The Toff In Town

Date/Time
Date(s) - 26/05/2018
7:00 pm - 11:15 pm

Location
The Toff In Town

Categories No Categories

After a massive 2017, neo-soul vocalist Maya is back with a stellar new single Blackout, about a moment forever lost in time, out tomorrow May 11.  Produced by the renowned Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe, Meg Mac, British India), Blackout is an exciting addition to Maya’s impressive discography.  The young artist has also dropped a video to accompany the track, directed by Grace Moore.  To celebrate Blackout, Maya will be performing at The Penny Black in Melbourne on May 10, Rising Sun Hotel in South Melbourne on May 12 and The Toff In Town on May 26.

Blackout is ominous, and intuitive – as though Maya knows something we all don’t, and she’s trying to let us know.  Her flawless vocals sit atop a motivated rhythm section with urgency and skill, as her lyrics persuade the listener to pay attention.  Joel Quartermain’s expert touch has propelled Blackout into a whole new dimension for Maya, and as her star begins to rise one can only wonder what’s to follow.  Speaking on the creation of the track, Maya says, “Releasing this single has got to be one of the most exciting times of my career.  Blackout means so much to me lyrically and I feel like the production is the next step sound that really represents my aesthetic…Most people have ‘blacked out’ before, whether it’s when they drink, if they black out a bad memory, or if they just forget certain things.  This song takes you through my perspective and how I felt when it happened to me – it was inspired by so many moments of blackout in myself that I still fight everyday.”

The video is as striking as the track itself.  Dramatic lighting cloaks Maya and her sisters, as Maya tries to navigate her own personal blackout.  Maya was specific about her goals for the video, as she reflects, “The Blackout video shows a cross between the dark reality and positive space.  It captures a representation of the dark energies that are felt in those fragile times, juxtaposed with a bright, welcoming space that leads to happiness.  The video, set the morning after the night before, features the Blackout Girls chasing me out of my dark memories until finally I arrive at a space where there is no black.  There I’m free from the watchful eyes of the blackout, and surrounded by positivity and light.”

With three hometown shows coming up, these intimate gigs are Maya’s element, and fans are lucky enough to be able to catch her before she jets off to New York City to continue writing with world-class musicians over there, as she enthuses, “I have been working with many writers and producers in NYC on my next project, and I’ve been writing a lot and am now just doing the final touches on some seriously felt and fresh music.  I’ll be doing more writing in Australia, and working on production of the tracks I already have written in New York.  Some more release this year, and an EP toward the end of the year, with a full insight into my new sound.”