Meet malia dishon of Atlanta, GA

Today we’d like to introduce you to malia dishon.

Hi malia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I come from a family with deep musical roots in Southern and hip-hop culture. My mom, Dee Dee Murray, is a film and music executive, and my dad, Ray Murray, is co-founder of Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family. Growing up with my parents as part of the Dungeon Family influenced my life in so many ways. It truly showed me firsthand what was possible and that achieving your dreams can absolutely be a reality. I loved how they all did it as a unified effort. It showed me that there is so much power in community and collective creativity.

I always knew I wanted to work in music, but I wasn’t sure what I would do. In 2007–2009, when MySpace and Facebook first became popular amongst my demographic, I started to realize how businesses and artists should be using social media to interact with fans, grow their audiences, and promote their music. My mom’s colleague needed help growing the fan base for one of his acts, so I created a contest to boost their following. In the summer of 2009, I graduated from high school, and soon after, I connected with my mom’s close friends, Earl and Denise Klugh. I shared a bit about my social media interests and work, and they hired me to manage social media for Earl and their festival, Weekend of Jazz! I worked with them all through college and for many years after. I actually still work with them today as the Creative Director for Weekend of Jazz.

After graduating from college, I connected with LVRN and Raury on Twitter, sharing that we had sent my Uncle Dre (André 3000), Raury’s song “God’s Whisper.” The very next day, they all came to my house for dinner! A year later, after maintaining a friendship with them, I started working as Raury’s social media manager. As LVRN grew, they hired me to handle all their clients. So then I became social media manager for 6lack, DRAM, Westside Boogie, and eventually Summer Walker. I was promoted to Sr. Marketing Director in 2019 and oversaw and executed the marketing for Summer Walker’s debut album, Over It. During my time at LVRN, I gained exposure to the business side of music and was introduced to roles I hadn’t previously considered, such as directing and creative directing. I had the opportunity to explore directing while at LVRN, and I directed the music videos “Fly” for Raury and “Stretch You Out” for Summer Walker. After the “Stretch You Out” video, I realized I really loved directing and could see myself doing this full-time. So, in 2020, I decided to go back to working for myself and started being a full-time creative. This opened many doors for me, and I’ve directed projects for many artists since then, including videos for Latto & GloRilla, Kelly Rowland, Tems, and more! Also, I’ve had the opportunity to be the Creative Director for artists like Masego, Lola Brooke, Deante Hitchcock, and Summer Walker’s label Ghetto Earth Records, just to name a few.

I started to explore songwriting after a couple of years of directing and creative directing. What really unlocked it in me was the passing of my great friend/family member Simon Illa in 2022. I used songwriting as a tool to help me heal and grieve. I continued writing that year, and after a trip to Wireless Festival in London, I wrote my first song, “King Of Lies.” I released it on August 16, 2024! And I’m happy to have released a couple more songs since then. This summer, I dropped “Queen of the Dancefloor” and “Say You Love Me” from my upcoming EP “The Star”!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve definitely had some challenges that I’ve worked through! Most of them have been internal battles—building my self-confidence as an artist, speaking up for myself, and asking for help, among others. I try to look at all challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. I’m grateful to have incorporated practices like journaling, prayer, and physical activities such as yin and kundalini yoga to support me on my journey!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an artist, singer-songwriter, music video director, and creative director! Just a full-on creative being! I’m proud that I’ve been able to find my own creative lane while still honoring and being inspired by my roots. I love that I started my music career working in social media and then marketing, and later moved into directing and creative directing. After a few years of expanding as a visual artist, I began to create music. I believe that my journey to becoming an artist has helped me become a more well-rounded and knowledgeable artist. Because I not only know how to write a great song, but I also know how to create the world in which my music lives. I can also come up with ideas to market myself, write my own video treatments or mood boards, and I know how to clearly explain my vision.

What sets me apart is that my music is refreshing, nostalgic, inventive, affirming, real, and FUN. Music needs to be more FUN and free. We need more light and joy in this world, and I’m bringing it, along with some sass, of course. I am also empowering my fans to be themselves, speak their minds, and live their truth. I used to be afraid to say things that were on my mind. I was out here trying to spare the feelings of others, but I ended up suppressing so much inside myself. Now, in my music, I say whatever I feel. It is my safe space to release. I hope to inspire others to tap into their creativity and release their inner selves!

How do you think about happiness?
A lot of things make me happy. In no particular order: food, dancing, traveling, and my family & friends! I also enjoy arts & crafts. Honestly, nothing brings me joy like food—ugh, I love it so much! Asian food is my favorite, especially sushi and pho. Pho feels like a hug in your belly—it’s the best.

Outside of food, I really enjoy spending time with my family and friends. We often do creative projects together, like painting or candle making. And lastly, TRAVELING! I love exploring new parts of the world and returning to my favorite places—like Jamaica, my happy place!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.maliashutup.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maliashutup/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@maliaSHUTup
• Other: https://linktr.ee/maliadishon

Image Credits
Kirth Bobb