Mallavora share new single ‘Smile’

Mallavora are a blazing force in alt-metal, fusing ferocious riffs with elements of R&B, soul, and the rich cultural heritage of vocalist Jessica Douek’s Jewish-Middle Eastern roots. Since emerging in 2020 with their debut EP Paradise, the band has carved out a reputation as one of the most exciting rising acts in heavy music. Early support from rock tastemakers like Total Rock, BBC Introducing, and Planet Rock marked them as a band to watch.

Although the pandemic interrupted their initial touring plans, Mallavora were undeterred and continued to release new music, building a loyal and dedicated fan base online. As soon as it was possible, Mallavora took to the stage and wasted no time in converting audiences into new fans. This paired with the momentum they had been generating on TikTok and other social media outlets brought them many more milestones.

2024 saw the band make their Download Festival debut, undertake their first UK headline tour, and secure huge support slots with bands such as Welsh powerhouse, Skindred. In November of 2024, they dropped their boldest release to date: the Echoes EP, released via Marshall Records as part of The Deal competition hosted by Kerrang! Radio. The EP pushed their total streams beyond 1 million, and drew even greater industry support from BBC Radio 1 and acclaimed rock and metal press such as Metal Hammer, Kerrang! and Alt Press to name a few.

Off the back of Echoes’ success, the band has enjoyed a busy schedule in 2025 – with appearances at Boomtown, 2000 Trees (Main Stage) and Alyx Holcombe’s MANTRA showcase.

For Mallavora, the music comes first and foremost, but behind their powerful music also lies equally powerful personal stories – a fierce honesty rooted in lived experience. Guitarist Larry Sobieraj channels his own experiences of chronic illness into the band’s instrumentals.

“It’s almost like a therapy tool to process these complicated and difficult things that a lot of people don’t understand, things that are hard to put into words,”  he says. “I want to be able to sit there and listen to the music and feel how I felt while writing it.”

He passes his instrumentals to vocalist Jessica Douek, who uses her emotional response to the music to craft vocals. In essence, it’s a creative dialogue.

“It makes it quite powerful in the sense that I can feel what he has written, and then I put that into words, associated with grief of becoming ill or losing a healthier version of yourself, ” says Jessica, who is disabled and lives with fibromyalgia.“There’s a lot of rage about societal barriers and being treated differently.”

Completed by bassist Ellis James and powerhouse drummer Sam Brownlow, Mallavora have become some of alternative music’s fiercest advocates for accessibility, committing to only headlining venues accessible enough for them and their audience. Ultimately, it’s a mantle they must take up out of necessity.

“The industry, as it currently is, isn’t sustainable for us with what we’re dealing with,” says Jessica. “There’s an existential worry that we won’t be able to have the career we want unless we forge this change ourselves.”  Nonetheless, this is just one facet of Mallavora’s artistry, and the band remains focused on creating music that resonates with a wide spectrum of people.

On September 10th, Mallavora returned full of fury and rage with their new track ‘Smile’, aimed squarely at society’s continued mistreatment of disabled people. Marking 30 years since the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act, ‘Smile’ tears into the contradiction of being both tokenised and sidelined, demanding respect and real change instead of the pity and underestimation that routinely faces disabled people. This is Mallavora at their most aggressive and confrontational – a brutal showcase of disabled rage, unlocked by the ferocious energy of their new drummer Sam Brownlow.

“We wanted to capture the urgency, fury, and righteous rage we feel about how society continues to treat Disabled people. With more music on the horizon, Smile offers a glimpse into the next chapter of Mallavora – how it’s going to sound, and how it’s going to make you feel.”

The single arrived with a striking new music video, showcasing Mallavora’s commitment to storytelling and multifaceted artistry.

Catch them on the road this autumn supporting THECITYISOURS.
13.11 – Plymouth @ The Junction
14.11 – Bristol @ The Exchange 
15.11 – London @ Downstairs at The Dome 
16.11 – Bournemouth @ The Bear Cave 
18.11 – Norwich @ Waterfront Studio
19.11 – Manchester @ The Star and Garter 
20.11 – Glasgow @ The Garage Attic 
21.11 – Nottingham @ Billy Bootleggers 
22.11 – Leeds @ The Key Club
23.11 – Birmingham @ O2 Institute 3

BAND MEMBERS:
Jessica Douek (vocals)
Larry Sobieraj (guitar)
Ellis James (bass)
Sam Brownlow (drums)