#SpeakUp by Maia Zakay
Maia Zakay is a London-born R&B performer from Los Angeles who wrote song hooks for Beyoncé and Drake.
Her debut album #SpeakUp was released in 2020 and co-produced by Stephan Oberhoff, who has worked for the likes of Barbra Streisand and Quincy Jones.
Maia Zakay is in for a quick Q&A about her music and career.
Maia, what achievements are you most proud of?
Going from almost nothing to working with one of the world’s best hitmakers, super-producer Scott Storch. Learning how to create a song with him from scratch to be fully done in a matter of eight hours was quite a big challenge that I am proud to have overcome. He helped me realise my creative abilities by unlocking the potential I didn’t know I had.
You were born in London and grew up in Los Angeles; how do you feel about the UK?
I have so many great memories of the UK. Every time I visit, I feel nostalgic. I have always wondered what my life would be like if I had never moved to Los Angeles and stayed in the UK instead, but I’m very grateful for the opportunities LA has for me in the music industry.
Who are your biggest music influences?
Drake and Ariana Grande are my favourite artists from whom I get so much artistic inspiration. In life, my dad believed in my music before I did. He helped me see that I had a gift that should not go to waste, and it took a lot of effort to get me to understand his point of view. He supported me financially and introduced me to my amazing producer, Stephan Oberhoff, who has worked closely with music legends Quincy Jones and David Foster. Stephan mentored me in the studio from day one and taught me everything I know about studio and song production. His belief in me gave me enough confidence to trust my instincts, and now the things I once struggled with come naturally. These two people have been the main driving forces behind my music journey so far. You know, I titled my album #SpeakUp as all of my songs were my way of speaking up about topics I knew a lot of my listeners could relate to. I wanted to show people that it’s okay to be vulnerable about the hard times in life and that the more open we are about it with each other, the less isolated we feel.
What was your dream job as a child? Did you have a plan B?
My dream job as a child was to be a veterinarian, given my love for animals. Funnily enough, that was also the dream job of most of my friends, so I guess it’s not very original! I didn’t really have a plan B because I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life until I turned 17.
What do you think of talent shows like The X Factor?
Talent shows such as The X Factor are definitely fun to watch and give people a platform to show their talent. However, I prefer to try and make it by putting out great songs and having real organic growth of my audience.
Are there any artists you would like to collaborate with?
One of my music goals is to release a song with either Drake, Post Malone or Justin Bieber. And there are also so many other artists I respect and I would be just as blessed to collaborate with, such as Bazzi, Russ, Iann Dior – and the list goes on!
Maia Zakay © to the owners
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