We have recently been lucky enough to catch up with Dom Malin, an independent singer songwriter from the West midlands. Malin grew up 18 miles from Birmingham on the outskirts of Wolverhampton, though he is quick to claim Birmingham as his hometown when it comes to putting on shows. Malin got into music when he was 12, crediting his parents for encouraging him to pick up instruments. He reminisced with us about one particular Christmas where he was initiated into the world of rock and roll after being gifted a guitar and a leather jacket. This attire undoubtedly fit right in during his time at BIMM Bristol, where the singer-songwriter studied, “back when it was more family-ran and less corporate”.

February saw the release of Dom’s newest single ‘Tapping Out’. The song is delicate and catchy with a resonant folky sound; and you can really hear the musical influences of the 2010s, echoing folk pop bands like the Lummineers and Mumford and Sons. The track is also laden with electric guitar riffs and heavy drums, which add some depth to the otherwise light song. The lyrics speak about someone who feels lost and who seems to have lost faith in everything, but the overall tone of the song is still a positive one: “I asked the Lord to remind me again / Who I was and what was my name / I just need that, just need that, I need that now”. Malin’s lyricism is a huge part of what draws in such committed fans and communities, an honesty that people can relate to, in both the trivial and the harrowing.

When asked how he got into songwriting Malin recalled “I played a school recital which made me realise this was something I wanted to do. I covered ‘Time of my Life’ by Greenday and came home that day to write a song”. Although his career as a songwriter was inspired by Greendays hit, Malin credits the likes of “Guns n’ Roses, Skidrow and other 80s heavy metal bands” for having a big inspiration on his sound. Although he recognises the irony, as he points out these bands are “super different” from the music he makes now. Although Malin claims one of his biggest influences is Damien Rice, stating “he blows me away, his honesty and the fact that he doesn’t hide behind anything lyrically.” However he also attested to the fact that he tries not to take inspiration from one artist too directly “because if you listen to someone too much [you worry you might] end up trying to replicate them”. When asked about the actual process of writing songs Malin noted, “I have to experience something or be moved emotionally to write”. Malin expressed a sort of love-hate relationship with this style of writing, confessing that while the process may be longer, it allows him to convey more emotion in his songs. On his approach to music Malin stated “[I have] an idea of thematic stories I want to convey, and I find the chords that best express that. Normally that’s when I do the lyrics, which I either write before or they come to me in the moment.”

The day we caught up with Dom was the day before he flew out for his first headline show in Madrid. Malin explained how this came about and how the plans originally started forming during his time in the states. “I had just hit 100 followers on TikTok which meant I could go live”. Malin considered this an important step for him as an artist as “I have a big focus on building community as part of my fanbase. I want people to feel like they are hanging out with me, like you’re grabbing coffee with a mate”. Which appears to be the exact community Dom and his fans have created, with his Madrid headline being arranged through a woman named Laura, whom Dom met on his live stream. Malin elaborated on their connection,“She was going through something tough and she really resonated with my story. She asked me if I would want to come to Madrid as she knew a few places that would be appropriate for me to play. I just said, “Let’s make it happen.” Dom and Laura have been working together over the last couple months to organise the event. They also released virtual tickets so that anyone who wanted to could be a part of it. Malin credited the beauty of TikTok for this phenomena, and said that’s how a lot of his shows get booked, “through the community and people reaching out wanting to support live music. It blew me away, it’s so surreal that people still want to champion the arts.”

As more evidence of his far-reaching music community, Malin supported fellow singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy on his USA tour last year, which he described as a really cool experience. “American audiences tend to really enjoy the style of music I make and the genre I work in, and it’s always fun to connect with people on the other side of the world”, Malin said, adding that every country and venue he plays in offers something different. During the Dermot Kennedy tour, Malin noted that one of the venues that was dear to him was a 3000-cap amphitheatre. “I’ve never felt anything like it, it was a beautiful thing to understand that my songs can fill a space like that.” This moment on the tour seemed to be a highlight for Malin, understandably, but he also added that shows he’s done in tiny venues in the middle of nowhere have been equally as special to him. As mentioned, community is a big theme within Malin’s music, and community can be found in venues big and small across the globe, as “audiences always react differently, and interpret the music differently”. This is also a big part of what makes performing live so important to Dom Malin. Each show is unique, and according to Malin it takes a few songs to get into the groove of things, and shake off any stage fright. “I definitely get nervous, I want to do well, I’m a perfectionist,” says Malin, and this definitely comes across in his sincerity and enthusiasm during our interview. “I want to make sure I deliver as well as I can, and you can get a feel for what a particular audience wants. People have paid to see me, so I want to do well.” It is this integrity and attention to detail that have made Malin so successful in his field, and his live shows so rewarding for both him and the audience.

After speaking about Malin’s live shows, we asked him if there was a particular venue in Birmingham that he had enjoyed playing. Malin replied in true Brummy fashion, stating that the “dirty, grubby” venues are the best, a sentiment we both definitely share. He added, “I like anywhere where you stick to the floor”. Malin spoke about Pizza Express Live, a venue that was inside a Pizza Express in the city centre. “Amy Whinehouse and Jamie Cullum played it, as mad as it sounds, no one knew about it, but they had a piano and it was like a New York 1930s bar,” he laughed. According to Malin, it was the best venue soundwise in Birmingham. Unfortunately, this venue has since shut down, but we’re thankful to Malin for making us aware of it, as we think it sounds like a real gap in the market that possibly Concrete could fill! Malin has always championed Birmingham and its history, and believes that the city gets a bad rep, (though this was technically off the record). “Musicians from Birmingham all have a kind of bonded hardship. For an artist to be authentic there has to be life lived, and I think a lot of musicians from Birmingham have that.” Malin finished the interview beaming with hometown pride, stating that he wants to put Birmingham on the map. “Birmingham taught me to be tough and persevere and work hard and show up, and do the best job I can, and prove myself.” Dom Malin is for sure doing Birmingham proud, and we look forward to seeing what he’s got coming up.

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