Sweetman Podcast # 262: Ben Tolich (Mali Mali)

Hi and welcome to episode 262 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T and Yeastie Boys and thanks to you readers and listeners.

Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it there and have it saved in your Spotify library. It’s on most of the podcast platforms besides the ones mentioned here.

This week I had a chat with Ben Tolich – he is an Auckland-based musician that records under the name Mali Mali.

I’ve been a fan of his work since I first heard it – going back towards a decade ago now. And this was the first time we’d ever met or talked. Ben was in Wellington a couple of months ago for a house concert and he popped around the next day to record this chat – we had twice previously shared some emails around meeting up to do a podcast. So this one was a long time in the works.

We had a great chat about his life and work and music – we geeked out on Bob Dylan – and also talked religion, Covid-19, mental health, combining creativity with day jobs and many other things.

To top it off, you’ll hear an as yet unreleased Mali Mali song performed live on acoustic guitar to conclude this podcast episode.

If you click here you’ll be taken to ever review I’ve given to the various Mali Mali albums.

You can also check out the clips of tracks that play under – in full by listening to this playlist. A decent sampler of his work.

It was great to finally meet Ben and have this chat. I loved it. And I hope you do too. Thanks for listening.