In Conversation With #216 - Maya Lane
Rising star Maya Lane shines brightly on her debut EP ‘Childish Games’ - creating a timeless sound that mixes influences of Joni Mitchel land HAIM.
In the space of just three beautifully realised singles, Maya Lane’s blossoming talents have been hailed by tastemakers and folk-pop connoisseurs alike. Still just 19-years-old, Maya’s elegant voice and timeless songwriting has earned comparisons with artists both contemporary and classic, spanning famous names such as Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift, HAIM and Joni Mitchell.
While a new name to many people, Maya has been honing her craft away for the spotlight for several years. Her dedication is now rewarded with a fresh landmark moment as she today releases her debut EP ‘Childish Games’. It features her three recent singles - ‘When You Need Me’, ‘Childish Games’ and ‘Still The Same’ - and is completed by the brand new song ‘Closing Down’.
She took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Maya- how are you? So your EP is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
Hey! I’m really good thanks, this last week has been so exciting with my debut EP finally coming out. It feels amazing to finally be able to share what I’ve been working on and see everyone’s response.
It is called ‘Childish Games’ - what is the meaning behind that?
I decided to call the EP ‘Childish Games’ as whilst each song tells a unique story, the common theme between them relates to the struggles of growing up and transitioning from teen to adulthood. ‘Childish Games’ was the first song I wrote for the EP, so it felt right to keep that.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
We did all the final recordings in RAK studios in December 2020. I remember being so excited to develop the demos we had been working on. One of my favourite moments was hearing the cello part in ‘When You Need Me’ being played live for the first time, it was just so beautiful and instantly added so much to the song.
Another funny memory from that day was my manager’s lunch order of toast, with baked beans, avocado and pesto! I have never heard of that combination before, he was trying to convince us it was good, but I’m still not sure haha!
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
I was brought up listening to a huge range of artists from different genres of music, so I take inspiration from everywhere. However, some of the key influences were artists like Fleetwood Mac and Kacey Musgraves.
If the EP could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
That is such a great question!
I recently saw ‘Licorice pizza’ which I loved ! I would love to hear the EP as a soundtrack to that. I’m also a big fan of the HAIM sisters (who feature in the film).
Do you have a favourite lyric on the EP - if so, which one and why?
One of my favourite lyrics is ‘I wish that I could feel those thorns for you, but from the scars you’ll see flowers bloom’, from ‘When You Need Me’. That line is about wanting to shield and protect my younger sister from all the hurt and challenges she might face. But it also relates to the challenges I’ve personally faced and how much I’ve grown as a person over the last few years.
Now the EP is out there - what next?
There is so much in the works from new music to live shows so make sure you are following my social media @mayalaneuk to stay up to date with everything and see all the announcements about what’s next :)
