1 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: What's up its way up at Angela. Yeah, I'm here, 2 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: Jasmine Brand is here, Yes, but the first time ever, 3 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: Maya's in the seat. Hellou and listen, Maya's in town 4 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: because you're actually on the Queens of R and B tour. 5 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 2: Yes, So how's that been going so far? 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 3: It's been amazing. I think we are maybe seventeen or 7 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 3: eighteen shows in there, oh wow, and it's gone by 8 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 3: so fast. But it's such a treat. You know. Those 9 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 3: are all the songs that I grew up on and 10 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 3: the songs that raised me, soundtrack to my teen years, 11 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,279 Speaker 3: and I'm singing along with the audience every night. It's 12 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 3: just watching the other ladies. 13 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: Isn't it so weird that there's kids now that are like, 14 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: I grew up on your music. Yeah, right, Yeah, It's 15 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: funny because we're like, I grew up on that, and 16 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: then there's people who grew up listening to Maya. 17 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 3: Right. You know, we actually speak about that during the 18 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,279 Speaker 3: show talking to the audience. It's just the journey, you know. 19 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 3: Some of us are celebrating twenty plus years, thirty plus 20 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 3: years on stage, so it's just a blessing. 21 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: And you signed your first deal at the age of sixteen, 22 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: So that was I mean, I mean the music industry 23 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: was so different back then. 24 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 3: Too, yeah, than what it is today. 25 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: And I saw I remember last year you celebrated twenty 26 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 1: five years since your first album. That's amazing though, because 27 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: there's a lot of people who started in this business 28 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: who have since been like, all right, I'm done, or 29 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 1: it may not have the longevity that you've had, but 30 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: even independently, you were one of the first people to 31 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: be like, I'm gonna do my own thing. 32 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been a journey. You know. 33 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 4: What triggered you going into pendent? 34 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 3: Oh, well, it's been twenty six years and I was sixteen, 35 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 3: like you mentioned, when I got my first deal offered 36 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 3: by an independent label in Washington, DC. And then I 37 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 3: signed with Interscope in ninety seven ninety eight around that time, 38 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 3: who distributed the first album and transferred to Motown, which 39 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 3: was an R and B label because initially Interscope was 40 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 3: a rap and rock label. Okay, and yeah, that's probably 41 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 3: one of the very first R and B test dummies 42 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 3: to see if they could have an Yeah, and so 43 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 3: it was a great run. I stayed within the Universal 44 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 3: Music System and Umbrella and I just transferred to Motown, 45 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 3: who was specifically R and B and uh. We worked 46 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 3: on my fourth studio album. It was like an accidental release, 47 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 3: you know, really states change, there are different territories in 48 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 3: the world that sometimes don't get the memo, and so 49 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 3: it leaked in Japan and they loved it, and I 50 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 3: got offered a deal independently. I left, of course, Motown 51 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 3: after that situation. But no bad blood things happened. It 52 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 3: was circumstantial, and I just decided to say, hey, okay, 53 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 3: well what's independence. Let me try this out and see 54 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 3: what it's all about. And so I learned immediately along 55 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 3: the way. You know, executive production happened, casting my own producers, assembling, 56 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 3: and album funding of course, and what that looks like. Yeah, 57 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 3: the legal aspect. 58 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, so it was you were doing when it wasn't cool, 59 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 4: being independent, when it wasn't you know. 60 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 3: It was different. It was unheard of. 61 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: Honestly, you know, I think that also back then it 62 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: was a lot harder because it wasn't like we had 63 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: social media to directly go to people. It wasn't all 64 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: these different outlets. Also, for it wasn't set up to 65 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: be independent. It was like, who's going to work the record, 66 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: and who's gonna send you to do the radio, who's 67 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:25,079 Speaker 1: going to pay for the marketing budget because sometimes it 68 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: is hard to have to fund things yourself too when 69 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: you see that money. But at the end of the day, 70 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: you're always funny things yourself. You just don't know it. 71 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, But being independent, the pro of that is 72 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 3: that you see everything coming in and going out. But 73 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 3: you also dictate what your budget is, you know, and 74 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 3: you can make some life decisions and professional decisions simultaneously 75 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 3: and say, well, is this song more important than my 76 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 3: family or you know, radio is very expensive, and you're 77 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 3: also learning as you go as to how much things 78 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 3: really cost because you don't really see a budge break 79 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 3: down when you're sort of going through the most. 80 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 2: You can't tell you anything to. 81 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 3: A major label artist. You don't see every nickel. 82 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: Oh we went out to dinner, so that came out 83 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: of your budget. And there's meetings that happened that you're 84 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: not even at. 85 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah there, yeah, So you have to call those 86 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 3: shots and make some decisions as far as how fancy 87 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 3: you want to go, as far as the hotels and 88 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 3: the flights and all kinds of things are you taking dancers, 89 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 3: are you taking a fleet of people on the road. 90 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 3: Are you keeping overhead to a minimum? So that's where 91 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 3: the entrepreneur and the business woman comes in constantly. 92 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: I've heard artists talk about that how they have to 93 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 1: I've heard artists go on tour and say they came 94 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 1: back with no money and. 95 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 3: You would think possible. Yeah, sure they. 96 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 2: Raked it up. 97 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: But if you care enough about your show and you 98 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: want to make sure you have dancers, and you want 99 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: to make sure your stage is set up properly and 100 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: all of that, it costs a lot of money. 101 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 3: I could tell you this. The independent journey teaches you 102 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 3: how to be everybody simultaneously like my backup. At the 103 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 3: same time, it teaches you to go grond mind in 104 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 3: ways that yeah, people may talk really bad about you initially, 105 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 3: but it also teaches you to improv and figure it 106 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 3: out as you go without a lot of things, the funding, 107 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 3: the budget, the hair and makeup. Sometimes you got to 108 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 3: be that too, the travel agent, everything, sewing stylist. You 109 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 3: have to learn how to do that and fall on 110 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 3: yourself because there's not always going to be somebody available 111 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 3: or within your budget constraints. 112 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: And I think It's a good skill to have to 113 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: because there's been times you go on the road and 114 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 1: if somebody if you don't like your makeup, what are. 115 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 3: You going to do? What are you supposed to do? Yeah? 116 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 1: Thanks, Now you came in here with this Prince T shirt. 117 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: I told you I had that same T shirt. And 118 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:42,359 Speaker 1: Prince was also very big in your life. And he 119 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: was also a person who who talked about record labels 120 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 1: and being independent quite a bit too. 121 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 2: So what are some things you learned from Prince? 122 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 3: Well, he's a phenomenal talent, first of all, and he 123 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,679 Speaker 3: really really cared about his artistry, and I think coming 124 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 3: from that very sensitive place of protection and something that 125 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 3: he loves but also is his God given gift, he 126 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 3: wanted to protect that for the next generation, for those 127 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 3: that he obviously believed in could have longevity or cared 128 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 3: about their craft, and to make sure that at least 129 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 3: in some way, shape or form, they maintained spiritual independence, 130 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 3: financial independence, a mindset to always move forward in independence, 131 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 3: even if you are partnered with a major label, because 132 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 3: a lot of times you do have to do things 133 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 3: in order for them to catch up or jump on 134 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 3: the pan wagon, etc. But to protect your art is 135 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 3: to also protect your mind, your sanity, because a lot 136 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 3: of us breathe music. We cannot exist or function without 137 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 3: music in our lives every day, or utilizing a gift. 138 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 3: There's also all kinds of business models that he played with, 139 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:59,359 Speaker 3: as far as incorporating the CD to count for a sale, 140 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 3: that you see code inside of his concert tickets, working 141 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 3: in tandem with AEG and Live Nation, and not necessarily 142 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 3: sticking to the structure and the older structure that a 143 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 3: lot of us were used to coming from the major 144 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 3: label system. And obviously the world is always changing, so 145 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 3: he was ahead of his time and his vision. But 146 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 3: I think it was more protection and care. And he'd 147 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 3: been fighting since he was probably in his teens, eighteen nineteen, 148 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 3: even twenties, till the time he ascended for ownership of 149 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 3: his masters, and he regained some many of them. I 150 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 3: don't think he regained Purple Rain, but he thought it 151 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 3: was very important because he pretty much did everything. 152 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:45,119 Speaker 2: You see his estate. 153 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: Now they're having this whole thing with his documentary that's 154 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: supposed to come out. It was like a six part series. 155 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: I want to see it so bad, but I understand 156 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: I wanted to make sure that it's done properly, because 157 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: they said there were some issues, you know, within that, 158 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: and it's hard, you know how much he controlled everything 159 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: that he had going on, and he's not here to say, 160 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: you know, this is true, this is not true. 161 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 3: What's your favorite, Prince saw Oh, that's very very hard. 162 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 3: I have to break it, break it down in categories, 163 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 3: you know. You know, probably the favorite slow jam would 164 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 3: be insatiable, actually insatiable when I'm riding in my car, 165 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 3: you know, on a road trip. It might be controversy. Okay, 166 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,319 Speaker 3: there's there's a lot of you don't have one of all, 167 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 3: like just no, there's too much of a catalogue. 168 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: A lot of different yeah, and even songs that he 169 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: wrote for other people. People don't even understand. 170 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 3: The Crystal Ball album is amazing. There's just so many 171 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 3: non singles as well, and untapped territory that many of 172 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 3: us haven't even heard. Gems that are my favorites as well. 173 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:57,199 Speaker 3: But it's very hard to choose, Like Prince. 174 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:04,479 Speaker 1: My favorite prints on I love that song so much yours, 175 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: you know, and even the movie Purple Rain that is 176 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: like an iconic thing that I feel like no one's 177 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: ever can recreate the impact of a Purple Rain to 178 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:17,719 Speaker 1: this day and the soundtrack that went along with it. 179 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:20,959 Speaker 1: But I seem like we all are prince all right now. 180 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: Since this is your first time here, we definitely got 181 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 1: to get into some Maya history, you know, because we 182 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: haven't had you on the show before. So talk to 183 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: me about a young Maya signing her first deal. Because 184 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: I know you did go to college for a hot 185 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 1: stint and your father was also a singer, right, So 186 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: how did they feel about you saying this is what 187 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 1: I want to pursue full time. 188 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 3: Well, my dad, it's still doing his thing, Like music 189 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 3: runs through his veins and something that he has to 190 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 3: do constantly, so he's always gigging old school term and 191 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 3: runs his own business as well. And I watched him 192 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 3: a lot growing up, whether it's in the studio recording 193 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 3: or preparing for a live show. His band would always 194 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,439 Speaker 3: be over the house, in the garage or the living room. 195 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 3: Neighbors complaining all the time, but music is in our veins. 196 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 3: So yeah, both of my parents were my managers at 197 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:14,079 Speaker 3: the time. Prior to that, you know, I was involved 198 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 3: in the arts a lot and in school throughout my 199 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 3: entire grade years. You played the violin, Yeah, gospel choir, violin, 200 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 3: you know, all kinds of arts. 201 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 4: What kind of band I've lived in DC like twenty 202 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 4: plus years? 203 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:29,839 Speaker 2: Oh really? 204 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:31,079 Speaker 4: Yeah? 205 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 3: What kind of Was it a go go band that 206 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 3: he was in or was it just soul or what 207 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 3: was it? It was in everything band mostly so funk, 208 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 3: R and B and then of course they did you know, 209 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 3: corporate gigs as well, in Top forty as well, covers, 210 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 3: but everything and anything with my dad. But I was 211 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 3: exposed to the arts very very early on in my childhood. 212 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,439 Speaker 3: And I was initially a tap dancer, hope for so you. 213 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 2: Say all of it. 214 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 3: I came to New y when I was about ten 215 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 3: with my mom tap dance in the Macy's Day Parade. 216 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, she really was, and major reds, all kinds 217 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 3: of stuff. I saw Jelly's Last Jem starring Gregory Hines 218 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 3: when I was ten years old. It changed my life, 219 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 3: and I thought Broadway would be something that I would 220 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 3: pursue after studying of course theater in college, etc. But 221 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 3: things happened, and actually three tap dance one of my 222 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 3: friends shout out to Baccari Wilder with my first dance partner, 223 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:37,839 Speaker 3: we would all you know, kind of be freestyle and 224 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 3: just doing things on our breaks lunch breaks, and he 225 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 3: encourage me to sing because I would sing. And so 226 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 3: it was my peers through the arts that encouraged me 227 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 3: to say, oh, you should really take this seriously and 228 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 3: record as your dad if you can go to a 229 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 3: studio or something like that. So I did, and you know, 230 00:11:56,120 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 3: being a dad and the entertainment business that's lasting, he 231 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 3: would probably want for his daughter. But they were very 232 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 3: supportive parents, both of my parents, and I thought, hey, 233 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 3: she has the experience, the discipline through the arts, well, 234 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 3: we'll do what we can to invest in recording demos, etc. 235 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 3: And it was very basement musician friend of my dad's 236 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 3: basement just to start, and then it eventually my parents 237 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 3: put together like fifteen hundred dollars, which was a lot 238 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 3: of money back then to record my very first professional 239 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 3: demo and Hockey Islam from University Music Entertainment. And while 240 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,319 Speaker 3: I was in high school, he was an independent label 241 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,559 Speaker 3: that had pure soul girl gospel group Drew Hill at 242 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 3: the time from Baltimore, Okay. And he was actually looking 243 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 3: for a young female artist that he could sign, and 244 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 3: I was local to Washington, DC, Maryland, PG County area. 245 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 3: My dad always had his had my demo tape, my 246 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 3: bio and all of that. Eight by ten. 247 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: It was right and recorded on another double tape recording. 248 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 3: Okay, yeah, And he heard it and he said, well, 249 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 3: I want to check her out and see if she 250 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 3: can sing live. So he came to my house after 251 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 3: school one day. I came downstairs. I wasn't prepared, but 252 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 3: I sang a couple songs acapella for him, and he 253 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:32,679 Speaker 3: offered me an independent deal, and I spent about two 254 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 3: years recording from ninety six to ninety seven, and released 255 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 3: my very first album in ninety eight. 256 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 2: Wow. 257 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, see, And that's kind of what you call artist 258 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: development because it wasn't like you just put out a 259 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 1: song right away. Because now it's like sometimes things go 260 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: viral and artists aren't ready for that. 261 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 3: I mean, as a teenager, how ready can you be 262 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 3: unless that's your full time everything with tutoring, et cetera. 263 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 3: But I've learned a lot along the way. You know, 264 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 3: you do what you can when the opportunity knocks. You 265 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 3: might not be one hundred percent, but you go for it, 266 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 3: you know. And I think, of course, twenty six years 267 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 3: later and I better have of course improved right in 268 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 3: every aspect of my life, career, womanhood, and rightfully so. 269 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 3: So it's a blessing. I read and I don't know 270 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 3: how to do this is I read that you you know, 271 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 3: when you were growing up in DC, there are some 272 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 3: points where you were bullied. Of course, I mean kids 273 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 3: are mean as hey, well, everybody goes through it. 274 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 4: Ye know what was that experience like for you? When 275 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 4: did that make you shy? More shy than to make 276 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 4: you stronger? 277 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 3: It made me everything. It made me very much an 278 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 3: introvert but also an extrovert in places that I felt 279 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 3: material things were not the focus, aesthetics were not the focus, 280 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 3: but maybe a common denominator, a common goal. The arts 281 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 3: is where I felt safe say it saves lives because 282 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 3: everyone is focused on something together versus what you're wearing, 283 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 3: what you don't have, how you look. I mean, teenagers 284 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 3: we go through so many different phases, hormonally, clicks, validation, acceptance, 285 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 3: body changes, a lot of things. And of course we 286 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 3: live in a society that's very materialistic, and school can 287 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 3: be very very much a task just to get through, 288 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 3: to try to not even fit in, but just get 289 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 3: through the day. By fitting in so that you're not 290 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 3: a focal point and you're just blended and stay out 291 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 3: of the way. Because it's still like that in many 292 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 3: different places. I was one of those kids that prayed 293 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 3: for uniforms, you know what I'm saying. It was a task, 294 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 3: like an hour trying to decide what I was going 295 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 3: to wear the night before so I would not get teased. 296 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 3: And that's not even my personality to even focus on 297 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 3: outfits and being a part of a clique. But it's 298 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 3: just to get by. So I understand, even with social media, 299 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 3: I don't understand what these kids today have to go through. 300 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, they are connected globally, globally, and. 301 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: At any moment, something can make you go viral that 302 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: you did not anticipate. 303 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean even as an adult, that's true. You 304 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 3: say the wrong thing or say a sound bite and 305 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 3: then it gets clipped, etcetera. So it's a lot of 306 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 3: filtering and you can never be safe. You just like lunches. 307 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: I like that you were able to share that though, 308 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: because that will help people, because people might look at 309 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: you Maya and be like, there's no way she's always 310 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 1: been flying lit. 311 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 2: But being able to say. 312 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: That it's something for kids who are coming up and 313 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: maybe going through it, or some for bullies to understand 314 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: you might be bullying the next maya. 315 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 2: Maybe you need to sit down and chill out. 316 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: But it is an important discussion to have because sometimes 317 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 1: I think people see us as adults and think we 318 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: always had confidence and always had it like that. 319 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 3: I had anxiety getting ready for this interview today. I'm like, 320 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 3: oh my gosh, this curl is not curling over here, 321 00:16:55,920 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 3: like what's going on? It's raining outside earlier, it's going 322 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 3: to be on camera. 323 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 4: I mean, so it's a lifelong thing. 324 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 3: Well, when you're dealing with opinions, and of course the 325 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 3: world is full of them, and we're all now connected globally, 326 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 3: not even regionally in your little community or your block, 327 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 3: it's globally. Everyone has an opinion and you're never safe, 328 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 3: and you have to understand that not every day is 329 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 3: going to be perfect. And I think we can all 330 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 3: learn from perfectionism. No one's perfect, but we are perfectly 331 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 3: made and no one's your maker. And so I think 332 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 3: that's where spirituality is key, and owning every part of 333 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 3: yourself and understanding there's going to be some bad days. 334 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 3: Horrific moments and rolling with the punches and also learning 335 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 3: how to laugh and not taking everything so seriously but 336 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:47,239 Speaker 3: with a grain of salt. And that's where foundation comes in. 337 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:48,919 Speaker 3: And it takes time. 338 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: And knowing that things go away pretty fast. Like sometimes 339 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: things are a big deal to us, but the rest 340 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 1: of the world is like, it's not that big a deal. 341 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:59,119 Speaker 1: But even though to us it is, it's okay to 342 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: have that moment, but then you have to be like, 343 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: all right, something else is going to happen. And this 344 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: was slide right over. Now, So you did go to 345 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: college for a semester. What were you going to go 346 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: to college for? 347 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,719 Speaker 3: Well, I actually didn't know at the time. I just 348 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 3: enrolled for speech communications. That's not something that was my passion. 349 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 3: I was taking dance as well, but I didn't know. 350 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 3: Nothing actually called me that I was solid in making 351 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 3: a decision on. So it was just going through the motions. 352 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, you felt like you're supposed to do this is 353 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: what you do, you graduate, go to college. 354 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:38,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, but it was not where my heart was now 355 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:42,679 Speaker 3: living life. Of course, I would totally study psychology, you know, 356 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 3: and maybe holistic healing. Being through the journey I've been on, 357 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 3: so I have a lot more clarity just with life experience. 358 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 3: As far as studies are concerned, it doesn't necessarily have 359 00:18:55,480 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 3: to be college either, might be independent education. So yeah, 360 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,439 Speaker 3: there's a lot of pressure to conform to societal standards, 361 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 3: and I think it's very important. Education is key everywhere, 362 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 3: but it doesn't necessarily mean the traditional way. Sometimes a 363 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 3: year off just traveling or experiencing life can give clarity 364 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 3: versus wasting four years or eight years. 365 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: I'm a forever student, I always say, because you know, 366 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 1: I'm quick to take a class on something. I don't 367 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: have to necessarily go to traditional school, but I will 368 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 1: be like, oh maybe I should get license in this 369 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,400 Speaker 1: or nutrition is something I've always been interested into. That's 370 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,679 Speaker 1: why people talk about your journey with becoming a vegan 371 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: a lot, because they attribute that also to how good 372 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: you look, just as far as like healthy, youthful, that 373 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: looks like okay, she's eating her fruits and vegetables. 374 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 4: The skin is skinning. 375 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: The skin is skinning for sure, you know, And so 376 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 1: talk about that journey with veganism and even I think 377 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:55,160 Speaker 1: clarity in your mind too. 378 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 3: Well. It all started with my independent journey. I started 379 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 3: creating these challenges of discipline to sharpen my mind and 380 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 3: my spirit taking away something that I absolutely really loved 381 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 3: or felt like I was addicted to because it was 382 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,679 Speaker 3: a psychological thing that I felt like I had to 383 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 3: build for myself and also learn how to trust myself 384 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 3: in moments that something might have been taken away from 385 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 3: me again. And so it was really something that I 386 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 3: made an effort to do every single year, and it 387 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 3: led me to vegetarianism, which also led me to veganism 388 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 3: and taking it a step further in learning what that was, 389 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:39,919 Speaker 3: but also the different tears. Oh, there's a lot of 390 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 3: process food doesn't mean healthy? 391 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:43,120 Speaker 4: What does that mean? 392 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 2: You know? 393 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 3: And just learning how to do better and also identify 394 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 3: where I'm slipping, you know, and how I need to 395 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 3: do better and so I can show up better for others. 396 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:02,199 Speaker 3: It starts with me. It's always a challenge, especially on 397 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 3: the road with processed food, traveling processed food. There's a 398 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:10,639 Speaker 3: lot of restaurants out here nowadays and make it so 399 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 3: easy to go vegan, but I make it a point 400 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 3: to try to stay more clean at least a balance 401 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 3: so I have my fruits and my smoothies and my 402 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,919 Speaker 3: juices and my tonics in the morning and do aurble 403 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 3: cleanses and detoxes because it's necessary. Because I love to 404 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 3: eat and I love to cook, and I love to 405 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 3: pick out too. Because it's just so much great food. 406 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 4: Vegan food. What do you take? 407 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 3: Yesterday I had vegan and jerk chicken salad and a 408 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 3: Nashville Hot vegan chicken wrap. I'm like, it's so much 409 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 3: in New York City too. 410 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 2: I can't get into fake cheese, that's the one. 411 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 4: Don't mind it. 412 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 2: I don't really like fake cheese. It's hard to find 413 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:52,360 Speaker 2: a good one. 414 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:56,200 Speaker 1: Like fake cheese to me sometimes can be very cardboardy tasting. 415 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:58,479 Speaker 1: I feel like I could do vegetarian, but I need 416 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 1: some real cheese. I can't do vegan because of that. 417 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:01,120 Speaker 2: I don't know. 418 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 3: There are actually brands within like the last five to 419 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 3: ten years that have tremendously improved and it tastes like, 420 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 3: you know, the real thing, but much much better and 421 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:16,399 Speaker 3: easier to go vegan now. 422 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:18,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, it is easier because I feel like playing you 423 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: go places. Yeah, you do have to make sure. It 424 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 1: takes a lot of discipline. And you talk about discipline, 425 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 1: What were some of the other things that you said, 426 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,640 Speaker 1: I'm giving this up, like when you were disciplining yourself. 427 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 3: Celibacy wine, any kind of alcohol you can just skip. 428 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 2: Over celebrating celibacy wine. 429 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean there's a lot of social drinking. There's 430 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 3: a lot of free bottles in your section, you know, 431 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:42,119 Speaker 3: when you're doing club dates and all kinds of stuff. 432 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:44,919 Speaker 3: It's just always around you. Not that I had any addiction. 433 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 3: I never did, but I do love wine, and so 434 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:50,160 Speaker 3: I just gave it up for a year just because 435 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 3: it is right. I can do without it. Why not 436 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 3: start with that? And actually that's the first thing that 437 00:22:57,359 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 3: I started with, is no wine? 438 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, how about now do you drink? 439 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:03,880 Speaker 3: Yeah? I actually have a wine on my own. It's 440 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:07,880 Speaker 3: vegan organic Naji and brought it. It takes to order 441 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 3: that we should order, but yeah, I'll send you guys 442 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 3: a bottle. 443 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 2: We're gonna have order. 444 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 4: What support? What about this celibacy thing? 445 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 3: Yeah? What was the longest you went? Oh? Seven years? 446 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 2: Seven years? 447 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:24,440 Speaker 3: Seven like a divine and then did you? 448 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 4: Then you seven is a long that's a good. 449 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 2: That's a good. Now what did that do for you? Though? Like, 450 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 2: when you think about your celibacy, did it clear? Like, 451 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 2: what did it do for you. What did you notice? 452 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:41,360 Speaker 3: Mental clarity, I'm just doing without. It shifted my mindset. 453 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 3: It was no longer a focus the rush to be 454 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 3: in a relationship, the rush to be married, the rush 455 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:51,639 Speaker 3: to be in something, because that's what you're taught to do, 456 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,880 Speaker 3: to have kids or pro create, and I think there's 457 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 3: a lot of pressure on women to be able to 458 00:23:56,800 --> 00:24:00,080 Speaker 3: do that and also feeling valid. You know why we 459 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:02,959 Speaker 3: taught that we have to be taken or made an 460 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 3: honest woman in my liar. You know, there's a lot 461 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:12,440 Speaker 3: of things is beautiful with that. You know, love is beautiful, 462 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 3: and I think the world always needs more of it. 463 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 3: But I think you must start with yourself. And I 464 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 3: have to start with self always versus expecting from other sources. 465 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 3: So it was just reconditioning, and I think it's something 466 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 3: that was necessary because it's a very spiritual thing and 467 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 3: you must be very selective if you want better results. 468 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 3: And so I think that's self accountability. And it started 469 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,400 Speaker 3: with me by just shutting that part of my life off. 470 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:47,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, it feels like that sounds worth it that you 471 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:51,360 Speaker 2: have my landski, Oh my god. 472 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:54,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, But you talk about that and people having things 473 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: to say, because that is tough too, like a lot 474 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 1: of people went away, and why she ain't wiped up, 475 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 1: why she ain't got this, why she ain't got that. 476 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:04,680 Speaker 1: And people also don't know your life because to be clear, 477 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: Maya don't be putting her business out there like that. 478 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:10,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, well there's a reason for that, because, yeah, you 479 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 3: grow up semi sex symbol. There's a lot of things 480 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 3: that are said about you, and you ingest all of that, 481 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 3: you process or try to process all of that at 482 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 3: an early age, and then the esthetic that you may 483 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:29,680 Speaker 3: come with is totally opposite of who you actually really are, 484 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 3: and it intersects in your life while you're trying to 485 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:36,680 Speaker 3: date or maybe taking photos with other celebrities, and so 486 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 3: it can get very tricky. But I think a lot 487 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 3: of things that are sacred should just remain private for 488 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 3: me until of course solid I'm ready and the foundation 489 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 3: of us is together, and even then it's a risk. 490 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 3: So I don't really play with that part of my 491 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:54,880 Speaker 3: life publicly. 492 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,159 Speaker 4: I can't imagine you come out publicly with anyone. I 493 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 4: can imagine it. I'll be like, what. 494 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 2: Just because I've never. 495 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 4: Like that, but we've never heard. 496 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 2: But I'm not mad at it, But I'm not mad 497 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 2: at that at all. 498 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:11,880 Speaker 3: I just have to be ready, you know, and Sody 499 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:13,359 Speaker 3: and he got to be ready, and. 500 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 2: That's a lot of pressure for guys. 501 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 3: I'll be like, what, Yeah, it's very weird, you know. 502 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: And so let me ask you this. And when you 503 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: first put out it's all about me and that sound. 504 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 1: That was a huge smash song for you. What was 505 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: your mentality like at that time? 506 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 3: Oh, my mentality was well, there were so many different mentalities. 507 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 3: This was my first shot, first introduction to the world. Cisco, 508 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 3: Drew Hill, they were all my labor label mates. They 509 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 3: were very instrumental and the Push. I was also a 510 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 3: test dummy at the time and right Innerscope like the 511 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 3: first R and B artist. 512 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:54,359 Speaker 2: It worked, It. 513 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 3: Worked, and you know, nothing is guaranteed in this life. 514 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 3: So it was just a one day at a time 515 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 3: process or mentality for me. Let's just take it one 516 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,040 Speaker 3: day at a time. I know that I have the discipline. 517 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 3: I know that I believe in me. I hope they 518 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:14,199 Speaker 3: believe in me. Let's keep all emotions to a minimum 519 00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 3: and learn as you go and then apply everything that 520 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 3: you did with all of your masters, your teachers, the 521 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 3: ones that made you get it right, get it right, 522 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 3: no shortcuts, And there were a lot of horrific moments. Uh, 523 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 3: you don't know how to conduct a sound check, you 524 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 3: don't know what radio drops are. You're learning as you go, 525 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:37,680 Speaker 3: and so you're very vulnerable and life just teaches you 526 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:39,520 Speaker 3: as you go. You're gonna fall in your face a 527 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 3: lot of times, and that's what I did. But they 528 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:44,119 Speaker 3: were my best lessons. 529 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 1: You know, it's interesting you talk about being like the test, 530 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 1: I mean, because you did have a lot of hip 531 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: hop collapse. Yeah, I did, and so so that was 532 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:54,200 Speaker 1: was that the label like we're gonna put self the 533 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:56,960 Speaker 1: shaker on this, We're gonna put jay. 534 00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:58,640 Speaker 2: Z, you and jay Z. I mean, they were good. 535 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:00,280 Speaker 4: They were all bangers to say so. 536 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 3: There was a magical era nineties where R and B 537 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 3: and hip hop became fused together. Mary J. Blige was 538 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 3: one of the first to do it. Yeah, that whole movement, 539 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:18,600 Speaker 3: and I was very lucky to be a part of that. 540 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:22,399 Speaker 3: On the end of course, ninety seven ninety eight, and 541 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 3: it was just a part of the culture. You know, 542 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:27,280 Speaker 3: happy fifty one years to hip hop, by the way, 543 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 3: So it was a beautiful time. Everything was so exciting, 544 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 3: and some of it was my idea because that's just 545 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 3: what I grew up on. The labels, the independent labels. 546 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 3: We thought it just made a different synergy. There's different 547 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 3: fan bases when you fuse the two together in different regions. Also, 548 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 3: there was no limit in the South. Then you have 549 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 3: the New York cluster of like hip hop classic artists. 550 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 3: So it was a blessing to work with everybody. 551 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 2: And Lady Marmalade, think about what a huge, huge moment that. 552 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 3: Way the Caribbean. 553 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:07,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're going to get to that because it feels 554 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:08,360 Speaker 2: like that's your passion too. 555 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: Though, Like now as you are making these decisions, seeing 556 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 1: all these Caribbean artists that you choose to work with, 557 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 1: I like that, you know, because that's her jam. Better 558 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 1: to hear you with that Jock Cure with a Bounty 559 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: Killer with BC Beanie Man, I saw you said, Shaggy 560 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:27,440 Speaker 1: Yeah as well. 561 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 3: It's feel good music. I love to be in company 562 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 3: with people that just exude joy and happiness and love 563 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 3: to work with each other, and that's a part of 564 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 3: the culture. So and I love to be in the Islands, 565 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 3: that's a fact. And it's it's global music too. And 566 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 3: you know nothing like summertime music as well. So would 567 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 3: you be open to like doing afrobeats or I'm always open. 568 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:56,760 Speaker 3: Every genre is ground Junior Sanchez. 569 00:29:56,880 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 1: We saw you doing a lot of great collaborations country. 570 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know little step tap dance, so know how 571 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 4: to do everything music. 572 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 3: It's just how you feel. 573 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 4: Have you ever thought about, you know, Broadway or Dancing 574 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 4: with the Stars or. 575 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, so I did season nine of Dancing with 576 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 3: the Stars. 577 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:22,720 Speaker 2: I felt like that was yeah, yeah, because I know 578 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:25,200 Speaker 2: everybody saying that at the time too. I remember they 579 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 2: were Maya could dance. 580 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 3: I wasn't pressed for a mirror ball, but I did 581 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 3: want to make sure I just didn't mess up every 582 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:36,920 Speaker 3: d live TV. I was so nervous every night. I've 583 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:39,760 Speaker 3: never done that kind of dance before. You know, that's 584 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 3: not something that I grew up doing. And you're learning 585 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:47,560 Speaker 3: different types of styles and techniques every single week, and 586 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:52,120 Speaker 3: it's grueling, but it's it's beautiful. It's live television, though, 587 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 3: and you can't fumble, So the nerves were sky high. 588 00:30:56,640 --> 00:30:59,680 Speaker 3: I learned a lot. I had an amazing dance partner teacher, 589 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 3: and it was a learning experience. But yeah, it also 590 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 3: works very differently. You can be perfect all day long 591 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:09,720 Speaker 3: on Dancing with the Stars. It's about that. It's about 592 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:15,000 Speaker 3: the votes, that's a fact. It's about your fan base. 593 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:18,760 Speaker 3: It's about people calling in if they think you're safe 594 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 3: and they're not voting because oh, you just got perfect tense. 595 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:25,200 Speaker 3: That's where you can get off the show. You know what. 596 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 2: I enjoyed it. 597 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 1: I watched for you though, because when you were on there, 598 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:30,440 Speaker 1: I was like, Maya is gonna kill it, and you did. 599 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:34,560 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be honest, just because I just like, thank you. 600 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 1: What do you love to do outside of work? 601 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 3: Like what? 602 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 2: Just yeah, outside of what we know about you, like 603 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 2: a day off for mine. 604 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:48,760 Speaker 3: I'm so country, I am. I love animals. I just 605 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:51,200 Speaker 3: love to go lay in the grass. I bought a 606 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:58,360 Speaker 3: tent during the pandemic. I slept outside stargaze. I'm really simple, 607 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 3: you know. I love the ocean. I love just to 608 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 3: be in nature. Traveling is one of probably the top three. Okay, yeah, 609 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 3: adventure of course, skydiving a couple of times, and skydiving 610 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 3: a couple of times. 611 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:18,560 Speaker 1: Action, I think, yeah, skydivings. You know, I think I 612 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:20,360 Speaker 1: should watched some videos I shouldn't have. 613 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 3: I love comedy too. 614 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:24,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, we are all. 615 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:27,920 Speaker 4: Angela likes comed it's one of your favorite comedians, not 616 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 4: the favorite, but. 617 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 3: One of your school old school Richard Pryor. 618 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:31,240 Speaker 2: Okay, that's fair. 619 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's so many though. I just I love comedians. 620 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:38,760 Speaker 3: I think Jake Dave Chappelle is a genius. What he's 621 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 3: very DC so he does it so dry but so amazing. 622 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 3: It's strategic. Man. 623 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:51,360 Speaker 2: I could see have to come to Yellow Springs's about to. 624 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:53,040 Speaker 1: Hook that Upah, listen, you about to go to Yellow 625 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: Springs to day's comedy shows in the cornfields. But he 626 00:32:57,080 --> 00:33:00,520 Speaker 1: opened up like a comedy club out there too. 627 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:06,960 Speaker 3: I have to that experience. How was Time Essence Festival? 628 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 3: I had about twenty six hours in New Orleans and 629 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:14,360 Speaker 3: we drove from Little Rock, Arkansas from the tour and 630 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:16,920 Speaker 3: I was up for a straight forty eight to seventy 631 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:20,800 Speaker 3: two and I hit about six or seven events up 632 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 3: all on one day Alca Changes. It was beautiful because 633 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:26,720 Speaker 3: I actually never really got the chance to be fully 634 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:31,240 Speaker 3: engulfed in essencevest my entire career, to actually spend a 635 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 3: day going to different booths and different things are going 636 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 3: on all over the place. And see so many people, 637 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:43,680 Speaker 3: shake hands, take photos and exchange words. I've done performances 638 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 3: or like a kickoff party as well, but then we 639 00:33:46,520 --> 00:33:48,720 Speaker 3: had to leave immediately in the past. But this was 640 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:51,200 Speaker 3: a day where I got to see first of all, 641 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:54,240 Speaker 3: one of my inspirations is Queen of Fula. Oh I've 642 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:56,800 Speaker 3: worked with. I know Queen host a vegan panel with her. 643 00:33:57,120 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 1: She has those amazing you I had. I have her 644 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:06,440 Speaker 1: book too, yeah, Sacred Woman. Yeah, yeah, amazing Okay, So 645 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 1: and I know. 646 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:08,319 Speaker 4: They love you at Essence too. 647 00:34:09,160 --> 00:34:11,960 Speaker 2: Really yeah everybody. 648 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, I could to see so many people that 649 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:19,920 Speaker 3: I've never met, but I feel like I've met Peky 650 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:23,400 Speaker 3: and I have spoken. But oh in Queen of Floyd 651 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:27,960 Speaker 3: and I also we've worked together virtually, especially during the pandemic, 652 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:30,440 Speaker 3: you know, leading detoxes, but we've never met, but it 653 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:33,200 Speaker 3: felt like she I met her and this is the 654 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:35,200 Speaker 3: first time we actually got a chance to see each 655 00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 3: other face to face, hug and brace each other. So yeah, 656 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 3: so many people were out, It's it turned into like 657 00:34:40,040 --> 00:34:43,640 Speaker 3: a whole jam session at the film Moore. Raheem DeVaughn 658 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:49,200 Speaker 3: was there, Blau came through, Anthony Hamilton was there, everybody 659 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:53,080 Speaker 3: was singing Luke James. The mics were on, but everybody 660 00:34:53,160 --> 00:34:55,719 Speaker 3: was singing, freestyling, and so it was just a jam 661 00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:56,680 Speaker 3: session moment. 662 00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:58,800 Speaker 1: Because I feel like you don't just run into Maya anywhere, 663 00:34:59,040 --> 00:34:59,880 Speaker 1: like it has to be. 664 00:35:00,239 --> 00:35:02,920 Speaker 2: She's there for a like, we just don't run into her. 665 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:08,319 Speaker 3: I get told I'm not outside outside and that I'm 666 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:13,000 Speaker 3: always like hustling. I'm always doing the show, traveling, working 667 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,880 Speaker 3: on the paperwork, whatever it is. But this was a 668 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:18,400 Speaker 3: treat for me because I never really get to be 669 00:35:18,520 --> 00:35:21,040 Speaker 3: outside outside like that. But we liked it in the mix. 670 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:22,880 Speaker 3: We like that, do more of it. 671 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:24,680 Speaker 1: I feel like, is there going to be a time 672 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:28,120 Speaker 1: and we'll get a full Maya story from Maya if 673 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:30,800 Speaker 1: that's what y'all want, sure, because there's so much. I 674 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:33,320 Speaker 1: feel like there's so much we don't know that you 675 00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:35,759 Speaker 1: went through because think about it in that business, like 676 00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:37,719 Speaker 1: you blew up at such a young early age and 677 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:39,759 Speaker 1: like you said, you were a sex symb but but 678 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:42,480 Speaker 1: you were so young, people saying things about you that 679 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:44,880 Speaker 1: weren't true, and having to go through that and then 680 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:47,400 Speaker 1: becoming independent at a time when it wasn't so popular, 681 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:49,719 Speaker 1: and just your whole journey into spirituality. 682 00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:51,400 Speaker 2: I feel like there's a lot about. 683 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:57,960 Speaker 1: It that you know, Oh yeah, we don't have no idea, no, 684 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:00,160 Speaker 1: but I'm saying I think people would love to to 685 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 1: hear that, maya just from you, because somebody who has 686 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:05,920 Speaker 1: maintained themselves in this business the way that you have, 687 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:09,800 Speaker 1: that's been consistent that still today, like people are so 688 00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:12,680 Speaker 1: excited to meet you and see you out because, like 689 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 1: you said, people have told you we don't get to 690 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:15,440 Speaker 1: see you outside like that. 691 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:18,360 Speaker 3: I just think I will make more of an effort 692 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:24,200 Speaker 3: to take less shows and outside a little bit more, 693 00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:29,000 Speaker 3: you know, But it matters because the magic that happens 694 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:32,800 Speaker 3: and also the relationships that happen with balance. You know, 695 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:35,440 Speaker 3: I need to practice more balance, and I know that 696 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:38,920 Speaker 3: when I see the magic happened in my life, when 697 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:41,319 Speaker 3: oh I can go work out and do a little 698 00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:42,960 Speaker 3: bit more in that area than I'm supposed to do 699 00:36:43,040 --> 00:36:46,320 Speaker 3: versus just hustling, hustling hustling or make time, you know, 700 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:50,720 Speaker 3: for my friends and my family and myself, it's very important. 701 00:36:51,120 --> 00:36:54,520 Speaker 3: Money is not everything. Hustles not everything. So that's been 702 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:59,400 Speaker 3: a very difficult listen, being an independent artist, always in 703 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:02,799 Speaker 3: fight or fly, always in investment mode, always in a grind, grind, grind, 704 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:05,719 Speaker 3: like it's never gonna come. But also I realized just 705 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:09,560 Speaker 3: within the last two three years, it's very important to 706 00:37:09,840 --> 00:37:13,959 Speaker 3: create balance in your life. Otherwise you're gonna pay for it. Yeah, 707 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:17,560 Speaker 3: the hard way. Your knees are not kneeing anymore. 708 00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 2: A lot of accupuncture, I do. 709 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:24,720 Speaker 3: Okay, she just got a massage last night after rehearsal, 710 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:28,560 Speaker 3: and it was amazing. That's quite a last puncture. But 711 00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 3: I got Thaie Swedish hot rock and deep tissue at 712 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:33,520 Speaker 3: the same hour. 713 00:37:34,200 --> 00:37:35,000 Speaker 2: That sounds amazing. 714 00:37:35,120 --> 00:37:36,719 Speaker 3: Yeah, and pain is good. I love it. 715 00:37:37,080 --> 00:37:37,680 Speaker 2: Pain is good. 716 00:37:37,760 --> 00:37:42,439 Speaker 1: You heard it here first, but honestly, Maya, I feel 717 00:37:42,440 --> 00:37:43,919 Speaker 1: like we could sit and talk to you for like hours. 718 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:47,120 Speaker 1: You have a great soothing voice too, just your regular 719 00:37:47,239 --> 00:37:49,120 Speaker 1: talking voice. It's like, what else happened? 720 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:49,359 Speaker 3: Girl? 721 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:49,680 Speaker 4: Yeah? 722 00:37:49,719 --> 00:37:54,200 Speaker 3: I know, I was like, I love her talking. It's 723 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:58,640 Speaker 3: low today because you know, I'm lacking on sleep, so yeah, 724 00:37:58,719 --> 00:38:01,400 Speaker 3: it gets a little deeper. I haven't slept. 725 00:38:01,719 --> 00:38:04,040 Speaker 2: But listen, you better come back and join us again. 726 00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 1: I know you're on tour and I know you're super busy, 727 00:38:06,160 --> 00:38:07,919 Speaker 1: and I do appreciate it because I know MI don't 728 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:12,839 Speaker 1: just show up and do interviews anywhere next time. 729 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:16,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, Well, thank you, missus Angela. And you know what, 730 00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:18,800 Speaker 3: congratulations on this endeavor. 731 00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:19,840 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you. 732 00:38:20,040 --> 00:38:22,920 Speaker 3: I know you have your journey as well. Yes, if 733 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:26,800 Speaker 3: you are an entrepreneur, a boss, you know, a woman 734 00:38:27,520 --> 00:38:30,439 Speaker 3: that knows herself and owns herself every aspect, and I'd 735 00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:32,560 Speaker 3: love to see it. So congratulating you. 736 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:35,759 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get you some juices next time too. You 737 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:37,120 Speaker 1: know I know that we're both into that. 738 00:38:37,680 --> 00:38:44,399 Speaker 3: Yeah, congratulations on this whole enterprise endeavor and life journey. Yeah, 739 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:46,920 Speaker 3: and it's a pleasure, but thank you. 740 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:48,480 Speaker 1: I'm just glad you showed up. I was like, it's 741 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:51,040 Speaker 1: not you're gonna really sit with us, but I appreciate it. 742 00:38:51,160 --> 00:38:53,000 Speaker 1: And not that you've ever canceled or anything, but I 743 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:55,759 Speaker 1: was just like, I'm like, main don't do a whole 744 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:58,279 Speaker 1: lot of interviews, So I appreciate you for that so much. 745 00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:01,160 Speaker 1: Is there a date by this next project, because I 746 00:39:01,239 --> 00:39:01,880 Speaker 1: know you've been put in. 747 00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:03,879 Speaker 3: Oh, I mean, which one are you talking about? 748 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:05,560 Speaker 2: I know you have a few different ones done, but 749 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:06,200 Speaker 2: what's going to be? 750 00:39:06,719 --> 00:39:09,120 Speaker 3: I don't announce dates. I've learned that to do that anymore. 751 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:13,520 Speaker 3: But you know, when all the components soon are there, 752 00:39:14,239 --> 00:39:17,560 Speaker 3: it is ready, I will make that announcement. 753 00:39:18,040 --> 00:39:21,279 Speaker 1: I know, because we've heard Wine featuring Bounty Killer. You know, 754 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:23,719 Speaker 1: I like that, and I feel like you don't want 755 00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:25,439 Speaker 1: to be in a specific genre either. 756 00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:26,959 Speaker 2: So is that tough? 757 00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:30,000 Speaker 3: No, it's not, because that's why I have different projects. 758 00:39:30,160 --> 00:39:32,560 Speaker 2: Okay, so each project might be a different genre, a 759 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:37,160 Speaker 2: specific direction. So what do you have, like three? Four ready? 760 00:39:37,239 --> 00:39:38,000 Speaker 2: What do you have for us? 761 00:39:38,880 --> 00:39:42,360 Speaker 3: Three are actually already done. Four is a bunch of 762 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:46,239 Speaker 3: stuff that I've revisited with Junior Sanchez and a couple 763 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:49,719 Speaker 3: of other producers just from the archives, and we've rebuilt 764 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:53,360 Speaker 3: a lot of the production. So I'm always in the studio. 765 00:39:53,560 --> 00:39:57,080 Speaker 3: You know, it's a playground being an artist. And yeah, 766 00:39:57,160 --> 00:39:58,239 Speaker 3: there's just much more to come. 767 00:39:58,440 --> 00:40:00,520 Speaker 2: Are label hitting you up and like come on girl 768 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:01,240 Speaker 2: less they've. 769 00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:03,839 Speaker 3: Always hit me up. But it's more about making sure 770 00:40:05,200 --> 00:40:09,120 Speaker 3: the vision also the outline of the project direction is 771 00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:13,320 Speaker 3: very clear for me. And then also the timing and 772 00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:20,719 Speaker 3: the other components, the financing, all the components too. Oh 773 00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:25,200 Speaker 3: the bag, Yeah, you know it's not cheap, but let's 774 00:40:25,239 --> 00:40:28,400 Speaker 3: be clear and making sure that it's also aligning with 775 00:40:28,480 --> 00:40:31,359 Speaker 3: who I am when I do release it, because things 776 00:40:31,400 --> 00:40:33,880 Speaker 3: get old and you got to go remix it to 777 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:37,080 Speaker 3: reflect how you really feel, so that it's authentic and 778 00:40:37,160 --> 00:40:39,920 Speaker 3: true to who you are now because you got to 779 00:40:40,040 --> 00:40:42,359 Speaker 3: promote it, you got to really love it and live 780 00:40:42,400 --> 00:40:47,480 Speaker 3: in it. And yeah, so you read and. 781 00:40:47,520 --> 00:40:50,000 Speaker 2: You walked away with your masters when you left the labels. 782 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:54,160 Speaker 3: So I have an old catalog at UMG Universal Music 783 00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:58,000 Speaker 3: Group and my whole independent catalog are the masters that 784 00:40:58,040 --> 00:41:00,400 Speaker 3: I own. But during an artist career, he tho's a 785 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:03,960 Speaker 3: specific type of time where you can go regain your master's, 786 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:05,080 Speaker 3: re record them, et cetera. 787 00:41:05,440 --> 00:41:08,120 Speaker 2: Okay, yeah, so that's happening. Okay, cool. 788 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:15,040 Speaker 1: When you do the live showing, well, thank you so much. 789 00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:18,480 Speaker 1: Maya again, and next time, let my Olansky come and 790 00:41:18,560 --> 00:41:19,120 Speaker 1: we'll talk to her. 791 00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:23,280 Speaker 3: Okay, we like that she's here today. 792 00:41:25,400 --> 00:41:27,840 Speaker 2: All right, Well, my ladies and gentlemen, it's way up. 793 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:30,680 Speaker 3: Well