Growing up immersed in the arts, singer-songwriter Malek Azrael recalls being surrounded by the sounds of Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross and singer-songwriter Monica in his childhood home. But Azrael credits his big sister, a poet, as one of his first idols (in good company with Beyoncé).
“I remember kind of reading her poetry journals—which I shouldn’t have done—but I just thought she was so creative,” Azrael says. “I was the biggest fan of her writing, of her singing. I thought she was one of the coolest people in the world.”
Now an indie rock singer-songwriter performing throughout Kansas City, Azrael is a poet in his own right. Often backed by his band, Malek Azrael and The Vibez, the musician recently dropped an upbeat single, “You.” Joined by bassist Quinn Cosgrove, guitarist and background vocalist Calvin Haverkamp and drummer Josh Luke, the release marks not only a stylistic shift but also an emotional one for Azrael.
Last year, the singer-songwriter auditioned for American Idol, performing for judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan. Although Azrael didn’t make it past the audition, he says that advancing through those preliminary stages gave him a needed confidence boost.
“But more than anything, it [the audition] made me realize I need to break these taboo ideas of creativity and creation—I’ve created the same way for years,” Azrael says. “For my new music, I’m taking a leap of faith. I’m praying that people like my music enough to let me try new things.” Now, working with new producers, he’s focused on shaking off his fears and easing the pressure he puts on himself. He describes the next chapter of his career as “more vulnerable and unapologetic.”
Before Azrael was taking the stage at festivals and clubs, he was a painfully shy kid (which, given his larger-than-life stage presence, I never would’ve guessed). After finding his voice at an elementary school talent show, singing helped draw him out of his shell and surprised his family. “It was the first time my parents ever heard me sing,” Azrael says. “They bawled.”
From there, he became more involved with his church choir, singing solos on Sundays and at weddings and funerals. Still, he remained inspired by his sister’s poetry and felt drawn to create something of his own.
While working with agricultural nonprofit Boys Grow as a teenager, Azrael was connected with musician Enrique Chi. The frontman of band Making Movies, Chi had recently founded Art as Mentorship, a songwriting-focused music nonprofit that proved transformative for Azrael’s career. The emerging artist began attending as many workshops as he could. “I fell in love with it,” he says. Today, Azrael is a mentor for the same program.
Beyond working on new music and coaching young musicians, Azrael is gearing up for a Midwest tour this spring. He also has ambitions to release a live album compilation of music he’s performed across the city throughout the past four years. “It’s a love letter to everybody who supported us,” Azrael says.
Listen to Malek Azrael and The Vibez’s latest single, “You,” on all streaming platforms.
GO: Malek Azrael and The Vibez with Esso. May 1. 7 pm. Farewell(6515 Stadium Dr., KCMO).
