I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Raul Malo’s singing voice is smoother than Italian silk and sweeter than Tupelo honey.

Sometimes you just can’t think of another, better way to describe a voice that is such an exquisite, swoon-worthy instrument that it’s consistently compared to Roy Orbison’s.

So when Raul Malo was writing songs for his latest disc, “Lucky One” — his first album of original songs in seven years, after doing a few covers albums in the interim — he understandably played to his strengths.

That is, since he’s also something of a classicist — his primary influences are the vintage country, roots rock, Latin and jazz styles of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s — Malo wrote a batch of tunes that are richly melodic, and which allow him to showcase his silky pipes by singing long, sustained notes.

Indeed, many of the songs sound like they could have fit right in on a classic disc by the likes of Orbison, Elvis Presley or Chet Atkins.

“For me, as a singer, melody has always come first,” says Malo, the former singer-songwriter for the Mavericks who performs a solo show for The Ark’s fall fundraiser on Saturday. “So when I was writing these, I wanted them to be songs that I sounded strong on — and I’ve always sounded best when singing songs that had some melodic heft, and allowed me to play around with words and phrasing.

“When I first got to Nashville, and I heard the songs people were pitching, the melody almost seemed like an afterthought — the focus was mostly on the lyrics. Very seldom do I hear great melodies in contemporary popular music,” says Malo during a phone interview from his home in Music City.

As for his classicist leanings: “I don’t really think of myself as a ‘retro’ artist. I certainly borrow from the past, but I try to draw on what I think are the coolest parts of the past. I hear a lot of stuff on the radio now that sounds like bad ‘80s rock, but for some reason, that doesn’t get labeled as ‘retro.’ I never quite figured that one out,” he adds with a laugh.

On “Lucky One,” several of the tunes are steeped in the reverb-soaked, low-note, sometimes growling guitar sound that’s common to classic-country music — but also to surf-rock and Ennio Morricone soundtracks (or, the soundtracks to some of David Lynch’s films, for that matter).

From track to track, however, that guitar template is complemented by various other textures.

On “Moonlight Kiss,” that sound is integrated into a sassy, enticing arrangement that draws on the mambo beats of the late-‘50s/early-‘60s, complete with a bright, Latin-tinged trumpet solo and an all-male chorus — as well as the honking baritone sax of producer/saxman Steve Berlin (from Los Lobos). “I like that combination — American rock instrumentation with a Latin beat,” says Malo.

“Lonely Hearts” is another track that dares you to resist its charms, with an ear-tugging melody, the aforementioned deep-twang guitar — and a giddy calliope-sounding farfisa-organ performance by Malo that recalls Steve Nieve’s percolating organ riffs on iconic Elvis Costello & the Attractions discs like “Get Happy” and “This Year’s Model.”

And on the seductive title track, Malo’s vocals soar over a chunky, uptempo roots rock beat, subtle lap-steel and rippling, assertive guitar fills.

Elsewhere, Malo delivers some much more pensive and brooding songs — two of which were written about people he knew who had died during the previous year. “One More Angel” is about a friend’s small daughter, who died in a car accident, and “Rosalie” was inspired by the suicide of the wife of a lifelong friend of Malo’s. “One More Angel” is “more about how we lead our lives and what we leave behind,” explains Malo, while “Rosalie” is darker and more cautionary.

Listen to Raul Malo's "Lucky One"

As great as the Mavericks were — with their roots in classic-country and the curiosity to also draw on other elements, like Latin, rock and soul music styles — Malo says he is now having more musical fun than ever. Mostly, that’s because he’s no longer on a major label, so he is now free to go where his musical instincts lead him, without being Nashville record company A&R droids trying to shoehorn him into playing country-and-nothing-but-country.

“That’s one of the reasons the Mavericks broke up (in ’03),” says Malo. “I remember, when we turned in ‘Trampoline’” — the ’98 disc that liberally employed Latin styles and horn charts, among other departures from country music — “it freaked the label out. They were saying things like, ‘You can’t have horns in country music.’ Which is sort of amusing in retrospect, because in the last couple of years I’ve heard horns in songs by Brooks & Dunn and some other commercial country acts.

“I just love all kinds of music, from growing up hearing my parents’ Cuban music, and then getting into rock, and country and jazz. I always thought I would be able to do it all and dabble in all kinds of music, but the major labels and country radio try to beat that out of you, and pigeonhole you.

“Now, I can sing Sinatra all day, or play Duane Eddy guitar licks or play Latin music. That’s always been my personal mission, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Regarding the Ark fundraiser: It’s billed as “TropARKana: An Evening with Raul Malo,” and the décor, food and overall vibe will try to capture a night at the famed Tropicana nightclub in Havana. The Ark is encouraging attendees to “wear your hot Havana tropical attire.”

So, given that tropical theme, does that mean Malo will be playing more of his Latin-inflected tunes than usual?

“I think it just means they’ve hired a Cuban for the night,” cracks Malo. “But, I always do some Latin stuff, anyway, so I’ll definitely be doing those kind of songs for this show.”

PREVIEW Raul Malo What: “TropARKana: An Evening with Raul Malo”: The Ark’s fall fundraiser Who: Eclectic roots-music classicist who draws on country, Latin, roots-rock and jazz styles, to exuberant effect. When: Saturday; doors open and dinner starts at 5:30 p.m.; show starts at 8 p.m. Where: The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor How much: $50 for general admission, plus $125, $250 and $500 reserved seating/dinner packages. Details: 734-761-1451; The Ark web site.

Kevin Ransom is a free-lance writer who covers music for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at KevinRansom10@aol.com.