April has finally arrived, and things are beginning to look up on campus. Jean shorts and matcha lattes have made a cozy return, the yellow flowers outside my dorm have started to bloom and the quad is finally filled with groups of friends studying and chatting, speakers in hand. The cultural renaissance stemming from warmth’s return creates an instant atmospheric shift, particularly within the music we listen to. Luckily, rising indie artist Malcolm Todd released his debut self-titled studio album on April 4, 2025, a project I deem a quintessential warm-weather listen—a resonance of gut-punching blaze interlaced with 14 R&B alternative-pop tracks.
“It’s going to be fun. If you don’t want to jump, just go home,” Todd often tells fans amidst his concerts, propelling the energetic tone his music inspires. Previously releasing three EPs, in which he comfortably blends indie bedroom pop with R&B melodies, Todd has finally found his sweet spot on “Malcom Todd.” Amidst his rising popularity, Todd released his first single for the album on Dec. 4, 2024, entitled “Chest Pain (I Love).” Here, Todd mixes his emotional vulnerability with pacifying guitar and drums, creating involved, harmonious melancholy. “My chest is hurting, my feet can’t fall out of bed / I don’t know where to go, so I’ll lay here instead,” he contends with the emotional rollercoaster of a breakup. In the music video, Todd shaves lines throughout his blonde buzzcut, symbolizing the onset of a new era with the same confidence and style he has always possessed. “Chest Pain (I Love)” achieved great popularity, with 7.5 million views on YouTube and 60 million streams on Spotify.
The first song of the album, titled “Harry Styles,” sees Todd expressing his recent frustrations with his place in the industry, softly singing over orchestral strings and an electric guitar. “You’ll never make a profit if you’re just trying to be cool,” he speaks to himself. “I wasn’t picked for Flog Gnaw… I should have been there,” he expresses later in reference to Camp Flog Gnaw, the popular music festival created by Tyler, The Creator.
Todd’s unique music style, genre-bending between alternative and R&B with smooth production and creative lyrics, propels him above many of his indie bedroom pop counterparts. His voice is effortlessly compelling, shifting between warm and emotionally expressive vocals. He is not afraid to move between sounds within his projects, but still creates a satisfying, complete end product. The next song on the album, “Make Me a Better Man,” intertwines his soft pop with a new jazz flair, creating a fulfilling melody of piano and drums where each instrument takes its own melodic role alongside the vocals. On the succeeding track, “Who’s the Fool,” Todd completely shifts tones, shoving heavy guitar chords in your face with a punching drum. This sonic whiplash, however, works in Todd’s favor. As opposed to creating songs that are merely replicas of his past projects, he strives within a new sound barrier, showcasing his immense musical growth in only a few years.
The only feature of the album appears on “Bleed,” where Todd enlists R&B-infused singer-songwriter Omar Apollo. “Bleed” is an addictive alternative rock song that compels the listener to dance. Todd and Apollo discuss the heartache of longing for love and self-expression, triumphantly showcasing the pair’s musical chemistry. Todd’s collaboration with Apollo is a huge step in his career, harnessing the spotlight with a mainstream name: “Getting to work with [Apollo] was like a dream come true,” he said. In the music video, the duo showcases the physical pain of heartache, creating a charming fight scene with fake bruises and blood, with amusing cameos from pop-rap star Jack Harlow and TikTok comedian Harry Daniels.
In “Walk to Class,” Todd discusses the ramifications of yearning for a girlfriend, unsure of whether he can handle having a new partner after his previous breakup, while simultaneously exploring the fear of loneliness. On this track, his musical genius shines through as the lyrical content meshes with warm production and peaceful melodies, creating a sense of a literal, pleasing stroll to class. The next track, titled “Florence,” begins with a fade-in of electric synths, eventually filled with deep bass. “Florence” is a highlight of the album for me, as Todd’s production creates a feeling of resonating bliss and affection; the listener is compelled to a gratifying euphoria of emotions. The innovative lyrics match the sound, revealing Todd’s views on love, sacrifice and the intersection of personal identity with ambition.
The third single of the album, “Cheer Me On,” begins with distorted guitar, mimicking the nuance of falling in and out of love: “I’m living for your eyes / You need to know my name,” he expresses. Todd’s desire to fall back into previous romantic inclinations radiates within an infectious chorus. “I live for you to cheer me on,” he sings right before an elaborate musical break, which features an impressive guitar riff. The music video features him in a bear costume, lighting cigarettes and screaming into a bottle of alcohol on a bridge at dusk, clearly struggling to hang on. This theme continues with the fourth single, “Concrete,” which opens with a woman calling Todd pathetic for crying. Later, Todd tells himself he is losing who he once was as he grapples with his own desired self-identity. Comedically, he plays the woman he is yearning for in the music video, which shows Todd falling for himself in a blonde wig.
The final track of the album, “I’ll Come Back For You,” is a beautiful end to the project, accompanied by steady drum beats, soothing guitar and melodic whistling; this is my personal favorite track of the album. On this song, he blends all the previous themes, discussing yearning, returning to love and the emotional heartache of being in a relationship: “More love than I can handle / What do I do?” At the conclusion of the song, and the project as a whole, a voicemail from Todd’s mother plays, expressing how proud and impressed she is with the album. “I hope you’re having fun,” she says, and Todd most evidently is.
Malcolm Todd has pushed the boundaries both production-wise and lyrically with “Malcolm Todd,” and the result is exceedingly enjoyable. His freshness and style, achieved both on stage and within his work, fashions a unique vibe of energy and playfulness within the industry. His place inside the unique subgenre blending R&B with alternative pop is successful in creating a sonically warm and comforting atmosphere, flourishing ideas of love, melancholy and self-discovery. His relatable lyrics as a 21-year-old continue to resonate with young audiences, channeling his continued rise within the industry. It is clear that Malcom Todd is here to stay with his heart-on-the-sleeve tunes, and whenever you find the time to bask on the grass under the fresh sunlight, I firmly encourage you to press play on “Malcom Todd.”