Malsi Steps Into Her Power With Hypnotic New Single “Noor”

Bangladeshi singer-songwriter and producer Malsi is bringing a fresh perspective to electrosoul with her latest single, “Noor,” a vibrant fusion of alternative R&B, Desi pop, and psychedelic influences. Combining bilingual songwriting with her signature layered vocal production, Malsi delivers an empowering release about protecting your peace, trusting your instincts, and welcoming the good things that follow.

Meaning “divine light” in Arabic, “Noor” reflects Malsi's journey toward self-acceptance and emotional freedom. Following February's “Year of the Ocean,” which explored setting personal boundaries, the new single picks up where that story left off, celebrating the unexpected opportunities and meaningful connections that emerge when you stop compromising your happiness.

Sonically, Malsi builds an infectious groove around traditional South Asian instrumentation, incorporating tabla, sitar, and hypnotic vocal loops alongside lush electronic production. Her intricate Bengali-English harmonies add another dimension, creating a sound that feels deeply personal without sacrificing its danceable appeal.

“I hope people feel introspective and mesmerized in a way, but still want to groove and dance,” Malsi shares.

Marking her third bilingual Bengali-English release, “Noor” also represents another milestone in her songwriting, with Malsi independently writing the Bengali lyrics.

Having released more than 40 songs, including fan favorites “Tumi Aar Aami” and “Liberation,” Malsi continues carving out her own space in contemporary R&B while celebrating her Bangladeshi roots.

With “Noor,” Malsi proves that embracing your light can be just as powerful as finding it.

“Noor” represents a new chapter in your personal and spiritual journey. What experiences helped you reach a place where you could fully trust yourself, and how did that transformation influence the song?

So many experiences, I've probably lost count by now. I think one significant experience was headlining a show this summer, "Girls Night Out," which showcased a lineup of five talented female artists who I really enjoyed performing alongside. I've been creating music for over a decade now, without a desire for fame or fortune, but just because I love it. Having the opportunity to headline felt like a huge moment for me.

My inner voice was like, "Yeah, I do have what it takes," and that trust I've built in myself about my skills and abilities inside and outside of music over my lifetime really rang out during the show. My friends and fans who came to the show that evening were even singing along to my songs! And they were even singing the Bengali parts! It was so cool, genuinely just a huge moment for me. It's like, I know now I'm on the right path, even though I balance two careers, one in music and one in education, and I actually prefer it that way.

Receiving that support, but also trusting myself and my songwriting abilities, helped me write Noor. I felt so bolstered through singing live despite carrying the weight of being the headliner, so I took the step to try writing lyrics without support from my parents this time. It ended up working out so well, since this song really encapsulates my particular sound and style (the experimental psychedelic side mixed with the electrosoul and upbeat r&b side), and I felt so proud of it by the end of the writing process. Releasing it as soon as possible didn't feel like a question for me this time.

Your previous release, “Year of the Ocean,” explored setting boundaries, while “Noor” focuses on what happens afterward. How do these two songs connect, and what have you learned about protecting your peace without closing yourself off to meaningful relationships?

Year of the Ocean was about how I set boundaries in order to protect my well-being when someone I love was not taking care of their mental health. In turn, it was impacting me negatively. Through being strong in setting my boundaries, even when it felt incredibly hard since I wanted to help that person, I grew a ton. It was a huge challenge, though, and I'm grateful to my support system, who helped me through so much. Down the line, when that person took full accountability and sought out the mental health support they needed, it showed me how powerful sticking to your boundaries -- and, ultimately, values -- really is.

Perhaps they wouldn't have changed had I not stuck to my boundaries. By sticking to my values, I think that's how Noor was born. There was this immense sense of peace and joy that came with creating Noor. I didn't second-guess anything; I just trusted the process. That kind of deep trust I have in myself now has helped me grow my discernment and trust the energy I sense from those I meet or know, which ultimately protects my peace without closing myself off from meaningful relationships.

Your production brings together tabla, sitar, South Asian vocal samples, and psychedelic influences. How do you approach combining these elements with contemporary R&B, and what inspired the sonic direction of “Noor”?

I went off intuition almost entirely for "Noor"; I actually didn't try to approach contemporary R&B for this one, although there are a few sonic elements that match up. The whole process for writing this one felt very instinctual. I listened to South Asian vocal samples (you'll hear the loop that starts off the song ebb and flow throughout the song) that moved my emotions at the time, and built around that with other instruments, samples, and my own vocals.

I also had a playlist I randomly found online, full of Bengali bangers that were pop-heavy, so I felt a lot of that upbeat, joyful energy that fed Noor. One of these songs was called "Ekla Duniya" by Habib Wahid, Sanjoy and Muza, which has a lot of Bengali vocabulary I actually didn't know ("Ekla Duniya" is Bengali for "Lonely world"), but the singer's upbeat yet melancholic tone really pulled me in. I think the singer's tone, Bengali stylings, plus the danceworthy production inspired some of Noor. And I was also listening to a lot of music by Saint Levant and Kali Uchis at the time, so I think there was some influence there as well on Noor.

“Noor” marks your third Bengali-English release, and this time you took on writing the Bengali lyrics yourself. How has incorporating your native language changed your relationship with songwriting and your Bangladeshi heritage?

I wanted to challenge myself, to see if I could write Bengali lyrics independently with confidence. Because of that, incorporating my native language has helped me feel more confident in my songwriting in general, and especially in Bengali. It makes me feel closer to my heritage with each song I write in Bengali, especially since I was born and raised in the Boston area and had to assimilate to American culture as a child. I'm grateful my parents took so many steps to encourage my love for my Bangladeshi culture and our Bengali language. I am also grateful that I have my parents and other family members to write with or check my grammar -- and I felt a huge rush of relief when my dad told me I had written these lines correctly! I'm excited to include my parents in more upcoming songs, and even work with other family members who write songs and poetry.

You've built a catalog of more than 40 songs while developing a sound that feels distinctly your own. How has your definition of artistic success evolved, and what creative boundaries are you hoping to push with your next chapter?

I think success, when it comes to being an artist, is having ownership of your time. I've been able to pursue my creative work for over a decade now, and that to me feels like success. I think early on, I saw "success" like a naive college kid: a fat paycheck or millions of streams. It's important to be properly compensated for your work, of course. But when it comes to success, I've come to realize that it's more related to being able to work with people you enjoy working with, build a community through art, and chase your own sonic style (rather than fit some predetermined mold). In my next chapter, I hope to continue meeting and working with more kind, talented people (this is already in motion and I'm thrilled about it) while building with the incredible people I already have the privilege to work with, and write as much music as I can.