Artist Spotlight: Maiz Discusses Georgia, Life, & Her Groundbreaking EP
By: Chris Buxton IG/Twitter: @chrisbuxtonllg
Have you ever met an artist that reminded you of home? Well, rising singer-songwriter Maiz is that artist for me. With less than 4 hours between our hometowns, we both come from humble beginnings in the south. However, her story starts in the Peach State. Sitting at around 2 hours north of Atlanta, our soon to be star’s roots trace back to Chatsworth, GA. From a young age, Maiz had a drive to be an artist. Starting out as a bedroom musician, she began her journey at the age of 12 with a dream to become a country singer. At 14, she immersed herself in the art of playing the guitar with her neighbor. Then, at 17, she finally found herself recording in a professional studio with a full team behind her. Although those small-town roots were there, Maiz had transformed into a burgeoning pop & R&B singer over those years. With the help of her team, she was able to develop a sound that I would consider to be alternative pop with R&B undertones. She is raw, genuine, and she delivers a sound that is easy to connect with. Drawing inspiration from her personal life as well as those around her, her songwriting often dives into the nuances of everyday life. Maiz isn’t here to put on a superficial show. She is here to provide listeners with a voice. Her music is the perfect escape from worldly problems, and she is a vessel of hope.
Making her breakthrough with her debut EP “Short Circuit”, Maiz has taken the industry by storm. Because of this, our team wanted to take a closer look at her journey and creation process as an artist. This week, I had the luxury of sitting down for a short interview, so I can show the world the music industry’s best kept secret.
Over our 20-minute interview, Maiz allowed me to see the world from her view. Coming into the conversation I was a bit nervous. However, Maiz is so humble and personable. She radiates positive energy, and that allowed our talk to flow so well. We discussed our upbringings, the music industry, and we talked about her future plans. Diving into her journey as an artist, I had to take her back to the beginning. Maiz showed her deep love for Georgia, and she displayed her appreciation for everyone that has allowed her to make it this far. As a newcomer in the industry, Maiz still has to work a 9-5 as she chases her dreams of being a full-time musician. This is nothing to look down on. By day, she’s working with her family on real estate appraisals. At night, she’s clocked in at the studio producing hits. Although she considers herself a recluse, the dedicated singer is paving her own path to success. Recently, I had the chance to cover her latest EP “Short Circuit”, but I wanted to take a deeper dive into the creation process of the project.
Chris: “So, let’s start from the beginning. What was your creation process like for the project?”
Maiz: “It’s hard to say. Some of the songs were created at different times. Basically, someone said it’d be cool to drop an EP and I told my producer that we needed to make some music. That’s when we made Swimming Ghost. Swimming Ghost was the first song going on the project. When it comes to our process, I make music off of a feeling. That’s why me and my producer work well together. With our musical backgrounds, we mesh to form that cross pop & r&b sound you mentioned earlier.”
Chris: “There were several songs that discussed love & heartbreak on the EP. Who would you say inspired this project for you?”
Maiz: “I draw inspiration from everyone around me. The project is about young love. Well actually, it’s about love and heartbreak in general. I talk about people that are younger and older than me that are going through it and chasing people where love may not be reciprocated. I have been through some stuff, but these songs do draw inspiration from those around me.”
Chris: “You truly show a sense of maturity when it comes to songwriting, and I consider you to be one of the most promising artists out right now. Although you are still finding your footing, is there anything you want to say to any aspiring artists looking to make it in the industry?”
Maiz: “Just start. Just start because I had no idea what the hell I was doing for a while. If you’re passionate about something, just start somewhere. If your passionate, that is all that matters! Life can be very chaotic, why not write about it?”
Chris: “Lastly, do you have any plans to release new music in the upcoming months?”
Maiz: “Single before the end of the year. At the top of next year, we have so much planned.”
Maiz has truly proven that she is everything that you want in an artist. She is our next breakout STAR! Stream her music below and make sure to shoot her a follow.
