The Joy in Making Noise: MALKA’s Evolution from Folk to Future

The Joy in Making Noise: MALKA’s Evolution from Folk to Future

“I think probably the transformation from being this kind of acoustic funky person to this out and out electro producer has been a transformation that I didn’t see coming,” reflects Tamara Schlesinger – better known as MALKA. She pauses, reconsidering her journey of the past 15 years. “But actually now that I think about it, the biggest transition probably is running Hen Hoose.”


This ability to continually reinvent herself while nurturing others’ creativity defines MALKA’s career. From her early days fronting alt-folk collective 6 Day Riot to her current position as both solo electronic artist and founder of the female and non-binary collective Hen Hoose, Schlesinger has maintained an unwavering commitment to artistic exploration.

Her latest single “When You’re Here” – her first venture into Christmas music – emerged from an unexpected place. Born from an advertising agency brief in August, the track quickly became something more personal. “I just decided I wanted to put it out because I just was really proud of it and I really liked it,” she says, recalling how her dog Ziggy’s spontaneous contribution added to her confidence. “I didn’t actually expect such a response to it, but it’s really nice way to end the year.” This natural approach to creation marks a joyful return following her acclaimed 2023 album “Anatomy of Sight.”

That album represented a deeper shift in perspective, written while dealing with Long Covid. Rather than focus on her own limited experiences, Schlesinger turned outward, channelling others’ stories through her music. “I just started to look outside and all these characters that I was reading about or following on social media, I just started to try and get in their heads,” she explains. One song, “War Coffee,” emerged from following a Ukrainian mother’s daily blog posts, while others drew from family history and global events.

The evolution of her sound mirrors this expansive worldview. Where once she might have reached for a guitar or ukulele, now she finds herself drawn to the peculiar possibilities of electronic instruments. “I love weirdness. I love like weird glitchy things. I love stuff that’s not normal,” she enthuses. “I love it if no one knows whether I’ve made a vocal into a guitar or I’ve done a synth that sounds like a vocal.”

This experimental spirit carries through to Hen Hoose, the collective she founded during lockdown that has now secured funding. “The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is community,” she reflects. “How powerful a kind of a voice of many is and how much impact we’ve had because of what we stand for but who is standing together.”

The collective’s latest EP exemplifies this approach, pairing artists who might not naturally cross paths. “I love that it’s my favourite part is putting someone together that you think shouldn’t work, but does,” she says. This attention to individual needs and circumstances has become central to the project, whether accommodating disabilities, parenting responsibilities, or different working styles.

Beyond the creative partnerships, Hen Hoose has also become a way to honour important voices in Scotland’s music scene. The collective has established the Beldina Odenyo Bursary, named after the artist also known as Heir of the Cursed. “The loss of Beldina was huge and the track she’d done on Equaliser with Inge [Thomson] was incredible,” Schlesinger reflects. “I felt like she was just starting… her album was written, she was doing her own thing, she was just starting.”

The bursary emerged from a collective decision to use funds from their Scottish Album of the Year Award nomination. “I’d gone to the collective and said, you know, I think it’d be really nice if we could use this in Bel’s memory because we’d dedicated the album to her and everyone said yes,” she explains. Working closely with Beldina’s family, they developed the concept, with plans to continue the bursary through future fundraising. “I think… I hope it’s something that other people think is a great thing because it keeps her name alive… She was important in the industry and it’s great if we can make sure she’s still visible.”

Despite splitting her time between MALKA, Hen Hoose, and scoring for film and television, Schlesinger remains firmly rooted in Scotland. “I love Scotland and the scene of Scotland because it’s small,” she explains. “The scene’s so exciting up here. I do feel like there’s a shift from London-centric work.”

Yet she’s clear-eyed about the challenges still facing the industry, particularly regarding diversity at the top levels. “While we have gatekeepers that don’t want to have any change, there will be no change,” she states. “And there’s only so much someone doing grassroots work can really do.” Through it all, music remains her constant, a necessity as much as a career. “My driving force for making music is actually my mental health,” she reveals. “Sometimes if I don’t write a song, I have this anger inside my body that I’m like, I need to write a song, because I think that’s the only way I’m going to feel okay.”

In an industry that often demands constant visibility and output, Schlesinger has found power in stepping back when needed. “Maybe you don’t have to always be visible all the time,” she muses. “That’s quite an important lesson, isn’t it? That you can still do other things and people might still care if you can do a good song.”

This balance – between experimentation and accessibility, community and individuality, visibility and authenticity – shapes every aspect of her work. Whether she’s crafting glitchy electronic soundscapes or nurturing new talent through Hen Hoose, Schlesinger continues to push boundaries while remaining true to that essential joy of creation. “Regardless of what happens in the industry and regardless of where everything goes and AI and all these crazy things that are coming, I will still write music whether anyone listens or not,” she affirms. “Because it’s so important to me.”

Hen Hoose 3 is out now digitally henhoose.bandcamp.com/album/ep-3

MALKA’s latest single “When You’re Here” is also out now malka.bandcamp.com/track/when-youre-here

[Halina Rifai]

Main Photo by Demelza Kingston

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