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Review: Mali Hâf, the Louisiana – ‘Brings a unique artistry to the grassroots’
Hailing from Cardiff, Wales, rising Celtic pop singer-songwriter Mali Hâf is a force to be reckoned with. A proud Welsh Wiccan, Hâf brings a unique mysticism to her artistry.
Setting off on her UK tour this month, mainly consisting of Welsh dates, she visited Bristol for the first time ever on Wednesday night, stopping by renowned venue the Louisiana.
Fusing performance art and ritualism, her sonics blend pop, electronic production and elements of soul and R&B.
is needed now More than ever
Onstage she’s spellbinding, radiating sensuality and presence, her performance showcasing the power of her vocal range. Flitting between delicate, goosebump-inducing whispers to bold, commanding belts, she utilises the full stretch of the stage and often takes to the floor for full dramatic effect.
Arriving onstage in a witch’s hat and candy pink veil, Hâf sets the tone for her hypnotic hour-long set.
Pairing ethereal, haunting melodies with cutting edge lyricism delivered in the Welsh language, her Celtic roots and deep passion for her mother tongue give her a rare authenticity, an antidote to today’s overly polished pop landscape.
This is a prominent feature within the songs she plays tonight and consequent almost theatrical performance, her lyrics exploring cultural identity, as well as feminist and spiritual themes.
A stand out example is H.W.F.M (Hen Wlad Fy Mamau), which reimagines the Welsh national anthem from a feminist perspective, symbolically shifting Old Land Of My Fathers (Hen Wlad Fy Nhadhau) to ‘Old Land Of My Mothers’, celebrating and honouring the contributions of women to the country’s history and culture.
Similarly closing track Llais (translating to ‘voice’) explores themes of finding your voice and using it for good, making for a celebratory, shimmering synth-pop number brimming with self-empowerment.
someone change the mirrors follows on a similar thread: an urgent, fast-paced alt-pop track exploring self-image, trauma and, ultimately, healing. Hâf performs this with an almost interpretative dance choreography, the lit-up backdrop of The Louisiana’s stage creating a contrast to her silhouetted frame.
The set consists of songs both new and old, a track named Ac Felly – “so what?” – and inspired by a therapy session being one of the stand out unreleased tracks of the evening.
Driven by crowd participation, asking for those in attendance tonight to join her in the expression each time it rolls around, Hâf’s warm personality is made evident, her stage craft peppered with both humour and theatrics, making for a captivating and expressive performance.
Elsewhere, the unreleased Muse is a delicate, soulful number offering a breather from the more high energy elements of Hâf’s show.
Prior to the more vulnerable sonics and lyricism, she explains how the song’s been positively received during the tour, with every night someone in the crowd moved to tears.
“Cause I’m not in your paintings or your songs no more / I’m not in your poems or the sketches you draw / Oh I miss being your muse,” is gentle with raw, emotive delivery, capturing her eclectic soundscapes and revealing the elements of traditional Welsh folk weaved throughout her music.
Bizarrely, much of the set is performed in almost darkness, Hâf requesting the lights be dimmed to create more of a “cwtchy atmosphere”, the lights only changing for the encore.
“I hope no-one has epilepsy” she quips as her figure becomes illuminated by flickering purple and blue hues for the first time since the second tune, electronic sonics and the kind of perfectly choreographed steps you’d expect to see in much larger venues taking over in an almost Charli XCX-esque shift.
Mali Hâf’s powerful voice with its emotional depth and resonance, paired with her light-hearted stagecraft – accompanied by a dressing up box and immersive voice-overs – transcends language and is bringing a unique artistry to the grassroots music scene.
She’s most definitely one to be looking out for.
All images: Katie Hillier
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