April 2021 – Singapore – With more than 1.2 Million global streams in just two weeks, it’s clear that the world is ready for an upbeat, summer theme song — enter “Malibu,” the latest single from Virginia to Vegas, aka Derik Baker, and Sweden’s #1 charting duo NOTD.
Although delivering a perfect road trip beat, this week, fans have learned of the more emotional foundation that “Malibu” was built upon with the release of the track’s official video. Set in a desolate hotel and shot in winter tones — the antithesis of bright and sunny Malibu — the cinematic video is a stark juxtaposition to the upbeat, seemingly positive track.
Stepping into the role of leading man, a freshly-shorn Derik takes fans on a melancholy ride, bringing to life the emotions tied to looking back at lost love. Strikingly, the video brings to light the loneliness in trying to reclaim the pieces of the last year that have been lost and while trying to hold on to positive memories.
With almost 2 billion combined global streams, this collaboration from Sweden’s NOTD and Canada’s Virginia to Vegas brings two top artists together on the international stage. “Malibu” was an organic collaboration set in motion through the connection of mutual friends; and after months of virtually bouncing ideas back and forth, it was clear something special had been created from the two powerhouse talents from different ends of the globe.
Upon release week in March, the song made it on to coveted editorial playlists on Spotify, KKBOX and Apple Music in 9 countries across Asia. The track has also been added to rotation on influential radio stations in Indonesia and Singapore.
“Malibu” marks Baker’s fourth single in just over a year, coming after two EPs dropped in 2020 by the 4X PLATINUM-selling, JUNO-nominated Toronto-native. Today’s release follows up the groundbreaking success of “betterman,” “Palm Springs: the way you made me feel” and “Just as Much,” his recent collab with the JUNO-nominated Delaney Jane, which sits in the Top 20 at Canadian Radio. Closing out 2020 as the #2 most played Canadian Artist at Radio with over 335 Million streams, Baker has continuously topped the Canadian radio charts with a string of Top 10 hits including “Just Friends,” “betterman,” “Selfish,” “Lights Out,” and “We Are Stars (Ft Alyssa Reid)”.
A truly independent artist with a clear vision of what he wants sonically, visually and emotionally, Baker has shared the stage with the likes of Post Malone, Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, Fifth Harmony and more. Staying true to himself, Baker continues to be recognized for his hard work, receiving praise from artists such as Taylor Swift and Julia Micheals.
In just three years, the multi-platinum duo NOTD made up of Tobias Danielsson and Samuel Brandt has accumulated more than 1.6 Billion streams. Having gotten their start remixing pop music’s elite (Shawn Mendes, Ed Sheeran, Demi Lovato, etc.), NOTD has gone on to release a slew of original hits including two top-40 singles on U.S. pop radio, one of which was also the #1 most played song on US Dance Radio in 2019. Most recently, they toured the U.S. and Europe with Zedd, and were nominated for an iHeartMusic award in the coveted category of Dance Song of the Year. NOTD kicked off 2021 by spending 5 straight weeks at #1 on U.S. Dance Radio with their latest single, “Nobody”.
LIsten to “Malibu” here: virginiatovegas.lnk.to/Malibu
