Check Out Mal Haltam’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mal Haltam.

Hi Mal, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m Mallory Graham (or Mal), and I’ve lived in Colorado for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to be a musician. Throughout my early education i took part in the school band programs and was a percussionist. I enjoyed the people in my life, and am very fortunate to have had such a supportive mom throughout all of it. After several years of playing with various bands, I’m finally releasing a musical project that is all my own!

Here’s a brief artist bio for anyone curious!

Mallory Graham is the solo project from local Coloradoan Mal Haltam. Over the past decade she’s been mastering her craft by playing in bands throughout the local music scene. Fernbrook, Wicked Vixen, Dumpster Head, and Atom Son of Man are her most prominent projects she’s contributed to. Classically trained as a percussionist and jazz drummer, her drumming style is centered around groove and syncopation. At 17 years of age, she bought a ukulele and began dabbling with chord progressions and melody. In highschool she formed a ukulele club and was a mainstay in the modern rock club. She picked up bass shortly after, and eventually bought a Danelectro guitar after graduating. Currently, she works for the Mishawaka Amphitheatre while attending Front Range Community College, and is an avid listener of DIY and independent music. After 7 years of playing with other people, her debut solo EP will be released in early 2025, with three singles leading up to its full release.

Her inspirations come from indie/bedroom artists like JW Francis & Her’s, femme indie queens squirrel flower & dodie clark, and the surf legends such as The Beach Boys & Dick Dale. Her music fuses the surf sound with modern funk scales and indie feel, making her very own hodgepodge of expression. Her lyrical content speaks towards those who have fallen in and out of love, avid nature nerds, and the LGBTQ community. On the debut EP Surfin’ Ducks she sings and plays everything – drums, bass, guitars, pianos, and the Fender Rhodes. Engineers include Mike Davis (formerly of Chess at Breakfast), Jason “Bazzy Basner (of Atom Son of Man) and Andrew Waltman from Moredoor studios.

After many years I get to follow my dream and play The Mishawaka Amphitheater on Saturday March 22nd! The same day my debut EP comes out. The album is an upbeat excursion for birds who love indie/surf/punk.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I began feeling uncomfortable in my own skin around the age of 14, and I never really understood it for the longest time. Highschool was rough, but not because people were rude towards me, I tended to be the more abrasive type. I never felt quite connected with many people, and constantly floated around friend groups. My mom had remarried to a man who was bipolar, and he was verbally and physically abusive with both me and my brother. Each day I tried to be a class clown of sorts to prevent people from digging into my emotions, hoping they just assumed I was fine. Eventually my mom divorced the crazy psycho drummer, but not until after he kicked me out of our house when I was only 17. We found a new home and finally were able to finally start relaxing and enjoying our time as a family.

Even with the newfound peace, there was still something that prevented me from feeling normal. When I was alone I would wear my mom’s heels around the house, and I always had an admiration of more femme-leaning fashion. But I didn’t know what I was, I was aware of trans people in the world but I never thought that I was allowed to be one because I was attracted to femme-presenting people. It’s kind of funny – I never would’ve realized I was genderqueer if I hadn’t attended a local smash brothers tournament. It was there that a very nice person broke it all down for me, and explained that sexuality, gender, and the sex assigned at birth are all completely independent of one another. Thanks to them I can now confidently strut my stuff without worry of being “too girly, or too queer”.

The drugs didn’t help me either. I was a hardcore stoner for over a decade, but in May of 2025 I will hit 2 years sober from the devil’s lettuce. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad drug, but my personal experience with it was similar to substance abuse. Weed made me content – felt fine doing nothing with myself. When I was high, I wanted to be sober, and when I was sober I wanted to get high. It was an endless cycle that I knew I had to end. Kicking that habit is what made me realize that I have my own voice I want to share with the world (and the birds). Being weed-free has allowed me to have the energy and drive to pursue my passions at full speed!

However, dealing with past abuse from a father figure, substance abuse, and my gender identity have made me the person I am today. I am still grateful for the road I have traveled.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. I believe my music falls into the worlds of surf, indie, punk, and pop. Lyrically, I write for the birds, the gays, and anyone who is falling in and out of love.

Drumming is my main skill, but since getting weed-sober I had much more confidence in my song-writing. I’ve played with numerous bands in the past decade (see artist bio), but am so excited to share my debut solo record “Surfin’ Ducks” on March 22nd!

I am incredibly proud of this album, and the early reception has been amazing! The 2 singles so far “Mallard” and “Porcelain” are very upbeat feel good songs about love and ducks (DON’T FEED ‘EM BREAD)!!). I made it over the course of 2024, working with Andrew Waltman at Moredoor Studios. Together we made something that is heartfelt, rambunctious, and vulnerable all at the same time.

As a drummer, I think my approach to song-writing is much more rhythm focused. You can dance to (almost) every song on this album. I also pride myself in not taking music too seriously, music is an art that should be silly and I have leaned into that with my lyrical choices. Authenticity is everything to me, and this album feels like I’m pushing my pure soul through the speakers. Personally, I can’t name another queer surf-rock musician who is absolutely obsessed with birds (if you can please introduce me)!

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
To name a few – dancing with my mom to old Mo-Town records like The Temptations and Marvin Gaye. Headbanging to Cannibal Corpse on the way to school with my younger brother. Seeing the music video for The White Stripes’ “Fell In Love With A Girl” for the first time. The first time I saw the ocean in San Diego, and seeing my Baba perform Frank Sinatra at various clubs in L.A.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/mallorygraham
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mallorys.gram
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567520964573
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mallorygrahamslams?si=S67FJSHcT4LOv75I
• soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/captain_malk
• Other: https://mallorygraham.bandcamp.com/

Image Credits
Natalie Householder Backstage Flash Abby Flores