Malia J

Born in Hawaii, Malia J initially pursued a career in classical music, touring globally as a classical oboist after training at Interlochen Arts Academy. This foundational training provided a unique perspective that later influenced her pop music career. She gained significant public attention when her cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was selected for the opening sequence of Marvel Studios’ blockbuster film, Black Widow.

Her rendition of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” quickly achieved widespread recognition, reaching #1 on the Spotify Global Chart, #1 on the iTunes Alternative Chart, #3 on Amazon Music, and #4 on the Shazam Global Chart. This marked a notable achievement as it was the first instance the Nirvana estate approved a cover of the song for use in a film. Prior to this, in 2018, she received a Clio Award for her cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” which was featured in the Season 2 trailer for Hulu’s Emmy and Golden Globe-winning series, The Handmaid’s Tale.

Beyond these notable covers, Malia J has contributed her music to various television and film projects. Her work has been featured in Netflix’s series Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer, the Fox series “Gotham,” the Warner Bros. horror film “Lights Out,” and the Oscar-winning documentary short “The White Helmets,” among others. She is also credited for her work as a performer and writer on original songs for projects like “Zoey to the Max” (2015), “Finding Joy” (2013), and “The Chateau Meroux” (2011). Malia J continues to develop her original sound, with plans to release her debut album, which she describes as showcasing her intense soulful style.