Pop artist Heather Mall releases her new single “Games,” a ballad that reflects the best of her intentions with music, “see the soul in everything.”
Heather Mall is a singer and songwriter well-known for her exceptional lyricism, capable of telling the most beautiful stories through music. Her songwriting pairs with her vocals which many describe as hypnotic and passionate. They do it for a good reason. It is a matter of listening to her for a few seconds to fall for her music.
“Games” is a touching ballad with poetic language and metaphors that say so much with a few words. To seek a love that could last a lifetime. That is a hard mission with no previous knowledge, full of trials and errors. Sometimes you have to turn down a romance after playing your cards. Sometimes it is the person you love who does it. It is full of games.
Diving into “Games” starts with a distant and reverberant synthesizer, creating an emotional and nostalgic ambiance full of ABBA’s vibes. Two guitars and a bass accompany Heater’s tender and energizing voice. She builds the hype as she sings, like reading a letter full of memories and self-love. It is easy to relate to her lyrics and connect to the song.
When you get to the chorus, it is like a burst of emotions. Heather Mall’s lyrics hurt; love will end, but you know it is for the best. Only a great artist with a talent to show the most vulnerable part of every person can give sound and poetry to such common but hard-to-take pain.
Do you want to know what a romantic classic sounds like? Then hit the play button on “Games” and sing along.
A warm welcome back to BuzzMusic Heather Mall, and congratulations on your latest single, "Games." What experience took you to write “Games?”
At the beginning of 2020, when the pandemic had everyone on lockdown, I was emotionally and creatively drained. I had no motivation to make art, but I wanted to reclaim my energy, so I decided to text my friends and ask them to give me any topic so I could write a song about it. One of my friends suggested board games. Immediately after, I went to my piano, jotted down the lyrics, and came up with a melody for the song. For two years, “Games” was lying in wait. I didn’t know what to do with it, the key wasn’t right, and it didn’t have enough movement. In 2022, I collaborated with Julian Höninger, who co-produced the track. He helped me recognize what was missing from the song, and it finally felt ready to be released to the world. By this time, so much had changed in my life that the song became a source of empowerment for me.
What was your most significant musical influence when making “Games?”
As soon as I wrote it, I wanted it to have a nostalgic 80s pop-ballad sound. I adore 80’s music, and in the past, I typically released more indie-pop/singer-songwriter styles. It was important to me to transition with this song because I couldn’t imagine it any other way. There are so many 80’s artists that I was inspired by, but to name a few, I would say Roxanne and The Bangles. Other artists like Jon Bellion also inspired me when writing “Games” because of his approach to the creative process that goes into songwriting.
How do you expect “Games” to impact your listeners?
When writing “Games,” I was going through some pretty big life changes. The songwriting process helped me heal and, more importantly, grow and recognize my potential and self-worth. I hope that listeners are impacted by this song because while it is a fun song, it also has so much depth to it about becoming your true self and not being ashamed to stand up for yourself.
What was the most memorable moment from making “Games?”
The most memorable moment from making “Games” would have to be when it was almost complete. During one of our production sessions, Julian and I were working on it, and he added an electric guitar, and at that moment, the song felt like it had reached its full potential. I got goosebumps during the session because I was truly happy with how it developed and turned out. It is something that I am extremely proud of.
What's next for you?
Next year, I will continue to release new music. My next release is set to be sometime in February. I am hoping to have opportunities to perform live shows in different cities! I’m looking forward to what the future holds.