Maleah Dawn: Jackson’s Genre-Bending Songstress
Charisma and the self-expression of true feelings give Maleah Briggs the encouragement she needs to be Maleah Dawn on stage, a confident representation of profound music in Jackson.
Maleah's creative energy shines through in her neo-soul, R&B, and poetic performances.
Musical Foundations at Mississippi School of the Arts
A proud former Bailey APAC and Terry High scholar and Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA) alum, Dawn's musical journey began early. "MSA taught me the discipline that it takes when you're pursuing something," she says, reflecting on her intense vocal performance training.
"Watch Your Step": A Genre-Bending Debut
Dawn's debut EP, Watch Your Step, was recently released in March. It draws inspiration from Solange, Lauryn Hill, and Missy Elliott. Even more recently, Dawn's latest single, Get a Clue, dropped on June 28. "(The single) is about the wishy-washiness that you can experience in the dating pool," said Dawn about the upbeat single with an R&B flair. "In (The EP) Watch Your Step, I drew a lot of inspiration from those women who bend genres and created a different lane for themselves."
From Open Mics to Original Music: Building Her Performance Career
Dawn began performing her original works at 17, attending open mics around Jackson. One of the first places she performed was at an Art, Poetry, and Justice SLAM at Off Beat, and she won first place. From there, she never looked back, honing her craft as both a songwriter and performer.
The Art of Self-Expression and Authenticity
"If you want to be a performing artist, you have to have a good sense of self," said Dawn, a former Delta Music Institute at Delta State University student and Jackson State University graduate. "And assurance of your gifts and your talents, and the place that you're coming from. The more that you invest in yourself and people see that you're committed, they want to join in and support and help you as well."
Breaking Stereotypes About Mississippi Musicians
Jackson's music scene has a lot to offer, and Dawn is here to let the world know that they literally don't know what they are missing. "You might think you know (what Mississippi musicians sound like), but you truly don't," said Dawn. "It's such a wide variety of genres and approaches to musicality. Have an open mind, and don't think you know what we sound like, because you don't."
