Maisy Kay has carved out a distinct niche by merging her passions for nature, fantasy, and video games into a whimsical and ethereal musical persona.
Interview By: Elizabeth Weiss
Photography by : Shervin Lainez
Editor In Chief Angel Neal
Kay’s affinity for nature, particularly butterflies, is more than just a branding choice- it’s a
reflection of her personal journey and evolution as a journey. “I think there's something really special about the metamorphosis of a butterfly and the journey into becoming something beautiful,” she elaborated. She recalled her struggle to define herself within the industry, and how the idea of metamorphosis led her to fully embrace who she is, both as a person and artist.
In addition to nature, fantasy and alternate worlds have influenced Kay since she was a
child.“I've loved video games since I was a little girl, and I always knew I wanted to incorporate that in my life in some way.” Her song “The Beast Within” draws from the film Avatar. But her passion doesn’t stop there, Kay dreams of singing in Elvish and has already experimented with Latin chants in her music, adding layers of otherworldliness to her sound. Through these fantastical themes and variety of languages, Kay deviates from today’s top 40 and creates a distinctive and immersive experience.
Video games have also created a unique opportunity for Kay to connect with her fanbase.
Streaming on Twitch, Maisy is able to talk directly with her viewers. She shared, “It's very casual and it's very authentic, as opposed to (I feel like), some other social media platforms that feel a bit more polished.”
Conversely, reality and day to day life also has a big place in her music. Her single, “Sunlight,”dedicated to her boyfriend, is the first true love song she has written. It makes a departure from previous themes of disappointment and heartache in relationships.
“I think normally I'm used to writing about less happy experiences when it comes to men. I think I usually gravitate to writing sad songs about how they've disappointed me.”
Taylor Swift’s openness and vulnerability in her lyrics is something Kay appreciates and
channels through her own creative process. Kay infuses her music with the same authenticity,
writing only when she feels a genuine connection to the emotions she wants to express. As pop stars such as Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter resurge, she sees this as an exciting
time for new faces in the industry. She praises these artists, Roan in particular, for their unique styles, and fun outlandish qualities they bring to their music and performances. These are all qualities Kay hopes to incorporate into her upcoming shows this Fall during her tour with Tori Kelly. Eagerly anticipating joining Kelly, she looks forward to visiting new countries, such as Asia. Touring has been a transformative experience. Her first tour with JVKE, initially served as an obstacle. Never having performed live, Kay was reasonably anxious. She instantly fell in love with touring after stepping on stage for the very first time.
“I just remember going out there and singing the first song and falling in love with performing live, which is something I didn't think could have happened to me, but it was such an instant shift, just seeing energy from fans and the audience, I'll never forget it,” she reminisced.
Collaboration, with artists such as TheFatRat, has also been crucial to Kay’s growth as an artist. Through working and touring with artists, she was exposed to a variety of sounds and ideas. Looking ahead, she is excited about the upcoming release of the remix of her song “Karma” and the second part of her EP titled Wonderlust: The Dusk, releasing Fall 2024. Both promise to continue her exploration of whimsical, ethereal pop. When asked to define what an artist is in 2024, Kay shared a much needed perspective: “I think an artist is someone that is authentic to themselves. It's very easy to get caught up in the game of streaming and numbers, and it's something that I have struggled with in the past. But I think the true hallmark of a great artist is authenticity.”
As she asserted, in a world where streaming numbers and social media presence often dominate the conversation, Kay never hesitates to stay true to herself from dressing like a fairy princess to incorporating her love of fantasy into her music, her world is truly enchanting.
To keep up with all things Maisy, follow her @maisykay. In the meantime checkout her new single-- Love Is God and the lyric video below.
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