Daniela LaFaveMalvika, known to her more than 200,000 followers as @stylebymalvika, is stepping into a bold new chapter, one that blends her passion for fashion with her love for music. On Friday, June 13, the South Asian-American influencer-turned-artist will release her debut single, Love Is a Game, a genre-blending track that fuses electro-pop and R&B with classical Indian instrumentation.
“This song is emotional, dramatic, a little unhinged,” Malvika told LA Weekly. “It’s a reflection of the parts of myself that never quite fit inside a caption.”
The single marks a departure from Malvika’s rise as a viral fashion figure, whose work has earned coverage in Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. A recent video of hers garnered over 39 million views, but with Love Is a Game, she’s shifting the spotlight toward a more intimate form of self-expression.
“I’ve always loved sharing my story in different ways, whether through fashion or movement,” she says. “But music? Music is different. It’s helped me through my pain, it’s my freedom. And I gave myself permission to explore that freedom, to blend both the cultures that have shaped me. It’s a chance to tell some truths that I’ve kept hidden behind the scenes, behind the sparkly clothes and the trend-driven content.”
For Malvika, this release is more than just a song—it’s an act of personal liberation. After years of sharing glimpses of her life through her daily online presence, she’s finally offering something deeper, something rawer. “This is the one thing I’m doing for myself,” she explains. “It’s not about anyone else’s expectations, just mine. It’s the first time I’m stepping fully into music, and recording this song—even from my closet—was my way of embracing that freedom.” 
The track features a layered, cinematic arrangement that mirrors Malvika’s background as a Bharata Natyam dancer. Sitar drones, tabla fills, and veena licks are seamlessly woven into the song’s glossy, synth-forward production. The lyrics explore the cycle of desire and disillusionment, where power, shame, and softness collide in a story of romantic obsession.
“It’s about the emotional confusion of mixed signals and playing games, never really knowing where you stand with someone,” Malvika said. “It’s the back-and-forth, the uncertainty, but made sonically beautiful.”
For her first single, Love Is a Game, Malvika chose to address one of the most vulnerable parts of her life: her love life—or rather, the lack of one. “I guess it makes sense that my first single is about why I’ve been single,” she says with a laugh. “I’ve been endlessly single, surrounded by mixed signals. It’s been a long time coming for me to share that part of my journey.”
And yes, the timing of the release on Friday the 13th is no accident—because, let’s be real, what’s scarier than putting your heart out there in a song, right? Friday the 13th is popularly known as a day full of bad luck, but Malvika’s flipping that on its head. “Maybe it’s a little spooky, but I’ve never been one to follow the rules,” she says with a smile. “This is my day to take control and share something real—no superstition can stop that.”
With Love Is a Game, Malvika is laying bare her truth, finally sharing the intimate details of two specific experiences that have shaped her understanding of love. June 13th, 2025 marks the beginning of a new era for her, where she no longer feels the need to cater purely to algorithms and trends, and is instead stepping into her truest form of self-expression. “Heart over head,” she concludes, with a confident ease about her.