Every Monday we will be bringing you interviews with UK or Ireland artists for Independent Music Monday. Recently we caught up with Glasgow artist Maya’s Radio Orchestra to find out more…
Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
Originally I’m from Cheltenham – I started out at a toddler class called Taffle music and just got the bug! From there I played recorder and violin at school, before starting piano and continuing with the violin.
I started singing in the church choir at 7 – which taught me a lot about sight singing, pitch, musicality, harmony, and definitely influenced my writing.
When I become ill during my teenage years I wasn’t able to play instruments as much – certainly not the violin – and didn’t start playing the violin again very much until my twenties. It was in my twenties that I started learning the harp, which has become a huge part of my musical output.
Nowadays I’m working on my Music Masters in Songwriting, play fiddle and keyboard for the power metal band Catalyst Symphony, harp in The Willow Trio, along with my solo projects. It’s a diverse creative life, and I love it.
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
Growing up I would listen to everyone! I had a lot of favourite CDs: Jeff Buckley, a treasured Nigel Kennedy (an amazing violinist) mix tape, The Lemonheads, Catatonia, The Eraser by Thom Yorke! Also my classical upbringing – I love lush strings and crunchy dissonances, and melodic interweaving parts like Bach.
Nowadays I’m on a bit of an Alvvays spree.
How would you describe your sound?
Alt-folk, orchestral.
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
The Observer Effect, pt. II
“Set for release on Friday 29 March 2024, the track is a deeply personal and emotive exploration of Maya’s creative process and her experience with chronic illness after she was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) as a teenager.
The single, which brings in classical and alt-folk elements, is composed entirely on the violin, showcasing Maya’s creative musical prowess. Created in the musician’s own Glasgow flat, where she performed, recorded, mixed and mastered the track herself, it delves into the complexity of Maya’s experience of recontextualising her musical identity around her physical limitations, embodying a wide range of emotions and the many ups and downs of her journey.
Recorded in December 2023, The Observer Effect pt. II was written as a companion piece to an audio-visual stop motion work, forming part of a larger project exploring the relationship between Maya’s creative process and chronic illness, which will be released later this year.”
What’s your local music scene like?
I love the local music scene! In the last year I’ve started gigging live with my harp, fiddle, and loop pedal, and I’ve met so many wonderful bands and up and coming musicians. Glasgow seems particularly fertile and jumping with new blood, and the scene is so friendly and diverse.
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
I’ll be releasing my next single ‘Hobbyest Pharmocologist’ in June, and gigging with a drummer which will be a first for my live set!
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
I’d love to work with Molly from Alvvays – her songwriting is so fun, intricate, unique, and no song sounds the same. They also sound beautiful translated onto harp.
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
Not particularly – although I once saw a power metal band perform on the same night that I was. I loved them so much I asked to join them if they needed a fiddle player, and we’ve been playing together ever since!
You can find out more about Maya’s Radio Orchestra on her website or via Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud or Spotify.
Merryn 