I literally can not watch the music video for this song, because it makes me too jealous. The video plays to some sort of fantasy (my fantasy) where Malcolm is a famous heartthrob that gets kidnapped by fans, and is forced to perform for them. I’d love it if we could background check the director for this video and see what they were up to in 2014 because I think we’d find some of their early work on Wattpad.

I can’t explain what weird parasocial relationship I am forming with this man, but it's become apparent that it's now out of my control, this is now my life. He first caught my attention with his Camp Flog Gnaw performance back in November, and it’s completely snowballed from there.

In his first major release, Todd opens his mixtape, “Sweet Boy” with the track “Earrings,” using minimal lyrics and chorus repetition to convey that he and his girlfriend aren't on speaking terms. The metaphor of her earrings being lost in his bed acts as a symbol of their love being lost. The longer they wait to talk to each other, the more distant they grow, just like her earrings–their relationship is slipping through the cracks.

Symbolically, the earrings represent them drifting apart, but the decision to include minimal lyrics immediately pulls listeners into their world — a couple that's barely talking. It's like listening to your friend tell you about their relationship problems, where you know the solution is for them to just talk to their partner, but because they both have pride and ego, they're going to wait for the other to break first. But those earrings are probably going to get lost behind the bed frame before any of that happens, ultimately creating more space between the couple.

On his 2025 self-titled debut album, "Malcolm Todd,” he graduates to deeper lyrical exploration, getting braver with what he says. Opening the album with the phrase “Dance, monkey, dance,” Todd sings about the pressure of making it in the music industry, calling out the notion that if you're not following the basic pop star mold, you won't have a place on mainstream radio. He sings about how exhausting it is to hold back your own artistry and personality, to please label expectations and the general public, but he does it so that he is not put on the back burner.

Todd then uses the rest of the album to defy that very idea, singing about whatever the hell he wants, focusing less on a consistent chorus and more on storytelling. He uses stream-of-consciousness writing to share his emotions, opening the album up to be more conversational. As the album progresses, he dives headfirst into the struggles in his former relationship, focusing on the feeling of no longer recognizing the person you’re with, sharing his inner monologue while coming to that understanding.

The second track “Make Me a Better Man,” perfectly represents the album as a whole. Touching on themes of neglect and longing in his relationship, he asks his partner “Why won't you kiss me? Why don't you care?” making listeners flies on the wall, as his relationship crumbles beneath him. As his anxiety grows, so does the music. What starts as a slow piano melody ends with crash symbols and screams, representing his descent into madness.

Through his collaboration with Omar Apollo, “Bleeds” sings to the vulnerability that comes with letting go, giving someone control of your heart. When entering a relationship, you give up all agency over your emotions. You just have to trust that the other person will use their powers for good. In this track, Todd gives that power up completely, signaling to his partner that if they let him in, they can “take control of how [his] heart bleeds.”

Todd is shaping up to be an alt-pop standout solely due to his authenticity. Nothing is over-done. The lyrics are simple. The videos are homemade. And the “persona” doesn't feel like a persona at all. Right now, we live in a world that feels entirely manufactured. So it's always a breath of fresh air when you find someone who isn't getting caught in the hamster race of “climbing the social ladder” or letting labels mold them into the next Harry Styles.

Appalachia to Nashville: Angela Autumn live at The East Room