By: Lisa Steinberg
Photo Courtesy of the Artist
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) I would describe my sound as eccentric, cinematic, and jazzy, yet gritty.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) I’ve always been the most inspired by big vocalists – Adele, Al Green, Etta James, Miley Cyrus, Amy Winehouse, Stevie Nicks and Chris Stapleton definitely influenced me a lot today. I grew up listening to a lot of Frank Sinatra, Prince, Michael Jackson and Rihanna as well, who have always been north stars for me.
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Vinyl.”
A) “Vinyl” is about a friend of mine who commands every room she walks into, and I was inspired by the ways in which people naturally gravitate toward her and wanted to write a song about it. She had such an elegance and grace to working a room whenever we were out, and I wanted to illustrate that with an anthem for every it-girl.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) I think the song exudes a level of confidence that allows people to express themselves and connect with, and it has a funky and retro feel to it that I feel like can be listened to in any setting.
Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) I wanted the music video to be the exact representation of what being the protagonist in “Vinyl” looks like – the confident, alluring and effortlessly chic it-girl. I wanted to shoot it around the streets of New York City, as that’s where I feel like the most confident version of myself.
Q) Your album Just My Luck is out now. What are some themes you explore on it?
A) Just My Luck is an exploration of chance, fate and vulnerability as a product of being someone that wears their heart on their sleeve. It’s about the risks I’ve taken in navigating my relationship with myself and the world around me and the outcomes that have allowed me to step into the newer, wiser version of myself.
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) My songwriting process is different with every song and always depends on who I’m writing with. Some days I have a clear vision or concept of what I want to write about, so I’ll start with lyrics and pick up a guitar and not even open the computer for the majority of the session. Other days I like to start with production and jam out to a genre or melody idea that’s inspiring me, and what I write about becomes inspired by that sound. Sometimes I’ll have a three hour long conversation before I even write a word, and then we write the song to completion almost immediately after. No day is ever the same!
Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) I co-produce most, if not every song I write – I always have a very specific vision for what I want. Whether it’s instrumentation, structure and build, arranging vocals, etc., I’m particularly specific about vocal producing and love to get in the nitty gritty of every step of the production process. I’ve learned a lot from the producers I work with who have been huge mentors to me and they’ve taught me a lot about coming into my own as a producer and who I am as an artist.
Q) My favorite songs on the EP are “Jade” and “Midnight Blue.” Which song(s) holds a special place in your heart and why?
A) Funnily enough, both those songs also hold the most special place in my heart! A close third would definitely be “Spend My Love” – they were all written in such a natural way with special people and they capture such beautiful emotions at very specific times in my life when I needed them most. “Midnight Blue” was definitely the most meaningful writing session I had experienced and we knew we had created something special the second we wrote down the first line.
Q) What songs off your EP are you looking forward to performing live?
A) Definitely “Mercury,” “Spend My Love” and “Midnight Blue.” They all have such different energies live and it’s so much fun to experiment with my vocal range in each of them.
Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to Just My Luck as a whole – either as a message or emotion?
A) I hope that listeners feel encouraged and unafraid to harness their vulnerability and feel inspired to take a chance on love in their lives, however it may manifest itself. I also hope that they feel like the confident, romanticized versions of themselves when they listen to it.
Q) What can fans expect from a live Maya Engen performance?
A) Lots of dancing, singing along, laughing, crying and being as present as they can possibly be with the people around them. They can always expect attention to detail, an honest vocal performance and most importantly, a fabulous outfit <3
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) I love performing just about anywhere, but I will always favor an intimate venue, the closer to a speakeasy the better. I love performing in an unconventional space, whether it be a backyard, a gallery, a rooftop, even a living room – my goal on stage is always to connect with the audience in the most authentic way I can. On the other hand, I also love a big crowd just as much and I’ll never forget my first sold-out headline show at Baby’s All Right or my first theatre show at Gramercy Theatre.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) It would be an absolute dream to collaborate with Olivia Dean or RAYE in the future. Chris Stapleton would also be unreal.
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) I’ve currently been into Erin Lecount, Slayyyter and Zinadelphia. They each have such different sounds but are so true to their artistry and create such unique walls of sound that I’m super inspired by. Despite their different genres, they each have such soul to their voices and I love their lyricism.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for supporting me at such a pivotal time in my journey as an artist, it truly means more than you know and I wish that I could meet every single one of you. I hope you’re loving the EP as much as I do, and before you know it it’ll be time for some new music again. [winks] More to come very soon!! XoXo Maya <3