You’ve probably heard the name by now. It’s been floating around TikTok, popping up in your Spotify "New Music Friday" from last year, or maybe you saw that snippet from The Tonight Show where Marcus Mumford looks genuinely happy for the first time in a decade. We’re talking about "Malibu." It’s not just a city in California where people with too much money buy glass houses; it’s the song that basically saved Mumford and Sons from drifting into the "where are they now" category of 2010s folk-rock.
Honestly, the way people talk about Malibu Mumford and Sons is kinda funny. There’s this misconception that they just woke up one day, realized they missed the banjo, and decided to start stomping on wooden boxes again. It was way more complicated than that.
The track actually dropped in February 2025. It was the second single from their fifth studio album, Rushmere. If you haven't kept up, Rushmere was a huge deal because it was their first real project as a trio since Winston Marshall left the band back in 2021. They had a lot to prove. People were wondering: "Can they even make that sound without the original lineup?"
The answer, apparently, was a resounding yes. But they had to go to California to find it.
Why Malibu Mumford and Sons Marks a Massive Shift
Marcus Mumford has gone on record saying "Malibu" was the very first thing they wrote when they finally got back together in Los Angeles in January 2023. Think about that for a second. They hadn't put out a band album since 2018’s Delta. Marcus had done his solo thing—which was heavy, let's be real—and the band was basically in limbo.
They met up in LA, and instead of some over-produced pop experiment, they wrote "Malibu." It’s a slow-burn. It starts with these close, tight harmonies that remind you of the Sigh No More era, but it’s got this Nashville polish thanks to producer Dave Cobb.
Cobb is the guy who worked with Chris Stapleton and Brandi Carlile. He knows how to make acoustic instruments sound like they’re about to punch you in the chest.
In "Malibu," the band went back to the "shadow of your wings" imagery. It’s deeply spiritual. Some critics called it "too Christian," while others just saw it as a guy trying to find his footing after some really dark personal years. Remember, Marcus opened up about some heavy childhood trauma during his solo run. "Malibu" feels like the "morning after" that confession. It’s about surrender.
The Rushmere Connection
The song serves as the opener for Rushmere. For the casual fan, "Rushmere" sounds like just another fancy British name. But it’s actually the name of a pond on Wimbledon Common.
That’s where Marcus, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane first hung out and decided to be a band. By naming the album Rushmere and opening it with "Malibu," they were essentially saying: "We're going back to the start, but we're bringing everything we learned in the desert with us."
- They recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville.
- They spent time in Marcus’s private studio in Devon, UK.
- They even tracked some parts in Savannah, Georgia.
The sound is massive. It’s got that signature "stomp," but it’s more mature. It’s less "yelling in a pub" and more "praying in a cathedral."
What Really Happened with the Release
When "Malibu" hit the airwaves in early 2025, it didn't just climb the folk charts. It became one of the most-played tracks on British radio almost instantly. It was weirdly nostalgic. People were tired of synthesized beats; they wanted to hear a banjo and a floor tom again.
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The band played it on the SNL50 homecoming concert, and you could feel the energy change. They weren't the "vest-wearing hipster" caricatures anymore. They looked like grown men who had survived a lot of industry nonsense.
There was this one surprise pop-up set at Houston Hall where they played "Malibu" for a room full of stunned drinkers. No lights, no big stage—just the song. That’s when people realized this wasn't just a "comeback" single. It was a reset.
Is the Banjo Actually Back?
Yes. But it's different. In "Malibu," the banjo isn't just a machine-gun rhythm. It’s layered. It builds into this huge crescendo with the piano and strings. It’s subtle until it isn’t.
If you listen closely to the lyrics, you'll catch lines about "walking through the valley." It’s a direct nod to the struggles the band faced during their hiatus. They didn't just lose a member; they almost lost their identity. "Malibu" was the anchor that brought them back to shore.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're just getting into this era of the band, don't just stop at the single. To really get what's happening with Malibu Mumford and Sons, you need to look at the timeline.
- Listen to the lyrics of 'Cannibal' first. That’s Marcus’s solo song. It gives "Malibu" its weight. You can't understand the peace of the second song without the pain of the first.
- Check out the live version from Brooklyn Paramount. They wrapped their 2025 club tour there. The live energy of "Malibu" is much more aggressive than the studio version.
- Keep an eye out for Prizefighter. As of early 2026, the band has already announced their sixth album, Prizefighter, produced by Aaron Dessner of The National.
The story of "Malibu" isn't just about a song. It’s about a band deciding they weren't finished yet. It’s about three guys in a room in Los Angeles realizing that the "Mumford sound" wasn't a phase—it was just who they were.
They’ve moved past the "folk-pop" label and into something more like "Americana-Soul." It’s grittier. It’s more honest. And honestly? It’s exactly what the music world needed from them.
To get the full experience, go back and listen to the Rushmere album from start to finish. Don't skip the title track. The transition from "Malibu" into the rest of the record is one of the most cohesive things they’ve ever done. It’s a complete narrative of coming home.