Maya Payne is an independent singer-songwriter from Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand. With an introspective and emotionally hard-hitting lyrical style, Maya is culminating a dynamic sound that tethers indie-folk, soft pop and rock together. Influenced by Damien Rice, Daughter, Angel Olsen, Alice Phoebe Lou, Tom Odell, Sharon Van Etton and Mitski, Maya’s music taps into themes of heartache, healing, existentialism and the art of letting go.
Although Maya has had a hiatus from recording, she is no stranger to the music world- writing music since she was 11 and opening for Charli XCX in 2015. Following this, she independently released her debut EP The Lucky Ones in 2016, which peaked at number six on the New Zealand album charts. The EP’s lead single If Only shot to online success, making it into multiple editorial playlists and hitting number one on the Spotify viral charts in both New Zealand and Poland.
As someone with a proclivity for people pleasing, songwriting is a way for Maya to express everything she struggles to speak out about in daily conversation. At the heart of it all, she wants to connect with listeners by breaking down stigma surrounding mental health and cultivate a community where people know they are seen.
