Jenny Sorto

Australian artist Mallrat aka Grace Shaw has proved she’s a star to watch. Fresh off a performance of her original song with BENEE at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Mallrat is returning to the U.S. to perform her new music for fans. The rising artist’s debut record Butterfly Blue is a stunning pop project we’re excited to see live.

We sat down with the artist before her run of West Coast shows and asked her about career milestones, upcoming performances, and the connections people create with her music. 

Bad Wreck: I want to start by talking about your recent collab with BENEE on the track for the FIFA Women's World Cup, “Do It Again.” What was the process like creating a song that was going to be on such a big platform?

Mallrat: It was really unique. Usually when I'm writing, I kind of just meander around and play with a million different things and it's like a very formless way of making music which is really fun. But this had very specific criteria for a very specific purpose. So it was really interesting to work with the context of, “Oh, this will be performed in a stadium” and it will be played for things like promoting the FIFA Women's World Cup, a major sporting event. It was a very, very different process, but really, really fun. Actually, BENEE did all the hard yards because she started it off and then I just kind of came in and did my verse but it was really interesting. And yeah, really, really cool. And I love BENEE. 

BW: Yeah we love the song!

Then continuing with your other music – your debut album, Butterfly Blue came out last year. How do you feel that represents a part of your artistic journey?

M: I feel very proud of it. I was working on it for probably four years, which is a pretty long time, so I didn't have to compromise to fit a deadline or anything like that. It was exactly how I wanted it to be…I'm very proud of it.

BW: It's also been a few years since you've toured in North America. As an international artist, what excites you most about getting to perform to an audience in the States?

M: I'm just so curious to see who they are like, who may be the new fans since the album came out, and what songs are resonating with people. You can look at Spotify numbers and see what songs are big in which place but that only makes sense once you're in a room with people and you see them. You see it back in the way they're singing. That's kind of the only time it feels tangible. I really look forward to that part of it.

BW: For anyone unfamiliar with you as an artist, what do you hope new fans connect with when it comes to your music?

M: My favorite thing that people sometimes say is that my lyrics helped articulate something that they didn't know how to put into words or they didn't think to put into words. And that's one of my favorite compliments ever. So that's always really nice.

BW: As you gear up for these upcoming shows, what can we expect from your live show? Are there any surprises?

M: It's hard to say. But I think that what makes my show unique to me or my favorite thing about my show is I feel like the people that come to my shows are so beautiful. It's just such a nice energy in the room, for lack of a better word. It's really special to see strangers connect…Like, I don't even care that it's me on stage. It's just nice seeing strangers connect over the lyrics of a song that they like and I feel really happy that that happens at my shows.

BW: That's my favorite part about going to shows too.

M: Yeah! It's really special. So cool.

BW: Lastly, can you tell us about anything that you're working on? What are your plans moving forward this year?

M: I am doing these shows and then going back to Australia for this run of festivals called Listen Out. Ice Spice, Little Uzi, and Skrillex are playing so it's gonna be really fun. But I'm mostly working on a new album every day. So I just am so looking forward to being able to share those songs!