Malynda Hale

Malynda Hale (born August 21, 1986) is an American Singer/Songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, host, & social justice activist.

She is the host of #WeNeedToTalk Podcast and creator of The Black Voices Heard Project.

She is also the owner of JMV Entertainment Music Agency based in Los Angeles.

Hale was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California to Diane Hale and James Hale.

She is the younger of two daughters.

Hale was raised in the AME church where she began singing at the age of 5.

She started playing piano at age 7 and writing her own songs at 9 years old.

She participated in school choir, school theatre productions and community theatre productions throughout high school.

She was the lead in two high school productions and had supporting roles the other two years.

After graduating from Dos Pueblos High School in 2003, Hale attended Azusa Pacific University where she majored in vocal performance (opera) with a minor in musical theater.

Hale has stated numerous times that opera training has given her the stamina to perform pop music for longer periods of time.

During her junior year of college, Hale took a semester off in order to perform live and work on an album.

She performed at venues in Los Angeles such as The Knitting Factory in order to gain experience.

She returned to Azusa Pacific University the following year in order to complete her degree.

She graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in vocal performance and a minor in musical theatre at the age of 20.

During her senior year of college, Hale met Producer J.T. Meskiel of The Document Room where she recorded a 5-song EP.

She then took the EP to Producer, Stewart Cararas and made an 8-song album entitled From My Heart to Yours.

She released the album in March 2007.

Following her release, Malynda performed throughout Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

She opened for acclaimed singer/songwriters Ernie Halter and Tyrone Wells at The House of Blues at Mandalay Bay and had a headlining show at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino.

She also became the face of Avanya Minerals, a vegan makeup company, but the company later dissolved one year later.

In 2008 Malynda signed with management group Electric Shoes Music Group and began working on her second EP entitled No More Tears.

This EP was released in January 2009.

Following her release, she performed at more venues in Los Angeles including Molly Malone's, Tangier, and Room 5.

In July 2009, Hale relocated to New York City where she took a break from music to pursue musical theatre.

Within three months of living in New York, Malynda joined the Actor's Equity Association and was cast in her first equity show in North Carolina at Flat Rock Playhouse.

She originated the role of Jackie Noles in a brand new production titled, It Happened One Christmas.

The show featured an ensemble cast of 6 including Tony Award Winner Jarrod Emmick and music by Jeremy Schonfeld.

While living in New York, Malynda taught music at the Stagecoach Performing Arts school in the Upper East Side.

In 2010 Malynda traveled back to Los Angeles to participate in the world premiere performance of Lost Lady with a Violin written by Laurie Whitaker.

This performance took place at The El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, California.

It starred many well known Los Angeles theatre actors.

Upon returning to New York, Malynda teamed up with producer/songwriter Lena Leon to begin work on her next album.

They co-wrote three songs together and teamed up with lyricist Shawn Lopes for two songs, with Hale writing the remainder of the album on her own.

The majority of the album was recorded in Leon's studio in New York.

Part way through production of the album, Malynda added producer/engineer Kevin Porter of Germano Studios to the project.

While recording, Hale performed at notable venues in New York such as The Bitter End and National Underground.

In April 2012, after a year and a half of recording and writing, Malynda officially released The Train Ride Home.

The album received high praise from numerous publications including Music Connection Magazine, Damn Good Tunes, The Hollywood Examiner and Blog Critics. She also became a voting member of The Recording Academy.

Hale relocated to Chicago in January 2012 to be with her now husband while he attended law school at the University of Chicago.