KiNG MALA - ＂she calls me daddy＂

What this video is

Released April 8, 2021, 'she calls me daddy' arrived during a pivotal moment for queer representation in independent pop. KiNG MALA (Areli Castro), an El Paso-born, LA-based alternative soul artist, built significant TikTok momentum ahead of the release. The track and video explicitly address the invalidation queer women face in relationships — a theme Castro described as a 'sucky reality of being in a queer…

Why it matters

Represents a strand of 2021 indie alternative soul that merged funk-influenced production with explicit queer lyricism and gender-subversive visuals. Sits at the intersection of TikTok-driven indie pop virality and the post-2015 wave of LGBTQ+ mainstream visibility in independent music. The…

The director

Ryan Nolan is a music video director credited on KiNG MALA's 2021 single 'she calls me daddy.' The director's name is confirmed across multiple independent music press outlets covering the single's release. No additional verified biographical details are…