When Lebanese singer, lyricist, and performer Maya introduces herself, she does so with quiet intention. “I usually introduce myself by stating my full name and offering a handshake,” she says. “I describe myself as a singer, a performer, and a writer, specifically a lyricist.” It is a simple introduction, but one that often leads to something deeper. “When people ask me when I started my career, I naturally begin sharing stories,” she adds. “My journey with music has been shaped by meaningful encounters and opportunities that led me to who I am today.”
Those stories are deeply tied to place, movement, and memory. While Maya spent years performing as a backing vocalist and as part of bands, it was her time in Canada that marked a defining shift. Working as a radio host and producer, she unexpectedly found herself drawn back to Lebanese music. “I found my way back to Lebanese music during my time in Canada,” she explains. “I felt drawn to revisit its classics, and soon after, to create my own songs.”
What began as nostalgia soon evolved into purpose. “It started as a longing to sing my memories to an Arab diaspora separated from home,” she says. Through music, she found a way to reconnect with shared emotions, translating distance into something intimate and familiar.
Her first true solo concert took place in 2012 in Montreal, a moment she remembers vividly. “I remember I was very confident,” she recalls, “but when I looked back at it a few days later, I realized that I still needed to work on a lot of aspects.” Rather than discouraging her, that realization became a turning point. “Since then, I have trained my voice and built my musical identity,” she says.
Today, stepping onstage feels entirely different. “When I perform now, I feel I am connecting with the audience at all levels,” Maya explains. The performance is no longer just about sound, but about exchange, presence, and emotional honesty.
Maya is also known for challenging the common expectation placed on Arab musicians to choose between sounding traditional or contemporary. For her, the divide is artificial. “My deep belief is that we are the result of our musical heritage,” she says, “and that honoring it is essential to keeping it alive.” At the same time, she insists on originality. “It is important to create original work that speaks to the present.”
Reinterpreting classic songs plays a key role in that balance. “Reinterpreting classics allows me to carry their emotional weight into a new context,” she explains. “It helps audiences reconnect with their own memories and feelings while discovering something fresh at the same time.”
When it comes to finding an authentic artistic voice, Maya believes the process goes far beyond natural talent. “Finding a real artistic voice is a continuous journey that evolves with time,” she says. “Having a beautiful voice or the ability to sing is not enough on its own.” What truly matters, she believes, is listening. “Listening to the world around us and to our inner voice, and drawing from lived experience, is what shapes what we want to express and how we express it.”
Her advice to aspiring artists is grounded and direct. “Train, train, train,” she says firmly. “Let discipline be your motto.” At the same time, she encourages openness and experimentation. “Listen to the icons you look up to, try new things, and never stop exploring. Growth comes from curiosity as much as commitment.”
Looking ahead, Maya hopes to bring her music to Kuwait. “I would truly love to perform in Kuwait,” she says. “I have always admired how refined and culturally engaged Kuwaiti audiences are, and I feel there is a genuine appreciation there for music with depth and emotion.” While plans are still in motion, her intention is clear. “I am actively following opportunities to make this happen, and I would be very happy to connect with audiences in Kuwait in the near future.”
For Maya, music remains a living bridge between memory and modernity. Rooted in heritage, shaped by discipline, and guided by lived experience, her voice continues to evolve, carrying the past forward while speaking firmly to the present.
Follow Maya’s musical journey on Instagram @wakedmaya.
