Mali Music: Indhee Artist
Story by Saoul Vanderpool photography by Chris Wharton

A far cry from many contemporary Christian tracks spun on today’s airwaves, Jamaal “Mali Music” Pollard pushes the boundaries of the gospel genre while maintaining a concise and clear spiritual message to a pop-culture driven generation. Where most would expect a musical hook likened to “God is Love” Mali’s single “I Hate You” demands attention and ignites curiosity with fiery lyrics and a hype, base-heavy R&B track.

With humble beginnings as a minister of music at the age of 11 for Faith on the Move Ministries in Savannah, Georgia, Mali built the foundations of his faith and musical ability.  Support from Pastor Eric S. Jackson led Mali and a congregation of believers into a consistent state of “raw” worship experiences. Mali reminisced aloud of hearing songs in his head and performing them on the spot. These instant musical inspirations sometimes led his church’s membership into periods of worship for three hours straight, breaking the schedule of a normal Sunday Morning service. Enlightened by a very personal relationship with God and unconfined by religiosity, Mali set to offer our world the same sound he heard during those Sunday services.

Mali never wanted to become another Holy Hip Hop or Rhythm & Praise artist who promoted the carnality of his past as much as the promise of his future. Sprinting away from this musical trap he found himself at the five-yard line of a full-scholarship to play collegiate football as a laudable SEC Division-One prospect.  Heavily scouted by recruiters from schools such as Oklahoma State and Notre Dame seemingly pointed Mali’s future in one direction but the fate of the Father abruptly turned the tables post his high school graduation. Before a knee injury and sixty pounds of weight loss, Mali’s eyes to his true calling in life had already been opened. Grinding his teeth on bricks, Mali approached his parents with the news of not choosing the athletic route and instead obeying what he knew to be the “Voice of God”. With the support of his parents in allowance of his pursuit of music he noticed a period of stagnancy where nothing seemed to happen upon making such a bold move. After unveiling his work to his parents which included an online following rivaling that of Jazmine Sullivan’s pre-Grammy nominations days, Mali’s ministry began to take off benefiting the entire family.

While Mali’s listening audience may limit their musical palette to iTunes’ Genius bar matching, his tastes crosses unexpected genres with inspirations such as D’angelo, Fionn Regan, Bob Marley, Damien Rice, Natasha Beddingfield, Feist and Frank Sinatra. At the top of Mali’s dream collaboration list lies the controversial and witty musician Bilal.

“Music is Pure…all of it isn’t edifying to God but its what we choose to do with it that makes it bad. I love Bilal…he will sing exactly what his soul wants to sing.”

Mali continued to explain that the sound of their gift was not something he would deprive himself of based off of that particular artists’ lifestyle.

“If it’s about what you do that defines your music then, my God we are going to be some messed up people”.

How does Mali stay grounded with a jam-packed schedule and major opportunities within the music industry?

“You got to be smart and don’t stay alone”…”I keep people that hold me accountable around me”.

He admits that nobody is without a personal struggle and defines holiness as a heart to do right versus a self-righteous and judgmental stance towards others. Mali briefly shared a period of depression in his life in which he was doing the right things but yielding the results of one who was not doing that which was right. During this time of discouragement he resolved not to do what was right. At that point he began to lose track of who he was. After a self-evaluation and fervent pray the God-inspired musical track “Conqueror” was written, self-encouraging Mali to continue on his track of “right living”.

With a full-fledged independent record label, (Sound Walk Music) and a major distribution deal, Mali’s musical future seems headed in a course bound for success. Sound Walk Music plans include the release of a compilation album debuting various label-mates and a re-release of the “The Coming” entitled, "The 2ECOND COMING" featuring a host of new tracks coupled with the prior song-list available on his debut release. Flinging spiritual swag that kicks the music industry to another level, Mali Music is and will always be the artist to heed.

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