July 21 was the day Los Angeles-based artist KiNG MALA had all of us at her mercy. Her new single, ‘Mercy‘, emits prowling energy, with minor and major notes at war, the song encapsulates the good and the bad of being human. This song sees KiNG MALA asking for forgiveness for all the things in her life she did when she was learning and growing. Striving to be a good person, she is known for her kindness and loving tendencies, but like many, she often battles with mental illness and the darker parts of her mind. She confides, “I have said things I will regret forever and every day I search for the good within me and search for the proof that those things are not who I really am. Sometimes all you can do is forgive yourself and look for the good… that’s what this song means to me.”
Kicking off the track with a glass piano motif and tender vocals, ‘Mercy’ gradually adds layer by layer, before diving into a slinking melody over pops of the gritty bass sound. Sharp pulses ooze fear, mirroring the darker alter ego, while KiNG MALA’s signature vocal textures scream femininity and angelic tones, bringing the shadows into the light and reminding us that the good always outshines the bad.
KiNG MALA, aka Areli Castro, is an El Paso born, alternative soul artist. She pens songs which touch on themes from lust, sexuality and badass femininity. Not afraid to spill her guts, the songwriter set out with the hopes to spark confidence in both herself and her listeners, creating music that will make you walk taller and speak louder. ‘Mercy’ closely follows the release of her viral anthem ‘she calls me daddy‘ which has garnered over three million streams to date.
Listen to ‘Mercy’ below, and check out more of her music here. If you like what you’ve heard, give her a follow on Instagram to see what she does next.