Meet Maya | award-winning, world-traveling recording artist & humanitarian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maya and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maya, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I was a freshman in high school I was drawn to the freedom associated with starting my own business, empowering me to manifest personal funds through ideas that I create. I loved being the Leader of my own ideas, and I recall handmaking earrings and selling them in the park, for example. Later, during my early pursuits as a professional recording artist, I found myself feeling incredibly powerless as I waited to be “discovered” by industry gatekeepers. A fellow artist who had much success at the time told me “Go Independent, Girl!” For those that don’t know what that means, essentially, I took it as the moment to stop waiting and hoping. Instead, I decided to approach my music career as a small business run by an entrepreneur. Create my own destiny. My thoughts were these: (1) There is nothing between me and the people. I can literally make and connect with fans (translation: customers) at any moment I decide. (2) Instead of waiting for permission or approval, what if I work for it daily, as I do for anyone else I might work for?

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
From recording in Bob Marley’s living room in Jamaica, to singing for prisoners at Riker’s Island Jail in New York; from doing a tour in Honduras during a coup, to singing for the King and Queen of Lesotho Africa; from speaking to women leaders in Qatar United Arab Emirates, to speaking for 1000 female students in New Delhi India, or Haiti, or Tanzania… I can absolutely profess, my life has never been boring and, never quite easy.

I’ve had the privilege to be award-winning as both artist and humanitarian, and have toured to more than 40 countries which include over a dozen tours sponsored by the U.S. State Department and American Embassies. With a genre-defying approach, I’d say you might consider me a cross between Chaka Khan and Freddy Mercury with some Whitney sprinkled in. I’ve had the press say wonderful things about my work all around the world, but the accolades are not as important to me as truly connecting with people. I’ve written many songs that are considered anthems of self-worth such as “I Am Enough”, “Fearless” and “Warrior.” In the course of my journey, I’ve sung and spoken to diplomats, leaders, royalty and youth around the world including Geneva (Switzerland), Qatar (United Arab Emirates), Lagos (Nigeria), Colombo (Sri Lanka), and Kingdom of Lesotho, to name a few.

I have seen it to be true that our shared human experience is much greater than the borders, walls and differences that separate us. I have approached life and everyone I meet with the notion that we have common ground, such as wishing to be loved, seen and accepted for who we are, wanting to be safe in our homes and communities, or wanting equal access to opportunities and education. We have all had our battles with heartbreak, or disappointment. We all hurt when we stub our toe. I have carried this philosophy from a young age, and it has allowed me to have meaningful connections with the most unlikely characters. This then was revealed to be true from a global perspective; the more I traveled, the more I saw people to be people everywhere I go. With each person I meet, regardless of their culture, language or nation, I aim to connect from our shared human experience and it has proven to me that we are not as far apart as we are told. It also reveals to me our potential as a human race to heal our divisions and find global solutions for the planet.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ll give you my personal Miami “Best Of” here, in no particular order:

UPPER BUENA VISTA: One of my favorite places to go. A courtyard styled “mall,” it has an outstanding mystical energy built like a little town square around a huge gorgeous banyan tree, with great boutiques, restaurants, my favorite handmade ice cream truck, and a live music venue named Palapa (where I had a sold out concert last Valentine’s Day).

DANTE’S HIFI: Considered to be a “listening room” it is the only all-vinyl DJ venue in Miami co-founded by my friend DJ Rich Medina. The vibe is warm and intimate. They also have very nice cocktails.

ZUMA MIAMI: Best sushi. While it is on the more expensive side, they have one of the best DJ’s in town, Batu. Go for a beautiful night of good food, good service, and good soulful electronic music.

BLACK CAT CIGAR LOUNGE: A Husband & Wife owned cigar lounge with lovely red leather seats and intimate inviting décor. You’ll likely meet Xaviera behind the bar, and be sure to ask Gus for his cigar recommendations, you won’t be disappointed.

PUMMAROLA (MIAMI BEACH) PIZZA: Hands down, the best pizza I’ve had in Miami and on-par with the pizza I’ve had in Napoli, Italy. The cashier was actually from Italy. They are not playing around.

ZeyZey MIAMI: Such a cool open-air venue which offers diverse live international bands, a great sound system for listening to the best DJs, a second venue on-site inside a little white house where you can wander between the inside and outside DJ sets, at will. They have the best fresh taco stand in the front, and pretty good custom cocktails. I like the one with mezcal.

LA POUBELLE: a special cabaret “speak easy” that I can’t tell you where it is. But, if you do find it, it’s going to have some of the best piano bar and cabaret-styled shows around. My favorite is Miss Bouvee, a queen in drag that can sing gorgeously. (I’m known to do shows there too, in case you happen to find yourself there on June 12th or August 7th – wink)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shout out my fans, in particular women, I have met all around the world in the 40+ countries I’ve visited. There were so many moments that I wanted to give up, because being an indie artist is not easy (at all). There are many moments that the struggle to keep going when things go wrong is hard to bear. Being an entrepreneur, small business owner, and an independent artist, we have the most to gain if things go well and the most to lose when things are tough. Without a big team and commercial backing to bail us out, the glitches and hitches on the journey can really do us in. Almost always, in those moments, some outstanding stranger sends me a letter or message telling me that my work has given them hope, or has guided them through their darkest moment. In those moments, I embrace that my career is a business but even more than that, it is my purpose.

Website: https://www.MayaAzucena.com

Instagram: @mayaazucena

Linkedin: /MayaAzucena

Facebook: /MayaAzucena

Youtube: /MayaAzucena1

Other: Find me on Apple, Spotify and any platform where music is played.

Image Credits
Safa Gulsoy – main studio images
Nur Burduroglu – live in black shorts
Arena shot is unknown photographer