For Malvae (Jim van der Breggen), sound is both material and memory — a way of shaping worlds where the natural and electronic dissolve into one another.
Born in the Netherlands and raised in New Zealand, his work draws on field recordings, manipulated vocals, and analog synthesis to create music that feels at once tactile and cinematic.
His early releases set the tone: Haunts Me (2017), featuring Esther Veen, resonated widely, climbing to #17 on Spotify’s Viral 50 USA. In 2020, he released Amazonas, an album born from a 2000km journey through the Amazon Rainforest, its textures of water, storms, and wildlife reshaped into electronic forms. Independently released, the record has since surpassed a million streams, standing as a testament to Malvae’s commitment to sound as documentation as much as composition.
Later projects trace an ongoing transformation.
Chrysalis (2024) redefined his palette, weaving intricate sound design with analog warmth. The record included Tell Me, a collaboration with singer and songwriter MAY BBY, whose ethereal vocals brought a human fragility to Malvae’s detailed production. Praised by Cultr, 3voor12, and Run The Trap, and released both digitally and as a limited-edition red vinyl, the EP marked a shift toward more experimental, avant-garde structures.
That same year, Like Bees To A Hive, created with poet Julia Beth Harris, premiered at Lobomar’s fashion show at the Amsterdam World Museum, extending his practice into fashion and performance art.
2025 opened a new collaborative phase. The Division EP with Jaro, released on Tabula Rasa Records and supported by stations including SWU and Rinse FM, expanded Malvae’s textural and rhythmic scope. Shortly after, Dissolve, a club-driven collaboration with GANZ on Who’s Susan, foreshadowed a forthcoming EP that promises to push his sound further into uncharted territory.
On stage, Malvae often expands his performances into audiovisual journeys, merging the roles of producer, performer, and VJ. At other times, he focuses purely on sound, reshaping his catalog live with precise sound design and raw club energy. Performing at venues such as Melkweg, A’DAM Tower, and OT301, he continually reimagines his music as kinetic, unfolding narratives.
Malvae continues to carve out a singular space in electronic music, one where immersive storytelling, natural textures, and club energy co-exist in constant tension.