Darien Malone seems to be talented at everything when it comes to creating. Some of the artist’s most frequented mediums include painting, anime, dance, and DJing. The continued expansion into the arts isn’t a random happenstance. Malone has been exploring her artistic range while breaking free of the restraints that are often put on young creatives while growing up. In addition to benefiting Darien’s personal life, each new venture also brings more supporters whether it’s from a Honey Says concert or a visual art piece that stuns with beauty.
Darien knew she wanted to be an artist from an early age. “I remember distinctly when I was about 4 or 5 years old. I had already been surrounded by artists in my life. My mother is a visual artist and so is my aunt. I spent a lot of time with them making art, and that solidified in me as a toddler going into elementary school what I really truly wanted to do,” Malone reflects, “It’s probably the one thing that I was the most sure about and am the most sure about.”
Malone’s artistic portfolio is layered with both realistic and cartoon works that impress the eye. While Darien enjoys all styles, she is making a purposeful effort to pursue the ones that bring her the most joy. “I think that as I’ve gotten older - especially during my college years - I have grown an appreciation for both. I can draw realistically. I can draw graphically - I like drawing anime. I think these are things that are me. There’s no one or the other. I think both are beautiful art forms that deserve their own recognition and their own areas,” the artist shares, “People can have multiple tools in their tool belt. Everything’s worth exploring and we should explore that more.”
Music has always been another passion of Malone’s, and this enthusiasm was turned into performance in late 2021 after Darien met her now close friend Anna while they both worked at Seasick Records. The pair decided to become vinyl DJs - Darien as DJ Andromeda and Anna as slowfast hazel - and the Birmingham area quickly showed they thought this was a good idea. “We both have extensive collections. I would say we have pretty good taste in music. You know how you say ‘We’re going to do this’ and then that never happens? Well, that didn’t happen. We got some gear and started DJing. We had our first party in January 2023 after a good bit of practicing.” The duo has gone on to perform at Magic City venues including Mom’s, Birmingham District, and one of the largest Record Store Day events in city history.
Pole dance is another one of Malone’s newer - yet already impressive - forms of expression. “I’ve been in my journey of pole dancing. I’ve been practicing and studying that at Studio Steel in Highlands. That has been one of the most fun things I’ve picked up in the last few years,” Darien shares about the skill she started honing in 2022, “It has really boosted my confidence in how I feel about my physical body. I can look at my body and accept it the way it is. It helps me get up the pole, it helps me spin around the pole. It’s a good body and I’m here to take care of it.” The pole dancing journey so far has included Malone advancing to Level 3 (4 being the highest) at her studio and participating in shows at Avondale Brewery and WorkPlay Theatre.
New adventures coincide with personal growth in Malone’s world, and it’s made for a revealing season of life. “I feel myself growing up, especially during this pandemic. I got into this pandemic at the age of 19 and I’ll be 23 this year. Just really big formative years. Being in your 20s is its own roller coaster and I see that now. It’s been eye opening and really solidifying the adult that I’m coming into and I’m looking forward to more of that. Yes, it’s scary. It’s a little painful sometimes but it’s also very rewarding,” Darien details, “Appreciate your journey and you’ll get to your destination. No one said the journey is easy, but it’s something to think about.”
“Lately I’ve been more appreciative of the child that I used to be. I’ve been doing a lot of inner-child healing. I know that little girl felt confused and conflicted, just felt like she stood out like a sore thumb and felt bad for it. Just embracing who I was and who I am has brought me so much strength and less shame about what I want to do and where I’m going,” Malone shares, “People know authentic people whether they realize it or not. It’s a sense. Stepping into your own authenticity means a whole lot to other people. It got to a point where the whole world feels bigger than you sometimes and you kind of want to conform because you feel that it’s going to keep you safe. But then you conform so much that you lost who you were. I remember thinking ‘Wow, I don’t really know who I am outside of other people.’ It kind of broke my heart that I was so ashamed about being myself. Why would I be so sad about that? It’s just me. You will find your people that love every bit of you and yes that’s wonderful but it’s even better when you love every bit of yourself.”
The excitement for self love is equally matched with a passion for connecting with others. “It’s amazing how much people impact each other. I want to continue to grow with people. Learn and get to know people. I want to continue to make mistakes. I want to continue to achieve goals. I’m trying my hardest to be down with the human experience because it’s a beautiful thing. It can hurt sometimes but it can feel so great sometimes and I’m so ready to do that with other people that I met and will meet. I can only say thank you to everyone for everything in how they shaped my life and I can only hope I can bring some sort of impact to other people. I hope we can all learn from each other - I’ve learned a lot from other people.”
Malone’s growth parallels the city she’s grown up in, and it’s something the artist doesn’t take for granted. Darien went to Glen Iris Elementary School as a kid and currently attends UAB right down the road. In other words, Birmingham is an intricate part of her DNA. “My roots are in Alabama. My grandparents all have roots here in the South and Alabama. It means a lot to me to watch this city grow as I grow. I explore different places now that I’ve only dreamt about going when I was little and trying to make a name where my heart was formed. I’m Birmingham through and through. I’ve been here all my life,” the Magic City native explains, “I want to give back to my community as much as it’s given to me. My community being my parents, my grandparents, my family members, my teachers. I want to grow with this town. I want to grow this town. I think it’s important as a younger generation of Birminghamians are making ourselves known here that we think like ‘What can I do to strengthen my community with my art and my voice’.”
We would say mission success already, but we can’t wait to see what comes next from Darien Malone.
Cover image by Southern Cirque
