Featured image: (Pacer graphic / Darby Self)

Malcolm Todd is an alternative/indie artist that began releasing music on May 15, 2022.

He is well-known for making music that falls under the bedroom pop category of the indie genre, using intimate lyrics and soft, poppy background music. The first song that he released under the name Malcolm Todd was called “Out of Bounds”. He then released his debut EP, “Demons Before Prom”, within the same year. 

He went from covering tracks from inspiring artists such as Dominic Fike and Steve Lacy, to making his own music and becoming a well-known artist of his own. He did this with the intention to grow in his career and make music as a means of adding on to his life journey. In an interview with ‘Atwood Magazine’, Todd said, “I’m still learning every day. I just want to grow and make music and I want people to be there with me.” His role in music inspires young artists to do the same.

Todd was born in Los Angeles on Sept. 15, 2003, and began making music in high school. He released some of his earlier work during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of his more notable music, such as “Roommates” and “Art House”, took off in 2023 and he began gaining more recognition as an artist. 

A fun fact about his first EP, “Demons Before Prom”, is that these songs were released under the guise that they were unreleased Steve Lacy songs and gained traction in a time when people were really enjoying Lacy’s music. 

As of 2026, his most popular song is “Chest Pain (I Love)”, which was released in December of 2024. On Spotify alone, “Chest Pain” has amassed over 243 million streams. The song gained massive popularity on Tik Tok in 2024 and remained big into 2025. 

Malcolm Todd has made a name for himself in the music scene, taking a place in the hearts of many Spotify listeners. 

“Roommates” Released June 22, 2023

“Roommates” is one of the more popular songs that Todd has released, gaining 146 million listeners on Spotify. The drums on this track in the beginning make for an iconic and recognizable opening. It contrasts the feeling that the rest of the song brings about, which is more somber. 

The lyrics delve into the feelings surrounding the artist about wanting a deeper connection, and about how no one can seem to replace the person being pined after. The most meaningful lyrics in the song are in the opening, making this song a more yearning piece. 

“I’m losing the person I was when I found you

Am I acting different when I’m not around you?

I’m being dramatic, I say that I’m losing

I wanna show you all the things I’ve been doing”

This talks about the person being yearned after from the artist’s perspective. He feels as though he’s spiraling in these attempts to get back into contact with his loved one, going as far as to talk about wanting to live with them. He yearns for a chance to be close enough to share important moments and to be authentic, even confessing that he misses them in the end of the song. 

Even when the narrator tries to initiate a relationship with someone else, he doubles down and claims that he still misses the person that the song surrounds. It makes for a relatable listening experience for those going through similar situations. 

“You Owe Me” Released Sept. 27, 2024

“You Owe Me” takes an entirely different approach with the message of the song. Instead of the primary theme being yearning, the artist is insisting he was wronged and is owed a different ending to their relationship. However, there is still apparent yearning when the artist refers to the recipient of his message as his ‘one and only’ throughout the song. 

The background music has an electronic, pop feeling that makes the listener want to dance. The lyrics in this song are interesting, painting a pleasant mental picture for anyone who gives it a listen. The ending has a really nice fadeout that leaves the listener wanting more.

“You want it all but you got me

I think you’re a poet

You don’t know just what I see

But the daylight’s gone”

This points to the recipient of the artist’s message wanting more than their relationship or him as a person. 

Additional Song Recommendations: “Earrings”, “Soft Boy” and “Make me a Better Man”