Singer-Songwriter Maya Lane Talks Touring and Creativity

INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW ✦

Artists have always held the ability to captivate listeners through alluring melodies and musicality, but above all, through the stories they craft within their songs. This concept is something that specifically applies to the talented pop/folk artist Maya Lane, a singer-songwriter whose regularly managed to weave personal, sincere narratives into her own reflective music for nearly two years so far.

With her recent release titled “Heart For A Heart,” Lane officially continues her relatable, therapeutic pop pattern by infusing tangible personal experiences into a cinematic-coded concept that delicately blends soft, whimsical country/folk qualities with a grounded perspective.

On the heels of her newest single, we spoke with Lane, (who’s currently on the road) where the singer took the opportunity to discuss her creative processes and the inspirations behind this liberating chapter of feel-good music.

Maya Lane

I love that “Heart For A Heart” is influenced by film, and that you’ve been meticulously working on this over time! How did you know the song was finally complete?

Maya Lane: Thank you! The actual process of writing the song was fairly quick, I wrote it in an afternoon with Andysocialclub and Carys Selvey. It felt really refreshing to be able to deep dive into another world for a moment. In terms of production, the song saw multiple versions, it’s hard to tell when a song is ‘finished’ as there are always things you can change or play around with. I try to just go with my gut instinct! I think one of the things that helped during this process was playing the song live and experimenting with different tempos, keys, and melodic changes, and seeing how I felt and how the audience responded. I couldn’t be happier with the final version which was co-produced by Andysocialclub and Rich Cooper.

How did the collaboration with andysocialclub, Carys Selvey, and Rich Cooper impact the creative process of “Heart For A Heart”?

Maya Lane: I feel so lucky and love being able to collaborate with them. It was really nice to be able to have them co produce the track and add their individual magic.

Could you take us through your experience of writing a song inspired by a film? How did that process differ from your usual songwriting approach?

Maya Lane: While I mainly write from personal experience, ideas often start out by being inspired by a film, a poem or quote, so the process for this song wasn’t too different. As a kid I had a very overactive imagination and would always be making up stories or characters, and I think it’s a skill if you can call it that [laughs] that I’ve managed to keep up being a songwriter. So while “Heart For A Heart” started from the initial film idea, I then tapped into my own experiences to give the song a more grounded and personal element.

You’ve been working with renowned names like Wayne Hector, Rob Milton, and Hayley Gene Penner, which must have been an incredible asset to you. How have some of these collaborations and how they have shaped your upcoming music?

Maya Lane: It’s so inspiring to work with so many talented and hardworking people. I feel as though I learn and take something different from everyone I work with. I find being able to collaborate with different writers, producers and artists also helps to bring me out of my comfort zone and often push me into areas that maybe I wouldn’t have taken the song or project initially but afterwards feel so right! 

The living room tour with Edie Bens sounds like a unique experience for both you and the audience. What can fans expect from these intimate performances?

Maya Lane: I’m currently [in the car] as we are en route to our next show! The whole idea for the tour was to play acoustic/unplugged shows in people’s homes or local cafes. We put out an application online for people to host us and are trying to make our way to as many places as possible. It’s been really special to be able to meet and play for our fans and followers in such an intimate setting!

Being part of the upcoming all-female showcase for Ferocious Talent is yet another thing to be excited about! How important is it for you to be part of initiatives that celebrate other women in the music industry?

Maya Lane: I’m so excited! It can be a challenging and competitive industry at times and I think being able to support each other and work together to create more opportunities and uplift each other is so important.

Lastly, as someone who draws creativity from all kinds of sources, what are you currently the most inspired by — a genre, movie, emotion, person, etc.?

Maya Lane: Ooooo, I think at the moment I’ve actually been really inspired by other artists and songwriters! I’ll go through phases of listening to more music or reading more poetry etc. and being inspired by that. At the moment I’ve been listening to a lot of country artists like Sheryl Crow, and have been enjoying experimenting with pushing my own boundaries a bit and trying out new ways of writing that are inspired by artists like her.