Mali Wilson has spent decades shaping the sound, careers and creative spaces of other artists with quiet intention. With her new album, Retro in Real Time: Where Love Feels Safe, the Grammy-nominated producer and artist steps fully into her own light, offering a deeply personal body of work that reflects a life lived, lessons learned and love embraced.
Released March 20, the 10-song album unfolds as a narrative, tracing the emotional terrain of falling in love later in life. It’s a record about what happens when fear loosens its grip, trust takes root and love feels grounded rather than fragile.
“At its heart, this album tells the story of what happens when you finally take a chance on love,” Wilson said. “It’s about arriving at a place in life where love feels grounded and real.”
Wilson co-wrote most of the album with her husband and creative partner, Eric. Only after stepping back did they realize they had documented their own relationship in real time. Each track reads like a chapter, moving from vulnerability to emotional security, shaped by spiritual grounding and lived experience.
Earlier in her career, Wilson often deferred to others in the studio, serving as a facilitator rather than a focal point. This time, she says, the process felt effortless.
“The music flowed like honey,” she said. “We prayed before every song and asked God, the angels and our ancestors to rain the music down from heaven. That set the tone for everything.”
Chicago has long shaped Wilson’s creative philosophy. She began her career interning at Moore Music in Winnetka before moving into production and engineering roles. Later, she opened Retnuh Studios in her Evanston apartment, creating a trusted environment for artists to work.
That same ethos carries through to StoneWood, her current studio and creative sanctuary. The space is intentionally selective, built on trust, warmth and shared purpose.
“Not everyone can go where you’re going,” Wilson said. “We’re very intentional about who enters the space.”
StoneWood has welcomed an eclectic mix of artists, from veteran performers like Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters, to emerging voices, including the late Angie Stone and drummer Lil’ John Roberts. All drawn by the studio’s sense of safety and focus. The album itself reflects that intentionality, built on relationships rather than trends.
A key creative force on Retro in Real Time is longtime collaborator Craig J. Snider, an Evanston native and award-winning producer who helped reconnect Wilson to her artistic center. Together, they’re building a creative bridge between Chicago and Atlanta, blending Midwestern soul with Southern warmth. Snider produced several tracks, grounding the project in restraint, texture and emotional clarity.
Additional collaborators include producer Willy Rodriguez and Kenneth Whalum, whose Memphis-rooted sound brought texture and soul. Longtime engineer Elliot Carter anchored the recordings, while Grammy-winning producer Miguel “Maguever” Scott finalized the album.
Wilson’s résumé spans genres and decades. Her credits include ties to J. Cole’s “Friday Night Lights,” Sprite’s Obey Your Verse campaign, studio time with Carly Simon and sessions with friends like Chance the Rapper, Taylor Swift and the late Whitney Houston. She has earned Grammy nominations for work with Usher and Chris Brown. Still, she says returning to her own voice feels peaceful not pressured.
“I’m not chasing anything,” Wilson said. “I’m sharing and becoming.”
That sense of ease defines the album’s structure. Instead of a conventional tracklist, the songs were sequenced as a lived story. When Eric finalized the order, Wilson says the flow felt right.
“It’s like a smooth ride,” she said.
More than a release, Retro in Real Time is a statement of arrival. A record shaped by heartache, faith, resilience and joy. Wilson hopes it resonates with women and emerging artists navigating their own timelines.
“It’s never too late,” she said. “Every lesson and every loss is shaping you. Protect your peace, surround yourself with good people and don’t be afraid to share your voice. The world may need it more than you realize.”