Power and Pitch: The MMA Fighter With a Voice That Hits Just as Hard
Don’t let her voice fool you, she’s as lethal in the rink as she is on stage.
New artist Nina Malicia is turning heads with her haunting voice and is redefining what it means to be an artist.
Growing up in Albuquerque, NM, Malicia has always known she would be a performer. Even from a young age, she knew that music could profoundly shift her emotions. She got her first guitar at age five from her grandmother and wrote her first song, My Mama’s Got a Corn Stuck in Her Tooth, shortly after. As she continued to learn guitar and piano, she promised her grandfather that she would become a rockstar one day and buy him a house. Although the house hasn’t been bought yet, they still joke about it today.
After many familial hardships, including her father’s vision loss, Malicia and her family moved out to Phoenix for a fresh start. She found that music became a support for her during these difficult times, and says, “My art is an extension of myself and my experiences."
Similar to her music, Malicia found a second support system with MMA fighting and Muay Thai. Hoping to go pro one day, she practices for hours every night and is currently training for a Muay Thai fight this November. On top of this, she is currently working on new tracks, but the ones she has out now speak volumes to her artistry. A Song About Space, a favorite of Malicia’s, is a fun indie and R&B blend with many Star Trek references sprinkled throughout. Influenced by fellow artist Jessie Reyez, Malicia is looking to find a sound that is just as versatile. She loves the energy in Reyez’s performances and hopes to express the rawness and vulnerability that Reyez has achieved.
Another one of her releases, Why, shows the passion behind Malicia’s vocals. She says her vocals are her greatest gift, and are what make her sound unique from other artists. Her passionate singing in Why truly demonstrates Malicia's ability to convey her emotions to the audience. Having recently experienced heartbreak, the song explores trying to figure out where everything went wrong with someone you loved, a feeling surely everyone can relate to. She is currently working on other songs that will fit into this heartbreak theme.
In her spare time, Malicia enjoys volunteering at local food banks, believing that having naturally-grown produce is essential to any community. “There's not enough kindness in the world,” she says. “Your heart, intentions, and kindness do not need to dwindle just because the world is the way it is."
Through her impactful actions and beautiful melodies, she hopes to spread this message to her audience. Nina Malicia is an incredibly gifted individual, showcasing her talents both on the stage and in the rink, undoubtedly a rising star to keep an eye on.