By Roman Soto
Have you ever pressed shuffle on your playlist, only to have the repetitive nature of the selected musical genre play continuously on your listening device? Well, my fellow music connoisseurs, you’ve just stumbled upon a place to expand your music taste. Welcome to Roman’s Empire, your new favorite music column. My job here is to persuade you to add the suggested artist or genre to your playlist. Here, we delve into some of music’s most captivating yet underrated artists from all over the world. It’s simple: find a comfortable chair and prepare to expand your musical knowledge. Today, we explore the brilliant elements that frame Malcolm Todd’s eccentric sound.
Malcolm Todd is one of those artists you might think played instruments for a long time before commercial success; however, his intriguing story teaches many aspiring musicians who lack skills in any instrument that it is never too late to start music.
Like many others during the long, isolated hours of the COVID-19 pandemic, a 16-year-old Malcolm Todd decided to learn a new skill or hobby just for fun. For two years, Todd picked up the bass and quickly began to play the guitar as well. Inspired by Dominic Fike’s charismatic guitar riffs and Steve Lacy’s iconic lead basslines, the result of his efforts was his appropriately titled EP, Demos Before Prom, released in 2022. Quickly, Todd’s career took off when consistent displays of his talent on TikTok gained recognition, and songs like “Roommates” or “Art House” suddenly represented the signature quirkiness behind his music. This early success led to a record label signing with Columbia Records in 2023. Newly signed and ready to take his career to the next level, Todd began touring to help expand his audience.
Todd continues to release passionate hits in 2026 and his tour will pass the Oakland Fox Theater. Thus, the hype around his music is all completely true. Give him a listen!