she is mali irene
vocal artist. improvisor. composer.
(formerly known as Malesha Jessie Taylor)
NEW ALBUM IS AVAILABLE NOW ON STREAMING PLATFORMS
bouquet : sound score
for charly palmer
Okorie Johnson, cello, composer
Salah Ananse, producer, composer
Mali Irene, voice, composer
biography
Mali Irene, (formerly known as Malesha Jessie Taylor) is a versatile vocal artist, improvisor, composer and arranger of this generation. See Curriculum Vitae HERE.
Her work breathes on an inspired continuum between classical, jazz, world, and electronic music.
Known for her exceptional range and an ability to sing in multiple languages, Malesha is the recipient of the prestigious National Black Arts Festival Horizon Award in Music 2022. Additional credits include electronic music and compositions with Yvette Jackson and Salah Ananse. Malesha also composed and recorded the sound score for the Praise House Project, a public art installation funded by National Endowment for the Arts Our Town currently in residence at Emory University.
Malesha is also apart of Yvette Jackson’s Radio Opera Workshop performing in Invisible People, Fear is their Alibi, and recently Left Behind which premiered at the 66th Biennale di Venezia- Experimental Music Theater. In concert music, she has also performed as a soloist with John Williams’ film concert tour “Lord of the Rings” and Malesha plays the role of Annie in San Francisco Opera’s Amazon PrimeVideo performance of Porgy and Bess. Other credits include community and solo engagements with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra- Lincoln Center, Los Angeles Opera and The Atlanta Opera. Malesha has been a guest and/or adjunct lecturer at Harvard University, Scripps College- The Claremont Colleges, Spelman College and California State Universities, Pomona and Fullerton, and Clark Atlanta University. Malesha is the Founder of museSalon Collaborative who was the Public Art 2021-2022 Curator-in-Residence with Art on the Atlanta BeltLine.
“the function of art is to do more than tell it like it is, it’s to imagine what is possible.”
bell hooks
horizon music award 2022
Malesha (Mali) Irene speaks about her career with the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta.
Left Behind, Radio Opera by Yvette Jackson
66th Biennale di Venezia Experimental Music Theater Festival
she is mali
Over ten songs, Mali’s first and newly released album features creative genius and pianist, Joshua White. As skilled improvisers, Mali and Joshua re-imagine works made known by Nina Simone, Abby Lincoln, Mahalia Jackson alongside a set of spirituals and boleros. The album closes with a unique arrangement of the famed operatic aria, Carmen’s “Habanera.”
electronic music Discography
Mali’s electronic music with collaborator/producer, Salah Ananse.
she’s coming
EP with Salah Ananse as Djeli
Watch the music video HERE commissioned by New Freedom Project
i am
Single with Salah Ananse as We are Djeli.
Watch the music video HERE created with students from by California State University, San Marcos Dance Dept.
claiming a black future
Single with Salah Ananse, Mali Irene and Atlanta Music Project Youth Choir