Mit Songs zwischen emotionalem Pop und fantasievollen Welten hat sich Maisy Kay in den vergangenen Jahren eine ganz eigene Identität aufgebaut. Nach Kollaborationen mit Künstlern wie TheFatRat, Timbaland oder R3HAB und Touren mit Tori Kelly, Lauren Spencer Smith und Jamie Miller startet die Singer-Songwriterin nun in ihre nächste Ära. Mit ihren neuen Singles „Vantablack“ und „Bitter“ verarbeitet Maisy Kay Themen wie Herzschmerz, Trauma und emotionale Heilung – allerdings auf ihre ganz eigene Weise: mit euphorischen Sounds, ehrlichen Lyrics und jeder Menge Kontraste. Parallel dazu begleitet sie LANY auf deren Europa- und UK-Tour und spielt dabei auch mehrere Shows in Deutschland. Im Interview mit uns dem Frontstage Magazine spricht Maisy Kay über „crying in the club music“, den therapeutischen Effekt von Songwriting, ihre Liebe zu Fantasy-Worldbuilding und darüber, warum die kommende Tour für sie etwas ganz Besonderes wird.
Frontstage Magazine: Your new single “Vantablack” combines a very dark topic with an almost euphoric sound. Why was this contrast so important to you while writing the song?
Maisy Kay: I think it’s very easy for me to write sad sounding songs about feeling sad, but there’s something really fun about taking a song that sounds happy- and giving it sad lyrics. It’s something I’ve done in the past (Emotionally Unavailable, Mascara Tears) and I really love the contrast. I call it crying in the club music- haha!
Frontstage Magazine: You describe “Vantablack” as a reaction to trauma, disappointment, and emotional darkness. How difficult was it for you to process these personal experiences through music?
Maisy Kay: I think using music as an outlet actually made the process a lot easier. I was definitely going through the worst heartbreak of my life, and I my personal life felt very heavy. Being able to make fun music and use it as a form of escapism was actually super therapeutic for me. I learnt to be raw and open about my personal experiences on the Wonderlust EP, and I really wanted to continue sharing my life with my fans in that way.
Frontstage Magazine: Your music often creates cinematic and fantasy-inspired worlds. How important is this kind of “worldbuilding” to you as an artist, especially on songs like “Vantablack” and “Bitter”?
Maisy Kay: As a lover of fantasy and fiction, world building is something I enjoy both in my personal and professional life. My last EP was a look into falling in love, and this new era is a look into heartbreak, and moving through grief, and ultimately overcoming it. Those are two things that I feel most people in their life go through at least once, and it’s exciting for me to be able to create on both sides of that spectrum.
Frontstage Magazine: You’ve already worked with artists and producers such as TheFatRat, Timbaland, and R3HAB, and toured with acts like Lauren Spencer Smith and Tori Kelly. Which experiences from these collaborations and tours have shaped you the most as an artist?
Maisy Kay: I think that touring and doing live shows has been game changing for me. I’ve learnt SO much about stage presence, and I can really look back at my tours and see how both my vocals and dance moves have improved. The Tori Kelly tour sticks out as a highlight to me, because she was so unbelievably sweet, and it was so inspiring to see her go out every night and deliver these earth shattering vocals like it was nothing!
Frontstage Magazine: In May and June, you’ll be supporting LANY on their European and UK tour, including four shows in Germany. What are you most excited about for this tour, and what can fans expect from your live performances?
Maisy Kay: I am most excited about getting to play with a band for the first time! My entire team are made up of people I’ve toured with already- Jordan Coker from Tori Kelly’s tour, David Dayton from Jamie Miller. There’s no better feeling than going out with people you already know and love. I’m also super excited for London, as it’ll be my first ever arena!! My family and childhood best friend will be there, and I truly cannot wait. It is such an honor to be on this tour, and I’m so grateful to LANY for bringing me out!
Fotocredit: Shervin Lainez
