MallRat
Meet MallRat
Remember when NY and the internet lost their mind over that pizza rat? Well now it’s time for everyone to lose it over MALLRAT. This Brooklyn band makes “sad rock for sweet freaks,” so if you’re sweet and / or a freak, this stuff is for you.
Below, these mall lovin’ pals divulge their favorite food court goodie, the best reality tv show, and their preferred mode of transportation.
Grab yourself a big ol’ pretzel and peep our conversation below.
A self-portrait by, Mallrat
Would You Rather…
your sense of smell or sense of hearing be a hundred times stronger? Why?
I already get overwhelmed by sensory experiences so both of those would be my hell!
Some Questions with Mallrat
If you could be on any reality TV show, what would it be and why?
I have this fantasy where I femme up so I can be a contestant on the Bachelor. Midway through the season I “come out” as trans and leave the show. And then on the next season of the Bachelorette I show up as one of the male contestants.
What is the best book you’ve most recently read?
The Faggots & Their Friends Between Revolutions by Larry Mitchell (with really beautiful illustrations by Ned Asta). It made me cry a lot, thinking about queer grief and joy and care.
What was the best store in the mall?
Hot Topic! Also loved a pretzel from Auntie Anne’s.
Where were you emotionally when you were writing your 2016 EP “every breath a fracture”?
I wrote that EP from a space of self-hatred and a feeling of being out of place. I still listen to those songs sometimes when those kinds of feelings pop up but our next album is more grounded in joy and futurity.
If there was no subway, would you prefer to scooter, skateboard, rollerblade, or bike everywhere?
I want to dyke out in a pickup truck.
What is the worst mixer of all time?
Do you mean a soundboard or a social gathering or a blender? I'm a precise brat.
Do you see a correlation between intimacy and simplicity of production? If so how does it play into your creative process?
The simplicity of production on our first EP was more a result of me not being super interested in the recording process. My creative process revolves around songwriting/arranging and I've only gotten interested in production more recently.
Through the three years, you have been playing music as Mallrat have you noticed a change in your creative process?
When I write music for Mallrat I'm channeling my divine connection and I just let the songs flow out of me. I think my way of explaining that process has changed, but not the core of the creative process. I didn't use to see that magic in me so I would never have articulated it that way.
How do you feel about bodega cats?
Love those guys!
Where do you get your news? Do you read the news?
I get the news from my friends I think? I try to be mindful of when I'm allowing myself to take in that kind of information. Like, I don't check Twitter as soon as I wake up.
What are the worst things about being a musician in NYC? What are the best things?
People can be really career-oriented in how they make music, which used to be very jarring to me because of how logistical it felt. But I think it's necessary in New York to be organized/focused on how you're doing your practice. New York is also the place that I feel a sense of community and I feel connected to other musicians!
Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)
We have an album coming out next year!