Music > Audioline
Maya Law
23/02/17
WHO?
Something of a rising star in our midst, and already a household name on the local scene, Maya is now beginning to break out onto the national stage too. With Radio 1 and 1Xtra plays under her belt, she has just completed her first four date UK tour.
Maya started turning heads aged just 16, with live sessions with us at BBC Introducing in Norfolk and capturing runner up spot in the Next Big Thing 2016, losing out to winner Catnip and Claws.
Now 18, she’s expanded her musical horizons, both recording and performing live, and is surely becoming a force to be reckoned with.
WHAT?
Maya started out with just her and her acoustic guitar. Her tempo-changing structures and the way she uses her voice to hold onto words whilst moving between notes made her style instantly recognisable. Overlay this with lyrics full of honest emotion and political undertones and you get a powerful combination of message and crafted melodies. Think Norwich’s answer to Amy Winehouse or Lauren Hill.
It didn’t stop there. More recently, she’s added her vocal talents to electro-hip-hop duo CabraKid, featuring on the Radio 1Xtra BBC Introducing playlist with Under Your Skin. Impressive for one just starting out.
Nowadays she’s fixed her own style to that of CabraKid co-member Allergy Kid. Together they have just released their first album Her or Him. It’s an incredible blend of Maya’s song writing and Allergy Kid’s chilled electro vibes. Three of the tracks have already hit over 10,000 plays, with lead single Safe and Sound having over 15,000 listens. Clearly the pair are gaining fans fast.
LIVE?
There’s something very warm and touching about Maya’s stage presence. It’s clear she loves performing and can’t stop herself smiling and laughing or calling out to people in the crowd as she sings out those flawless vocals. You can’t help but be drawn in.
Her CV is ever-expanding too. Having played most of the bigger stages in Norwich, her name is beginning to be the first one bigger acts visiting the area ask to play alongside them. Think Franko Fraize and Loyle Carner.
She and Allergy Kid were recently hand-picked to represent the East of England for Springboard Live, an initiative that took four up and coming UK acts on a national tour. It included a night at the legendary Camden Roundhouse. It proved to be a personal favourite. “It was amazing,” she said. “We had our names on the steps with all these famous people, the building is beautiful and everyone was really chilled out and very welcoming.”
FUTURE?
It’s non-stop for Maya Law right now, and this month she is headlining the new Sonic Youths #ICYMI event at Norwich Arts Centre with Allergy Kid on Friday10th March.
Maya still enjoys playing acoustically, but is continuing the electro-acoustic double act with Allergy Kid that has got them both so much attention. There’s definitely more to come from this talented artist, and we can't wait to see how it all unfolds.
https://soundcloud.com/maya_law
https://www.facebook.com/1419SonicYouths/?fref=ts