Malaki to perform 'Someone Like You 2' on The Late Late Show this Friday

Malaki has been announced as this week's musical guest on The Late Late Show, alongside Irish Women in Harmony.

The Stillorgan rising star has been gaining national and international airplay - including on the Jack Saunders show on BBC - for his new single 'Someone Like You 2'.

The Dublin rapper originally recorded the track as part of Rave On, Van Morrison – organised by Hot Press as a celebration of the legendary singer’s 75th birthday, at the end of August. The decision was made to release it as a single following interest from the UK.

'Someone Like You 2', released via Hot Press Records, has entered the Irish Home Grown charts at No.19, and more frequent radio play and growing streams since suggest that it is on course to continue climbing over the coming weeks.

Malaki initially encountered Van's 'Someone Like You' as a teenager.

“When I first heard the Van Morrison song 'Someone Like You', I was 16 years old and in the car with my mother,” Malaki said. “I turned on the radio and these beautiful piano chords seeped through the speakers. I was taken by it straight away. Ever since then, it’s been a favourite song of mine.”

In recording the new track with his producer and collaborator Matthew Harris, Malaki has put a fresh spin on an age-old theme. His rapped verses are balanced with a beautiful, soulful chorus, which is sung by Matthew – who also plays piano on the track.

“Myself and Matthew spent quite a while deciding the best route to take,” Malaki added. "I made the decision to write my own verses to allow for change. The song is over 30 years old, so I wanted to put my own modern-day-love-story spin on it, while incorporating samples of Van Morrison’s voice alongside Matthew’s vocals."

Jack Saunders, the highly influential BBC Radio One DJ, hailed Dublin breakout hip hop star Malaki as “An amazing talent.”

Selected for the Next Wave slot on the Saunders show, Malaki’s 'Someone Like You 2' was played for the first time earlier this week. “I think you should fall in love with him,” Saunders said.

"It's the most important piece of brand new music you are going to hear tonight on the show and this evening I'm going to introduce you to a guy out of Dublin... For Malaki, words are considered a delicacy. Every single word pondered over to make sure it hits just as hard as the last."

The Late Late Show airs every Friday on RTÉ at 9:35pm, tune in to see Malaki's performance alongside Irish Women in Harmony, who are scheduled to perform their new charity single 'Together at Christmas'.

Check out Malaki's take on Van Morrison with 'Someone Like You 2' below:

https://open.spotify.com/track/2ANTihBMOmybgVfolMGbXP