Maya Lane in Conversation With FAULT Magazine

Maya Lane x FAULT Magazine

Maya Lane is no stranger to the spotlight, having previously captivated our hearts with her debut EP ‘Childish Games’. If you’re not already familiar with Maya Lane’s talent, now is the perfect time to dive into her musical world with her latest release 24F showcasing her brilliant writing talents. We caught up with Maya Lane to discuss her musical journey, her methodology and of course, her FAULTs.

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind 24f?

‘24F’ was written about looking back, with hindsight, on traumatic and challenging phases in life and being able to heal from these. When writing the song I wanted to use the plane analogy to represent looking at my past trauma and how once you zoom out and step away from the moment you can see it from a different perspective. I was really inspired by the melodies of Joni Mitchell for this song and wanted to create a vocal line that felt comforting but also slightly unpredictable.

Your music has been described as blending the pop appeal of Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift with the classic songwriting of Joni Mitchell. How do you balance these influences while still creating a unique sound that’s your own?

Having my name in the same sentence as those artists is the biggest compliment, I look up to all of them so much. I think the most important thing for me when creating my own sound is thinking ‘is this truly authentic to me’, as a person I never try to be something or someone I’m not and I try to follow this in my music as well. I also try not to box myself in when writing, each song will be different, if one feels more pop and another more folky, then I try to lean into that, allowing space for all these genres to mix and cross over.
While I love those artists so much, I also take inspiration from so many other genres of music and areas of life such as books, photography and fashion.

’24F’ is a very personal song for you, opening up about your experiences with bullying and its impact on your self-worth. How did you approach translating such personal emotions into your music and does being so honest come easy to you?

To me songwriting is a form of therapy, it’s one of the main ways I process my thoughts and experiences. The process of writing ‘24F’ was a really healing experience and enabled me to see how far I had come. I feel very lucky that songwriting is something that does feel very natural for me to do. It doesn’t always mean it’s easy and I am always trying to improve, learn from others and expand my skill, to help me be the best writer I can possibly be. I am actually dyslexic so I find it really hard to write and structure essays and messages, however, when it’s in the form of a song it often flows naturally. In terms of translating the emotions into song, I am a huge oversharer and normally tell people everything about me within 5 minutes of meeting them, so being honest in my songs feels like the only option.

Your debut EP ‘Childish Games’ garnered significant attention and support – do you ever feel nervous that you now have to top its success with future releases?
Thank you, I feel really lucky and grateful for all the support around my debut EP. There is definitely always an element of nervousness that comes with releasing music. All my songs are my little babies and when putting them out into the world you always want them to do as well. I obviously have goals and dreams for each song and my career, but I try to keep my expectations reasonable and trust that if I’m working hard and putting out music I’m proud of, everything will work out in time.

You’ve mentioned that attending Taylor Swift’s ‘Red’ tour as a child was a pivotal moment in your decision to pursue a career in music. How do you think that experience shaped your aspirations and artistic direction?

The ‘Red’ tour was the first concert I ever attended at age 10 and was such a pivotal moment for me. I have always admired Taylor Swift as an artist, for her songwriting skills and as a general performer. But what really hit me was being in a room with 20,000 people, hearing them all scream and sing the lyrics to the songs and experiencing the range of emotions in the crowd was just incredible. That night I was really struck by the impact that music can have and I remember thinking ‘one day this will be me’.

Your fashion style has garnered attention on social media and even attracted brand support. How does your personal style intersect with your music, and do you see a connection between your visual aesthetic and your musical identity?

I have always absolutely loved fashion, as a kid I used to write little fashion blogs, print them out and hand them to the teachers at school. My parents always gave me the freedom to pick my own clothes, experiment with what I was wearing and express myself through clothes. I got into vintage clothes via my Mum, who would take me around markets and fairs. As a child I was slightly scared (thinking ghosts would come out of the clothes at night) but also fascinated by the past stories of each item. I am a very visual person so I definitely like to connect that side of things to my music.

I know it wasn’t a perfect time, but so much of the 70s really resonates with me in terms of the individuality of musical expression and freedom, the quality of songwriting and the fashion of the time. I’m naturally drawn to flared jeans, long floaty dresses and quality ‘meant to last’ pieces of clothing. For me, I always want to wear pieces that I feel comfortable and confident in. That ties in with my music too and the desire to be truly authentic and thankfully it all seems to tie together quite naturally, it’s just how I am.

Your upcoming live performance at The Bedford in London on September 19th must be exciting. How do you approach live shows, and what can your fans expect from this upcoming performance?

I am so excited! I started playing live at the age of 12, desperate to share my music, playing anywhere that would have me,(festivals, gig and open mics) and my love for live performing has only grown since.

I play solo, just me and my guitar, and love the intimate feel that it provides. To anyone coming to future shows expect to hear lots of new music from my next project.

What’s been the most challenging musical hurdle you’ve had to overcome throughout your musical journey?

Oooh that’s a hard question! To be honest I think the most challenging thing I’ve had to deal with is my own self confidence and having that belief that I am good enough and people will want to hear my music. There are so many amazing artists out here and it’s so easy to compare yourself to others and their journeys, I try to remind myself that my journey is my own.

What are you most looking forward to for the rest of the year?

I’m really excited to be diving into this next chapter of music. I have so many things coming that I’m looking forward to, from shows to more new music and more. I post all my updates on social media @mayalaneuk so keep an eye out there.

What is your FAULT?

Hmmm, I don’t know if it’s my biggest FAULT or biggest strength but I am a serious over-thinker! I’m also a bit of a dark chocoholic!