Margot
Saratoga Springs, New York, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2005
Music
Press
http://poetryjam.org/2007/09/04/margo-malia-september-2/
"Margo was the featured poet on Sunday, September 2nd and she was her usual spirited self! She has been coming down to the Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam for more than 10 years and has had many features in that time span. She was very strong and honest with her work. She is not afraid to share her life and surrender her body to her work. Regie Gibson sat in on the conga drum and the trio was in fine form. "
- poetryjam.org
Margot Malia - Lava Moon
1999, Margot Malia
Margot Malia Lynch is a native of Greenfield Center, NY (just over the hill from Saratoga Springs) who spent much of her life playing the music of others as a classically trained pianist and violinist. It wasn't until her late 20's that Malia picked up a guitar and started writing songs as a catharsis from a failed long-term relationship. Malia recorded her debut EP, Lava Moon, in Boston in 1999. Lava Moon has never before been reviewed and has only been available at local shows in Upstate New York over the last ten years. Malia is finally contemplating the writing and recording of a new project and thought it might be time to dust off Lava Moon for a wider audience.
Lava Moon is a picture of the artist as an early work in progress. The album features just Malia and her guitar, and Malia's guitar skills at the time didn't extend beyond chord changes and strumming, but show a definite ear for melody and progression in songwriting. Malia's voice is warm and sensuous throughout, alternately taking on the earthy quality of a Grace Slick or the flighty quality of Tori Amos. Lava Moon itself is a treatise in Feminist and Naturalist ideology (treating them as intertwined rather than as distinct). Lava Moon is about the empowerment of women; the finding of value in self rather than in the projections of society and a connection to the natural world. The album opens with Be A Light Unto Yourself. This is a great start that will earn comparisons to some of the more rambling material from Jefferson Airplane. The song itself is limited by the sparse instrumentation and would be interesting to hear how Malia might re-interpret it ten years on.
Power is a song of thanks to the divine feminine aspect, focusing on lava as a source of power or almost a life's blood for the earth. Multi-dimensional opens as a feminist treatise but becomes more of an encouragement for self-empowerment. The song is written for female listeners and beseeches listeners to see themselves as more than objects of society's fancy. I would guess this might have been one of Malia's early attempts at songwriting as it's clear she was more focused on message than musicality here, but the song has real potential. Tyger is in the same boat as Be A Light Unto Yourself; a promising song limited by the instrumentation here. Pele might be the most intriguing song on the CD. Pele (volcano/goddess) is representative of the power of women, the planet and all of nature. Lava is the planet's lifeblood (a theme also in Power, and the volcano's core is compared to a womb. This mostly spoken-word piece is dynamic and engaging, and gives you an idea of how Ani DiFranco might have sounded if she grew up 20 years earlier.
Lava Moon is an early rough sketch of an American Primitive musician. Malia was still very much learning her craft at the time Lava Moon was made, and yet she showed very strong potential as a songwriter and performer. Lava Moon is the sort of introduction that leaves us here at Wildy's World very curious about the future of Margot Malia. I don't know if significant popular reach is likely (although it's impossible to tell what's transpired artistically in ten years without hearing new material), but Malia is a distinctive, artistic voice as a songwriter, and her voice is definitely a draw. Lava Moon is worth investing a little bit of time in, although it's probably more for the ladies (if you're a member of the He-Man Woman Haters Club you definitely won't like it). Here's hoping Margot Malia treats us to new material soon.
Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5) - Wildy's World
Lyn Lifshin's words, Margot's work is "unique and fascinating".
Lyn Lifshin has written more than 125 books, Her poems have appeared in most every poetry and literary magazine in the US, and she has been praised by Robert Frost and Ed Sanders. www.lynlifshin.com - Lyn Lifshin
"In "Making Reflections on Our Evolutions", Margot asks us to do just that - to approach our own personal evolution with patience, trust and gentleness. I was reminded of the wonderful quote from Thich Nhat Hanh: "May I learn to look at myself with the eyes of understanding and love." If we cannot treat ourselves with understanding and love, how can we give those things to others? And yet Margot's words and music contain a fierceness and urgency - she hears the music from a hidden world and she wants it to be a clarion call to us." Margaret McCarthy ~Visual Artist, Playwright/Poet - Margaret McCarthy, Visual Artist, Playwright/Poet
Discography
Lava Moon, 1999, EP. Recorded in Mystic Studios in Arlington, Ma. Acoustic Guitar and layered vocals. Titles of songs are: Power, Multidimensional, Be a Light, Tyger, and Pele (Hawaiian volcano goddess poem/song). Tropical Storm, 1996, Poetry Chap Book.
Airtime on 102.7WEQX out of Vermont and 103.9 WMZR from Latham, NY
Photos
Bio
Hawaii born and multitalented; Margot Malia always delivers a mind blowing show. Her content is deep, visionary, supernatural and is motivated by the quest for enlightenment . Margot Malia is literally connected to the land of Hawaii and listens to an unconscious muse of Hawaiian ways and aloha. She challenges the system with her writings and uncovers illusions and lies she sees in the human existence. With the amazing combination of a colorful presence, exceptional talent, and heightened creativity, Margot will knock you out and win you over.
She received The Heisler music scholarship while attending The State University of New York at Plattsburgh. She took classical piano and violin lessons for over 12 years , studied diligently and got awards.
She played keys for Boston pop rock band Ramona Silver in 1998. Margot went on an east coast tour with the band and warmed up for The Call.
She co-hosted an open mic 'Rituals' in Cambridge, MA, with respected poet and educator, Regie Gibson.
In 2003, she performed with an all female ensemble of dancers, musicians and poets at Babson College in Wellsley, Ma. called "The She Show". Margot worked intensively with director, Lau Lapides on creating performance art pieces.
Margot is a survival story. She overcame an almost fatal, abusive relationship. She has universal wisdom for the oppressed who feel trapped. She's got a warrior spirit who sings for the lost and will fight for what is good and honest.
She is influenced by Bono, Tori Amos, Bjork, PJ Harvey, Led Zeppelin, Beck, Ani Difranco, Madonna, Jim Morrison, Trent Reznor, Jimi Hendrix, Nini Simone, Alanis Morrisette, Laurie Anderson, The Blue Men Group, Ben Harper, Grant Lee Phillips, Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, Beethoven, Performance Art and many poets. She looks up to many successful artists, but knows that no one has her insight, character and creativity and that the world would easily fall in love with her.
She is writing new material and revamping old works for a full length CD. Margot is working in tv, video and film production to support the love. She would like to conduct workshops in poetry and music to help people express themselves. With a background in the visual arts and production, she is a multimedia event waiting to happen. Margot looks forward to working with a full band, wearing some face paint, putting some feathers in her hair, wearing symbolic outfits and being an out of this world front person. She knows how to mix it up and can be the polite singer/songwriter in the corner~ but she'll always have a unique edge. Many people say they've never seen someone be so expressive as Margot. She is an endless well of creativity. Margot Malia is a vital performer for these confusing times.
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