MAYA LANE SHARES THE NEW SINGLE ‘JUST A GIRL’

After just two releases – the ‘Childish Games’ EP and this summer’s ‘24F’ – rising singer-songwriter Maya Lane continues to go from strength-to-strength as she shares her brand new single ‘Just A Girl’. Maya also announces that she will be supporting Far From Saints – consisting of Kelly Jones of Stereophonics with Patty Lynn and Dwight Baker from The Wind and The Wave, on tour this November

With ‘Just A Girl’, Maya moves into pure acoustic pop territory with an authentic, timeless sound that can equally appeal to fans of Kacey Musgraves and Holly Humberstone. Her angelic, expressive vocal talent begins by answering an unwelcome question (“I’m happiest alone”), but that provides the impetus for Maya to express her wider thoughts on what it means to be a young independent woman – her insights being instantly relatable across her generation. The track was produced by the Grammy,BRIT Award and Mercury Prize winner Jonathan Quarmby (Lewis Capaldi).

Maya says, “I started writing ‘Just a Girl’ last July in my bedroom at home after a family member had asked me for the 100th time if I was ever going to get a boyfriend! The first few verses of the song (which haven’t been changed or tweaked since that moment) were my initial, raw reaction to the question. Expressing my frustration of feeling like no one else could see what I can see, which is that I’m happy and fine not in a relationship – which seems to be questioned more for women than men.

However, the song became so much more than that. It also celebrates and touches on what it means to me to be a girl: the sense of community, the beauty, the power, the chaos, the emotions, the simple and the complex. It also acknowledges the stereotypes that exist and changes that still need to be made in our society. I finished writing the song with Alex O’Shaughnessy, and before we even finished, it was already a favourite of mine.”

Maya adds, “It was so important to me that we kept the music video simple but meaningful, just like the song. I asked my followers and friends to send in videos that describe and portray girlhood to them. The ups, the downs, the beauty and chaos of it all. I really wanted everyone who follows me to feel as though they had a part in this. We filmed the performance part of the video in the beautiful garden location of Little House Sessions, which is a collective bringing musicians together and creating a space for artists to share their music in a way that feels like a heart-to-heart conversation in your home.”

Attending Taylor Swift’s ‘Red’ tour was the moment that convinced Maya that she wanted to be a musician too. And she didn’t waste any time – she was just 12-years-old when she enterprisingly started booking gigs for herself. Now still only 19, it’s perhaps no surprise that her performances feel like a mix of youthful enthusiasm with the finesse of a more seasoned artist, as showcased with previous gigs which have included Song Suffragettes, The Half Moon, Signature Brew, The Bedford, The Ned and a show as guest to Jill Andrews. Maya’s touring continues with upcoming shows at Laid Bare in Brixton (October 25th) before she returns to The Half Moon on November 27th. 

Citing artists such as HAIM, Fleetwood Mac and Joni Mitchell as influences, Maya signed a publishing deal with Stellar Songs and honed her craft during sessions with the likes of Rob Milton (Holly Humberstone, The 1975), and Wayne Hector (Tate McRae, Birdy). Her following is growing at social media too, whether she’s performing acoustic covers of songs by Olivia Rodrigo or Taylor Swift, documenting her experiences in Nashville, or sharing boho chic fashion looks which have attracted support from RIXO, Queens of Archive and Un-Nye.

Maya will support Far From Saints on the following tour dates – tickets can be purchased from www.farfromsaintsband.com

NOVEMBER

15th – Birmingham, Town Hall

16th – Llandudno, Venue Cymru Arena

17th – Glasgow, Pavilion Theatre

19th – Newcastle, Tyne Theatre

20th – Edinburgh, Queen’s Hall

21st – Manchester, Bridgewater Hall

23rd – Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall

24th – Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion

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