines music, visual, and fashion elements to create a fully realized universe for the listener and viewer to become immersed in. Each release operates as a chapter within an evolving world, where sound, imagery, and texture are intentionally intertwined The upcoming music emphasizes emotional resonance and world-building over linear narrative, inviting audiences to engage intuitively rather than passively.

The comfort in the conformity of a Catholic school uniform rubs up against the elation in the freedom of dressing a body that feels like it belongs to you, and taking that body dancing in a room of similarly-differently-minded people. The lush soundscapes and expressionistic lyricism of Mal’s songs align to bring the listener into a poetic and playful rumination on safety, control, and identity that is at once bittersweet and buoyant.