Maya
Singer/Songwriter Maya Kuriel is one of the newest young pop artists to keep an eye out for. The Seattle native has been writing her own music since 2017, but only made her streaming debut earlier this year. The artist released two songs, her debut single “Intoxicated,” along with the brand new “Wanna Hate You,” which premiered July 10th. Now based in Los Angeles, the 21 year old half-Korean, half-Israeli artist shows a promisingly wide range. From the mellow nature of “Intoxicated” to the powerful pop beats of “Wanna Hate You,” the rising star showcases her unique vibe. With only two singles, she’s still managed to earn over 27k Spotify streams, which is set to increase greatly in the coming days. We recently spoke to Maya about the meaning of her most recent single, her musical preferences, and more!
How did you start making music?
I've loved to sing since I was four years old. My parents have embarrassing videos of me singing to them in tiaras and fairy wings as a little girl. I decided to start a YouTube channel at 14 and fell in love with making covers for people to enjoy. I couldn't believe the response I was getting on my channel at such a young age. A couple years later, at the age of 17, I started making my own original songs.
What was the last song you listened to?
“Daddy Issues” by The Neighbourhood, such deep lyrics and it's definitely my go to song when I need to wind down for the day or just relax in general.
Where is your go-to location when it's time to write?
As lame as it sounds, my bedroom is where I like to write the most. Especially at night. I have some purple lights on my ceiling to set the mood. Just me, my notepad, and my keyboard. No distractions.
Describe your music style in just 3 words.
Pop, catchy, and honest.
What does Maya do in her free time?
In my free time, I like to song write as much as possible. When I'm not doing that, I love to drive to Malibu or Laguna, go on a good hike, or hit up a drive-in movie with friends.
It's collab time: Which artist are you choosing to make a song with and why?
I love a good guy-girl collab, so probably Shawn Mendes. He is the most amazing writer, singer, and performer and I've looked up to him as an artist for a while now. That collab would definitely be a dream.
You had a new single, “Wanna Hate You”, come out July 10th. What can you tell us about it?
I can tell you that it's very different from my recent single "Intoxicated." "Wanna Hate You" is very upbeat and powerful. It's a song that I think a lot of people will be able to relate to. It's about knowing that someone isn't right for you and hearing bad things about that person from everyone around you, but just not caring. It's about wanting to block someone out, but not being able to. I think we've all had our fair share of people like that. I'm really proud of this one and I can't wait for everyone to hear it.
Any other projects for fans to get excited about?
Lots of new songs coming. I would also love to play local shows in LA as soon as the world opens back up. For now, I'm using this strange time in life to focus on writing and creating new music. With each song, I'm also finding my sound more and more, so I'm very excited to see what the future holds.
