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| Michelle Malone serves up her signature mix of country, blues, folk and rock
on her latest album, ‘Stompin’ Ground.’ (Photo by Stephani
Shope)
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HOME > SOVO SCENE > MUSIC
By: LINDSAY BROWN
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MICHELLE MALONE IS home again, preparing for two upcoming shows in Atlanta. Just
back from four months on the road, Malone is still celebrating the success of
her latest album, “Stompin’ Ground,” which was released in
September and garnered rave reviews from Rolling Stone and Playboy.
Besides being “more well received” than any of her other records, “it’s
the record that makes me happiest,” Malone says of “Stompin’ Ground,” recorded
with the Low Down Georgia Revue. “It’s really about getting back
to my Southern roots.”
Born and raised in Atlanta, Malone’s musical roots began with singing
in church as a child. Though she says she now understands that all music — whether
gospel, blues, loud or acoustic — comes from the same place, Malone struggled
at first with how to integrate these styles into her own upbringing.
“There was this dichotomy of wanting to play the devil’s music
and reconciling my own religious beliefs,” she says.
Now openly lesbian, involved in activism and determined to retain all control
of her own music, Malone’s "Stompin Ground" is a testament
that the devil’s music never sounded so good.
“STOMPIN’ GROUND” OFFERS a mix of country, blues, folk and rock
that allows not only Malone’s talent as a musician but also her talent
as a writer to shine.
Based in her personal experiences, Malone’s lyrics expand to explore
universal themes of lost love, personal struggle and rebirth. The first track, “Lafayette,” sets
the twangy, raw tone that continues throughout the album.
“I’ll be your guitar/ play me,” Malone sings, making it
impossible not to want to hear more. Her inspiration? “I write what I
know and then some," she says. "Part of it applies to me and part
of it doesn’t.”
Malone’s travels played a role in selecting the 12 tracks that make
up the new album.
“I went into the studio with a batch of songs,” Malone says, “and
then I went on the road, wrote five or six more, and they seemed more vital.
These new songs were all written in a week or two while I was traveling, and
they fit very nicely.”
Malone also always keeps “some songs on the back burner, because you
don’t want to give it all away on one record,” she says. This is
evident in the new album’s closing track, “True,” which Malone
wrote for her father a long time ago.
“Take a simple day and live it your own way,” Malone sings. “Don’t
let no one tell you you can’t go your own way.”
GOING HER OWN WAY defines Malone’s music career. After going the route
of major labels and independent releases, she put out “Stompin’ Ground” on
local label Daemon Records.
“For the term of the contract, they distribute and promote the record,” Malone
says. “But in the end I get complete creative control and 100 percent
ownership back.”
Now taking a break to write and regroup, Malone also produces music for other
artists, including making CD samplers of independent music. And unlike many
other musicians, she allows her fans to record her music at shows. “I
just love to play,” she says. “I don’t like being told what
to do, and it’s a really cool way for people to share music.”
But recording live shows is different than copying studio music, which Malone
says “hurts me personally” if she has paid money to record an album
and people get it for free.
Once seen regularly on Atlanta stages, Malone now travels enough that she
only plays locally about five times a year. But she returns to her own “stomping
ground” on Feb. 21 when she plays Eddie’s Attic in Decatur. Malone
also plays the Echo Lounge on March 13. Both shows include drummer Linda Bolley.
Feb. 13, 9:30 p.m.
Eddie's Attic
515-B North McDonough St., Decatur
404-377-4976
www.eddiesattic.com
www.michellemalone.com
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