We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maya Rosalia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maya , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’m incredibly excited for “Ghost of You” to be released! It’s a song that I wrote years ago, inspired by the loss of someone I loved. Recently, it resurfaced when I lost a family member this past year to FTD, so I felt it was fitting to dedicate this song to him, as well as to the family members who were close to him. “Ghost of You” is about loss and grief, but it also celebrates the moments shared with those we’ve lost.

“Ghost of You” holds a special place in my heart, not only for its emotional depth but also for its involvement in activism and philanthropy. With its release, I will be fundraising for The Treat FTD Fund through the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF). This fund is dedicated to advancing clinical trials and research to find treatments specifically for FTD, focusing on the genetic causes and mechanisms of the disease. Having lost family members to Alzheimer’s and FTD, I’m honored to support this cause.

Though the lyrics are somber, the piano and production bring a hopeful, uplifting energy. I think there’s something magical about the idea of a “ghost”, not as something sad, but as a presence that continues to live on. I hope to capture that sense of beauty and presence in the song.

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 back background and context?

I am an independent singer, songwriter, and most recently added to my résumé a music producer. I have been songwriting and performing since I was around nine years old, but just this past year started learning more about music production. “Ghost of You” marks the first series of songs I’ll be producing as I’ve been gaining more knowledge and experience in music production, and audio engineering. I’m excited to continue producing in the future, whether through collaboration or taking full creative control. Lately, I’ve been especially passionate about vocal editing and vocal production, and I look forward to adding my own unique flair to the track.

I remember when I first started exploring music production, it felt so daunting. Up until that point, I had only worked with male producers and had always been surrounded by them. To find my way, I turned to YouTube and dove into the work of artists like Chloe Bailey and Tinashe, both of whom I deeply admire. Chloe Bailey, in particular, became a huge inspiration to me. She showed me that I could write and produce my own songs, and I admire how well-rounded she is as both a performer and artist. Her journey really motivated me during my own path into music production. Ariana Grande was also an influence, seeing clips of her working on vocal edits in ProTools was so inspiring, and it sparked my desire to learn more about the technical side of production.

Since then, I’ve been growing into a knowledgeable music producer and audio engineer, alongside being an artist. It’s been a challenge to balance both roles, but they connect so deeply with each other. I’ve always been involved in the performance and business sides of music, but delving into engineering and production has opened up a whole new world for me. Even in my classes, I’m often one of the only women, and that’s something I’d love to see change. When I was starting out, it was hard to find female role models in production, so I hope to see more women in the field.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

A pivotal moment in my journey came when I witnessed a producer in my life exerting so much control over someone else’s music. When he became upset, he would threaten to delete songs, and it terrified me to think my music could be at the mercy of someone like that. It was then that I knew I wanted my music to be fully in my own hands. Right now, I’m co-producing, but I’m well on my way to fully producing my own songs, which is incredibly exciting.

This new era feels like a turning point in my career. I’ve evolved from a young teen singer-songwriter to an artist who is producing music and building a community of collaborators. I have an insatiable desire to learn every facet of the process because I believe each part is so crucial to creating something meaningful.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I dream of creating an empire of women in music production, building a safe and welcoming space for artists. The music industry, especially in production, has its share of shady elements, and I want to foster an environment where artists feel safe, cozy, and truly comfortable when recording. To be honest, I’ve rarely felt safe and comfortable in a recording studio. There have been a few moments in my career, but ever since I was young, those spaces were hard to come by. The only times I truly felt safe were when I was recording in someone’s home or bedroom. I remember being in rooms full of male producers, sharing my ideas while feeling self-conscious and unsure of myself. Learning production and gaining knowledge of the technical side of music has completely shifted my mindset. It’s empowered me, giving me the confidence to truly believe in my ideas and vision.

My goal in learning music production is not just for myself, but for the artists who seek a place where they can trust the process, be themselves, and feel completely at ease. That’s the future I envision: a haven for creative freedom, built on trust and safety.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: mayarosalia_
• Linkedin: Maya Rosalia
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXpz9-OEaSjV3VYJFb5tBoA/videos
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6JABwvPevIwf4W1XLLyuIJ?si=_5CjkY7lSzC702KgY60w2Q&nd=1

  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/maya-rosalia/1508950220