Mahalia “the 5 stages of heartbreak”

Mahalia is single in every sense of the word. A breakup and a label exit in the same year left her navigating independence in both love and business. Today marks the official start of this new chapter in her life. And what better way to start than by unfolding what she's been through over the past few months?

With ‘the 5 stages of heartbreak’, Mahalia takes us through each of the emotions that come with it. She transports us back to those minutes, hours, even days of waiting for that pretty boy in Berlin to text back. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance all get their turn in the song. Mahalia has no problem embodying each of these emotions, and it shines through in the lyrics, the way she delivers every word, and the music itself. Each stage shifts the energy and direction of the song, almost making it feel like an entire EP condensed into a single track.

At 1:50, depression takes over. Her decision to represent this stage with a jazzy instrumental section is simply perfection. With her voice stepping aside, we’re left sitting alone in an empty room with the music and our emotions. The highlight of the song comes during the final stage of heartbreak: acceptance. It's the moment you find your way back to yourself and can confidently sing, “It is what it is, get up, sis. Pretty bitch.”