LA-Based  singer-songwriter and producer

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Join us as we chat with Maisie about her journey as a musician, the challenges of pursuing a creative path, her newly released EP Flirty Masochist, and more.

Before we dive in, could you tell us a bit about what you do and where you're based, for those who might not be familiar with you?

Yes! I song-write and produce, and I’m based in Los Angeles.

When did you first realize that music was what you wanted to pursue? Was there a particular moment or experience that made you think, 'This is what I want to do with my life'?

Ever since I was 12, I have been writing corny love songs on whatever instrument I can figure out how to play. At the time, it was a ukulele, and now it’s a guitar. I dropped out of high school when I was 15 and pursued an alternative program because I knew pretty early that music was my path and that sitting in chemistry class wasn’t going to get me there. (I failed the chemistry final, by the way… really left on a high note, lol) 

Your music has drawn comparisons to artists like Mazzy Star and Grouper! Who are some of your current musical influences, and how have they inspired your songwriting and production process?

Definitely inspired by both of those artists in the realm of production and mixing. They’re really special to me. Currently I feel a bit open to anything inspiring me, and trying not to get too obsessed with any artist in particular. I really want what I’m working on right now to be as genuinely close to the roots of it as possible. I know it sounds a bit wooey, but I feel really lit up and inspired by nature right now…searching to recreate sounds and moments I have outdoors.

Are there any artists or musical influences that have shaped your sound and creative direction?

Some of my faves are Sheryl Crowe, the Chicks, Blondie, The Go Go’s, Caroline Polachek, Charli XCX, Okay Kaya, Enya, 2010 Ke$ha, and Kate Nash, to name a few, but I could go on forever!

In that same vein, looking back on where you started to where you are now, how do you think your sound has evolved over time?

I think that my music has matured in the same ways that I have matured as a person since my art is usually a direct reflection of myself. However, it has also gotten weirder in the sense that I don’t care as much about what people think anymore, so this upcoming EP (Flirty Masochist) heavily revolves around taking sonic and lyrical risks. 

Looking at your creative process, can you walk us through how you approach a new song?

The song's inspiration can really come from anywhere. Sometimes it can be from hearing one word, having one conversation, seeing a scene in a movie that brings up an old memory, from being hungover and having hangxiety, I can never really predict it. And then when it comes to making the song, the process is also a mixed bag. Sometimes, I just start writing it on paper sometimes, I’ll be in traffic on the freeway, and I’ll record a melody idea on my phone often I am in my room, and I’ll write it with my synth or guitar, and then often I will write it on the spot with the producer I'm collaborating with in the studio. The process never repeats itself, which is why it’s so thrilling each time. I can't imagine getting bored of it. 

For many people, surroundings can really influence the work they're doing/putting out. Have you found that your surroundings and maybe even the people you interact with impact your creative process?

Definitely! I am lucky enough to have a core group of family and friends who I would die for. None of them would ever tell me to stop pursuing what I love, so I am beyond grateful for my support system. I also feel super safe putting myself out there with the collaborators I currently work with in LA. This has been huge for me when it comes to creating my most authentic art. And then, on top of my own personal circles, I also work at a very Hollywood-centric restaurant as my side job, which involves serving many different types of personalities. I always come home from my shift with thought-provoking experiences and stories that positively impact my art.  

When you find yourself in a creative rut or funk, how do you typically navigate through it?

If I find myself uninspired, I usually lean into it and let myself do something else. When you’re a solo artist, you’re basically running a small business. There are so many other things you can do on the days you are not creatively motivated. (i.e. scheduling press shoots, social media, making album art, writing song bios, etc.) However, I also have to embrace my days off, which is something I still struggle with. It’s hard for me to clock out when I’m pursuing something that is not yet monetized. I feel like I can’t stop running until I’ve reached my goal (and can quit my restaurant job and pay my student loans.)

But I also constantly have to keep in mind that burnout is never worth it. So, if I wake up with a hunch that I can’t even think about my music career that day, then I will go for a hike, catch up with a friend, or go to the beach. 

We’re really loving the title track, ‘Flirty Masochist,’ from your EP, which just released! It clearly reflects a significant and transformative period in your life. Can you share more about what listeners can take away from the rest of the EP and what led you to create this project?

Thank you! I think of this project as a charm bracelet because each of the six songs feels like a little charm from a different place, but they all come together to emphasize one particularly challenging pocket of time in my life. My last EP really harped on why I was heartbroken and lost at the time, while this project is introspective in a different way. I really hone in on personal accountability, and I consider reasons why I might be the problem when it comes to being guarded and closed off from new relationships.

This project is scary to release for me because I am already such a different person from when I first wrote it. The whole project is about being chronically single and terrified of love, and now I am in a loving relationship so that part of releasing art is always freaky and weird. But it is such a good exercise because it helps me practice accepting all of my past, present, and future selves.

Your music carries a beautiful but deep sense of vulnerability, which naturally invites a range of opinions and judgments. How do you navigate the balance between exposing parts of yourself in your work and handling the pressure or criticism from listeners and the broader world? Has this ever influenced the way you create or share your music?

I have always kept my fear and ego at the door when I am in the process of making something. If I get in my head about how anyone is going to perceive what I'm making, then it will negatively impact the art. In some ways, the process of creating is selfish because I'm not thinking about how anyone else will receive it until it’s a fully processed thought or idea. It’s only after the song is finished when I allow myself to get excited about the prospect of someone else hearing it or relating to it.

When it comes to someone disliking my art, I have fortunately spent years overcoming that fear. I have learned to appreciate it when people negatively respond to my art because, at the end of the day, art is all about creating an emotional reaction, so I would much rather have someone hate my song than feel entirely indifferent about it.

For those out there who are dreaming of pursuing a creative path but are struggling with self-doubt or are hesitant to take that leap, what advice would you offer them?

The only way to get better at putting yourself out there is through exposure therapy! Start small, but there is an obvious equation to getting better at being vulnerable, and it is to just exercise that muscle by putting yourself out there in little ways throughout your day. You will eventually not only become numb to it, but you will find joy in it. And remember- the only people that retract when you put yourself out there are the people that aren’t worth your time anyway. 

Before we let you almost go, where can we find more of you?!

I have so much more music coming this Fall, and I can’t wait to release it!

I share all of my upcoming projects and shows on my Instagram (@maisie___may) and TikTok (@maisiemaylovesyou)

Let’s Get Deep 

What’s your theme song?

ratemyboyfriend.com (one of my unreleased demos)

Night In or Night Out?

Night out 

When do you feel most you?

When alone in my room turning old voice memo ideas into songs 

What’s something you’re obsessed with right now? 

Finding original ways to communicate unoriginal thoughts

Call or Text?

Voice Note

When was the last time you cried?

This morning

When’s the last time you laughed?

Yesterday

Current favorite follow on social media?

My sisters because I miss them

Lastly, what’s one thing you would tell your 16-year-old self?

TRUST YOUR GUT

Find More of Maisie here:

Instagram: @maisie___may

TikTok: @maisiemaylovesyou

Listen to Maisies Playlist: Here