Maya Sinners Interview

Maya Sinners Interview

Fresh from recording sessions in the Hollywood Hills, Maya has today announced her debut single Sinners, a punchy, soulful reflection of the darkness and light within relationships, to be released on August 5. Maya will be celebrating the firey tune with a string of shows hitting Paris Cat on July 29, The Evelyn on September 2 and The Athenaeum (with Jim Steinman) on September 17.

Sinners is a steamy track, full of fierce expression that is articulated perfectly by Maya's mature vocal. The band warmly perculates underneath her soulful melody, and strings stab and sweep expressively throughout. Written alongside powerhouse team Smash Bros (Cheryl Cole, Cee Lo green, Flo Rida) and Aussie singer/songwriter Shelley Segal (Carl Cox, Adam Levy, Josh Abrahams), Sinners is a thrilling taste of what's to come from the diverse artist. Excited about the release, Maya says, 'I have been working hard to reach this moment and am ready to release Sinners to the world. The single is a representation of relationship drama, it looks at the two sides of love and desire."

Directed and produced by Zachary McSweeny (Deja, Maribelle, All The Colours), the accompanying video for Sinners is dark, artistic and seductive. As the song focuses on two sides of one person, the video portrays Maya as both; devilish and angelic in an abstract, smoky world. As Maya describes, 'The music video for Sinners is a thematic display of brooding fierceness, sexual chaos and liberation…I sat with Zach and we decided we wanted to make this video tastefully artistic and experimental. All of the shots were conceptualized to gain insight in to the way I have felt when experiencing hypocrisy in relationships."

Maya's brand of soulful pop is a welcome offering into the Australian music world. The charismatic woman behind the name, Maya Weiss has been working in the music industry for years, enthusing, 'I adore music above all things and have felt this way since I could speak. Growing up playing blues with my father and singing any chance I had… I am more than ready to share my sound and story with anyone ready to listen."

Stream single: SINNERS             
Watch the video: SINNERS       
Free Download: SINNERS        
Buy: SINNERS

Maya Show Dates

Fri 29 Jul |  Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne VIC

Tickets available from www.pariscat.com.au

Fri 2 Sep |  The Evelyn, Melbourne VIC

Tickets available from http://evelynhotel.com.au

Sat 17 Sep |   Anthenaeum Theatre, Melbourne VIC (with Jim Steinman)

Tickets available from www.ticketek.com

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Interview with Maya

Question: How would you describe your music?

Maya: I would say my music is a mixture of Soul/Jazz twisted vocal stacks, layered with organic instruments and bassed out with hip hop inspired beats. I try and create music to reach out to all ears but music mostly to encourage uplifting thoughts.


Question: What was the main motivation behind the track, Sinners (listen here)?

Maya: The main motivation behind Sinners was to create a song that represented the two sides of my emotions in a fallen love. I didn't want to create just any normal broken love song. It has to show pain and strength, light and shade.


Question: Can you talk us through filming the video clip (watch here)?

Maya: The video clip was really exciting to create! Zach and I conceptualised a video that we felt like we could achieve as there is a lot of pressure that comes with your first clip. We took time to think of imagery that would represent the darker way I felt, mixed with who I am today. With dark foggy backgrounds mixed with bright neon lights. Which brought fun sets to work with, filming in a huge warehouse full of fog and dancing with neon cofins. It was an incredible learning curve, especially with such a good team.


Question: What can we expect from the upcoming shows?

Maya: I have been spending this whole year planning my future shows. I want to create a space to excite, entertain and interest. Taking live music to a new level, with projections, lights, dancers, music features and DJs. Changing elements each time I perform to keep it unexpected.


Question: Did you have any pre-conceived ideas about the music industry?

Maya: I had a few, but I'm really trying to open my mind to the unexpected! I think the music industry has a lot of double standards, yet you can always find a light at the end of the tunnel. At the end of the day if you are just good at what you do you will in some way be successful. I do also think Australian acts are about to dominate the world!


Question: Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?
Maya: I do write my own songs. The inspiration coming from anything, from a thought process to a experience in my life. I co- wrote Sinners, which at first was an interesting process, trusting other people with my sound was at first challenging. Yet I really loved working with others and hearing what all of our collective minds could create was unreal.


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Maya: I listen to heaps of Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Nat King Cole, BB King, Janis Joplin, Lauryn Hill, Erkya Badu, Outkast, Finely Quanye, Led Zepplin and Biggie. I do also listen to a lot of Cinematic Orchestra, Gallant, Flume, Disclosure, Roots, Drake and Fat Freddy's.


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?

Maya: Sinners Rework! I have been working with Haxx (Joyluck Studios) on my official EP, yet with bit of time before the release, I thought I would give Sinners a twist. With many elements introducing my future sound.


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Maya: Never, only ever known music. I couldn't imagine ever doing anything else.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Maya: Performing live because of the energy that live performances can bring.


Question: What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Maya: My father would be a huge one, he always played music to me as a child. Then I'd say either Dido or Andre 3000 would be next.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Maya: Most likely coming off The Voice 2013. It was so strange first of all becoming extremely acknowledged so quickly and in a light not under my control. When I was shut down on live television and social media, it did cause a bit of discouragement but I wouldn't have done it any other way. As coming through that was only a taste of what could be to come in this industry. I really learnt how to not worry about what people say or think of me as much.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Maya: Doing various things from studio sessions, rehearsals for gigs in various venues and functions. Bike rides are my favourite way to practice singing at the moment.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Maya: Connecting with people through music.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Maya: Sia, because even if we didn't gel, the song would at least be a hit.


Interview by Brooke Hunter