Malika's “Better as friends” is a shimmering electro-R&B jewel

“Better as friends” tells the lesser-told tale of the faithful partner turning down the possibility of an affair – because she knows that it's better to protect herself, and her suitor, from the fall. Under Malika's close-up, rich vocals, the track throbs with huge bass, icicle synths and a splintered beat that sits somewhere between dancehall and drum and bass.

Speaking to Best Fit, Malika says: “This is song is definitely for the summer and it's a situation many people can relate to. When friends cross the line or when one person catches feelings and the other doesn’t, things can become very complicated.”

Malika says she grew up listening to a mixture of 90s pop and R&B greats, including Mary J Blige, Destiny's Child, The Spice Girls and Britney Spears, and that she's inspired by the cross-pollenation happening in chart music today: “Recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of old 60s Motown music as well as new R&B people like Teyana Taylor, Summer Walker, Ella Mai and Brent Faiyaz. I think what’s happening in music right now is very exciting, the way we are fusing and mixing genres and using old samples again. ”

“Better as friends” is taken from Malika's forthcoming EP Tension, which is scheduled for release later this year.