We were lucky to catch up with Mai Ty recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mai Ty, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I think the best time for me to start my career in music was exactly when I did. I have no regrets really. But don’t get me wrong, I definitely have moments where I wish I was the young new artist on the block, but I wouldn’t have had the confidence and perspective back then that I have now.

I started taking music seriously fairly late, at age 26, since I actually started off in acting and theater and singing in the church. But, once I found out my abilities as a rapper, it changed my whole approach as an artist. I absolutely love to rap (more than singing sometimes), but it gave me enough confidence to put myself out there. You can’t be an unconfident rapper, so I definitely attribute hip hop to helping me find Mai Ty.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

My name is Mai Ty and I sing, rap and write music. Originally raised in St. Louis, I moved to Memphis to work as a classroom teacher right after I graduated from Tennessee State University. Growing up, I sang at church, and acted and sang in musicals in school and at local theater companies, and I am so glad I finally answered my calling to start making music. I really feel like it was something my family wanted me to do and it was a God-given talent, but I was introverted and pretty socially awkward so I had to come to it on my own terms. And, here we are.

In 2019, I released my first single titled “Love of my Life” and I came out with my second single in November 2021 titled “Take a Spin”. Just recently, I released “Ho Phase” in April of this year. All of these singles are available on all streaming platforms too.

Currently, I’m experimenting a lot with my sound, and playing with different facets of who I am within my music and songwriting. My most recent song, “Ho Phase”, is really me expressing sexual freedom and positivity because it’s getting hot outside and we’re grown!

I plan on releasing more music this year and to continue performing at local venues, and a few out of town shows too. I’m really just now getting started! So my main focus right now is gaining local buzz and finding ways to make a positive impact on people through music. 

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

A little goes a long way when you’re an independent artist. I can’t tell you how one DM can literally fuel an artist for the rest of the year. I’ve seen people finish a whole album based on one random compliment they received from a random follower four years ago. Let folks know you support them and their art by actually telling them.

And share their artwork and posts! Every stream, share, comment, and like counts. Every creative gets their much needed endorphins when someone acknowledges their work. Creatives are, most of the time, their own toughest critic so those little things really make a difference. All of this is not just directed towards supporters and listeners either, this goes for other artists too.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I wouldn’t say it’s a mission, but it’s more of a mantra: things are surprisingly more attainable than you think. I wish someone framed it that way for me growing up, instead of telling me the cliche “you can do anything if you put your mind to it” or “believe in yourself”. This is true, but I think it’s ultimately believing that whatever you want to do is tangible. I think a lot of people have played up certain scenarios in their minds that make their wants/dreams seem impossible. For instance, I think about my own story in how I used to believe being an artist was for other people, but not me. I othered myself and made being a music artist so much more complicated than it should’ve been. In hindsight, it’s a little embarrassing, but I’m happy I got out of that mindset and can finally work towards better and being a better artist.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mai_ty_muse/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maitymuse
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGHusVnFx1gTj8bO54x9aKA

Image Credits
Dontrell Coleman, i92Photo