Donny Johnson
Interviews
Maya Delilah – Necklace
By: Ilaria Masselli
Q) I saw a lot of videos in which you play the guitar and I love to see your face changing completely when you touch the instrument. How important is the guitar in your life?
A) The guitar has always been an emotional release for me. It feels like because I’ve been playing it for so long it’s almost like an extension of me and sometimes when I play I still feel like my younger eight year old self with the excitement I’d get when I first started playing – the feeling hasn’t really gone away. It’s very important to me and to have it featured heavily in the music I make.
Q) Last year you published “Pretty Face,” a very personal song for you. Personally, I found the song very beautiful and at the same time I could feel the pain. Why is it so important for you to share your feelings through words and music?
A) It’s very therapeutic to write how I feel. It really feels like I’m getting something off my chest when I feel that I’ve articulated exactly how I feel through a song. It can be a big help in my day-to-day life – I’ve never been one to journal but this is my own little version of it.
Q) Please tell us the story behind your song “Necklace.”
A) “Necklace” was made midway through my first-time touring America last autumn. It was written in LA with Josh Grant (who produced the song too) and Trey Campbell. The melody came about so quickly – making a soft acoustic song really matched the vibe in the room with it being a night session. It was honestly written so fast it’s a bit of a blur.
Q) You said that this song is about the contradictions of love and especially the good and bad of this feeling. Is that what you feel fans will connect to the most with this song?
A) Hopefully, they’ll project whatever they’re feeling at the time to this song. I love that people can find even just words or lines they relate to in a song and connect the song to a whole time in their life. This song feels especially nostalgic to me so I hope one day it will to someone else.
Q) In this new song you explore new elements of acoustic pop. What was it like to approach this genre that you never tried before?
A) It’s always felt like a style I’ve wanted to explore as the first eight years of playing guitar it was on an acoustic. I’ve really enjoyed making more acoustic music as some of my most listened to music is acoustic pop/soul such as some Prince / Ray LaMontagne / Dijon / John Mayer.
Q) There is a line in this new song of yours that says: “I’m here but I’m not, and I know that this is a lot’. This line hits me a lot, because it reminds me how difficult sometimes is to be ‘present,’ especially when ‘something feels so right,” as you said in your song. How difficult is for you to feel fine when something feels right?
A) For me these things depend on circumstance so hard to say!
Q) I really appreciate the lyric video of this new song. It’s so cute and simple at the same time. What was the purpose to choose those specific cartoon figures?
A) Thank you! I wanted funny little creatures to play a part in videos, merch, website and had an amazing graphic designer called Boy Tillekens make them. It’s really fun thinking of new ways to use them, for example I’ve just hand drawn fifty envelopes with the little characters on to give people who support my music as a thank you.
Q) What do you hope lingers with listeners of “Necklace?”
A) The whole song, I hope it annoyingly gets stuck in their heads.
Q) If you could choose three adjectives to describe “Silver Lining,” what would they be?
A) Upbeat, haunting, shiny
Q) Another feeling or theme that you would like to bring into your next songs, what would they be?
A) I really want there to be a wide variety of feelings and themes – I don’t want my music to be too consistent as I like the thought of there being someone for everyone (and I also get too excited and inspired by different genres).
Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?
A) I’m so grateful for your eyes AND those ears. You seem to be using so many of your key senses to support me and for that I’m grateful. I hope you can smell me soon <3
“‘Necklace’ is a song about feeling so connected to someone whilst also having doubts and worries. Something I think we all feel from time to time. It was written in LA with Josh Grant and Trey Campbell. The song came together faster than most songs I’ve made and is one of my favourites. It feels nostalgic, warm, and perfect for a road trip drive.”
Listen to New Song “Necklace”
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