Alt-Pop Star Maz on Seeking Deep, Spiritual Connections in “Maybe Love”
Rising alt-pop star Maz releases experimental and defiant new track “Maybe Love” that touches on the songstress’ struggles and frustrations on modern-day hook-up culture. No empathy, no intimacy and no vulnerability. After experiencing an apathetic dating culture, Maz questioned what were the chances of her meeting a complete stranger that served a monumental purpose in her life and explored the meanings of coincidences. “Modern Love” asks listeners to approach dating in a sacred way and to treat other people with empathy and respect.
“It was just a time in my life where these dumb boys need to respect women. They're just not trying to get to know me – they're just trying to get down,” Maz says. “You never know what someone can be in your life, so like try to approach things a little bit more sacredly.”
Inspired by the early 2000s snowboard culture she grew up in, and her dad’s involvement in Robot Food’s 2003 snowboard film Lame, the track is a rebellious hit to the chest for anyone who has previously attempted to box her into a single genre.
As Maz sonically rips through her frustrations with hookup culture, the production stylings of fellow Utahn, Tyler Harris, and Still Woozy collaborators, Bobbing and Cole Williams help to annihilate the rule book of how to step by step craft a song that sticks. Maz is the first artist taking part in Early Rising’s new distribution deal with Elektra.
“I think my generation is missing the possibility of deeper connection and the ability to see the individuality of each soul,” Maz says.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Thank you for talking to Unpublished Magazine. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. Can you tell us about the type of music you make and how you broke into the industry?
[MAZ]: I make a blend of indie-rock and pop music. My inspirations are Grimes, Björk, Blondie and The Strokes. I like a lot of fun alternative musicians. I broke out in the industry – this is actually a funny story – I just started making songs in my sophomore year of high school, so I didn't grow up a musician. I have no musical background, but I love creating. This would just be a really fun project for me. I asked this kid for a beat and we linked up and he sent me two beats. I wrote to them in like an hour and we recorded it in his basement, and one of the songs is called “Jungle Juice” and it did really well on SoundCloud. Record labels and managers started to reach out to me which was crazy since this was the first ever song I wrote on SoundCloud. It just picked up really easily and very organically that I felt okay, this is like something I should pursue a little bit more. It was a pretty crazy past three years. I've just tried to make as many songs as I can and try to find my sound.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What artists inspire you, either lyrically or instrumentally, whether that's just music you listen to or music you like to pull inspiration from into yours?
[MAZ]: The Strokes, Blondie and Grimes and I like the early 2000s punk scene. Bikini Kill is a major influence. Just the stuff I grew up with that I’m inspired by. I just pulled a lot from just random things here and there from all of them which has been super fun.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Your latest single release “Maybe Love” just released, huge congratulations, it’s a total beauty and I've added it to all my playlists. Can you tell me the inspiration behind “Maybe Love” and how the creative process looked like for you?
[MAZ]: I always tried to make a cover of a song that I found on Lame, a snowboard movie that my dad helped intern on. It’s called “Yours To Keep” by the Teddy Bears. I couldn’t find it on Spotify or Apple so I just knew I had to make a cover of this, but ended up being pretty bored with it and I didn’t want to waste the song. It was just a time in my life where these dumb boys need to respect women. They're just not trying to get to know me. They're just trying to get down, you know? So I was just thinking about it, even on a spiritual level, thinking about how this coincidence or like the fact that we exist on this earth and how meeting a stranger could be so monumental. Chances are like one to infinity. You never know what someone can be in your life, so like try to approach things a little bit more sacredly.
[UNPUBLISHED]: “Maybe Love” touches on the frustrations of hookup culture. What is some advice you’d like to give to listeners navigating hookup culture and modern day relationships?
[MAZ]: Just slow things down and take a sacred approach and see people as who they are and not like the way you want to perceive them. See them as special souls of the universe. Everyone has a purpose, meaning we're all here. Don't make things harder than that, but then try to take advantage of that.
[UNPUBLISHED]: In your opinion, what would be the perfect environment or place to listen to “Maybe Love?”
[MAZ]: I've never thought of that. Some kid actually sent me a GIF of some dude with his head out the window and he's having the time of his life. He was like, ‘this is how I feel when I listen to your song.’ I feel like it’s a good car song to get the emotion out, like you’re in a little movie.
[UNPUBLISHED]: “Maybe Love” has an eclectic mix of alternative pop and electronic elements. Do you have a favorite genre when it comes to producing music?
[MAZ]: I always work with a producer that likes to record very pop-py and synth-y influenced soundscapes. He’s very influenced by Prince. I like to just say ‘make things sound shittier,’ I just tell him that I like a more grungy, punk vibe. Having him work with me has really helped make this cool collaboration of sound.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Have you taken any new approaches or have experimented more with “Maybe Love” since your debut single release “How Does It Feel?”
[MAZ]: “How Does It Feel” was kind of like a little test. That was the first ever song I made in a studio and so after, I realized that I can do whatever I want and I can make any sound I want, so I went a little crazy, honestly. I also found what I wanted to do. I feel like I wanted to make things that were a little bit more different and new.
[UNPUBLISHED]: You've gotten a lot of support from your listeners. How's the response been overall from fans, family and friends?
[MAZ]: It's been so fun. I feel like I just leaked every day, so they've already heard it. The fans are so cool and so nice about it. There's a lot of really good feedback and there were a couple people that were saying how the song was so therapeutic. I’m so happy I can bring a little bit of good into the world and that people get it.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Do you have a favorite lyric from “Maybe Love” that stands out to you the most?
[MAZ]: “I'm not that sure about it and I don't think you care / All I know is God's attention is more important than what’s under my clothes.”
[UNPUBLISHED]: I've literally been so obsessed with the single artwork for “Maybe Love.” I think the photography is just so beautiful, I love it.
[MAZ]: Thank you, my mom did it. I was like ‘mom, we need to come up with a cover and I don't know what to do.’ I sketched out this idea and I wanted beams coming out of my boobs and it was so funny. I had a lot of very blurry, cool vibes, I honestly loved it so much.
[UNPUBLISHED]: How are you feeling in this current era of your career? What does the upcoming year look like for you that you would love to share with the magazine?
[MAZ]: I just have a little distribution deal with Early Rising and so I have five songs to make, and I've just been writing like crazy. These past couple of songs have been like the lessons I've learned growing up, just trying to figure out relationships or figuring out myself and live in my life. I think this EP will be very nostalgic for me and very coming-of-age. Like ‘What's up? I'm from SoundCloud. I don't know how to make music, but this is me. This is what I've learned.’
[UNPUBLISHED]: What was your wildest dream as an artist? If you can have one thing happen to you, like a milestone or dream collaboration you hope to achieve in your career, what would that look like for you?
[MAZ]: I would really love to collaborate with Björk or The Strokes, so like all the artists that I’ve looked up to my whole life, that’d be so cool. They literally are amazing. Or just having the ability to collaborate and keep creating, if I can keep doing that, then I’m good.
