The Sit Down with Maya Lane
The last couple of years have seen Maya Lane rise as one the hottest emerging artists in the UK country-pop space of the back of touring with Far From Saints (the trio comprising of The Wind and the Wave’s Patty Lynn and Dwight Baker along with Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones) and BBC Radio 1 airplay from Mollie King on her Future Pop show. However, 2025 has seen even more growth with an appearance at C2C: Country to Country alongside tour dates with Breland and Margo Price in addition to winning the American Express Unsigned competition that lead her to opening up the Birdcage stage at American Express presents BST Hyde Park on the same bill as Finneas, Gracie Abrams and headlined by Noah Kahan.
She has just released her new track “I Don’t Know You Yet” (listen HERE) and also announced that in addition to her upcoming first headline show at The Grace in London on September 3rd, her third EP “The Hurt And The Healing” will be released the day after (pre-save HERE). Whilst Ian caught up with Maya back in March at C2C, during BST it was Jamie’s turn to catch up with her during what continues to be a very exciting year.
It’s so nice to see you and you were amazing on stage earlier! It must be really cool after coming as a fan before to now having your own set as a performer.
“It really does feel like a dream come true and it really does. I think going from coming to watch and seeing my favourite artist play, to them seeing them announce more of my favourite artists and then suddenly my name's on the lineup amongst them, It feels like a really special moment.”
Yeah, it's been a really cool year for you, actually, in terms of festivals because you played C2C, we've got long road coming up and then now we're here on the same bill as Noah Kahan and Gracie Abrams.
“It's very exciting, It feels quite crazy.”
It's a very wild journey and I saw you were at Glasto the other weekend, then you talked on stage that playing here at BST was something on your vision board of things you wanted to do I guess that's the real big goal for two years’ time, as next year is fallow but to try to get your own slot at Glastonbury.
“100%. I would absolutely love to play, I've only ever been as just a fan.”
Was that your first time going?
“I went last year as well so I've been the last two years and those have been the first times that I have been able to get tickets and go so it would be amazing to play. I mean, I've grown up watching it on the TV every year, sitting there for hours watching all my idols and discovering new artists through it so being able to play that would be a real bucket list moment.”
It’s a much bigger and longer festival compared to anything else but you must have got it dialled in after going there twice as a fan. Are there things you know now that you wish you knew before the first time? Are the things that you wish you'd have packed that first time, that you wouldn’t normally pack for a festival?
“I mean, I think you've got your usual earplugs and eye mask, however, I discovered this thing called a Snoozeband. There are ones that play noise so you wrap it round your whole head and you feel like you're in like a spaceship, basically, and it plays white noise out so you get the double whammy with the earplugs, the white noise and the eye mask where you have an actual good night sleep. Well, a semi good night’s sleep. Then also just like be prepared, wear comfort your shoes. I know everyone says it, but if your feet are killing it’s so uncomfortable.”
Every single picture I saw on your Instagram, you're always like this massive fashionista anyway, my who had never seen you before or didn’t know anything about you until she just saw you was like I love her style, she looks so cool but I guess it is that sort of balance as well.
“I think if you're going to invest in like a good pair of walking boots, I have one that I’ll change the colour of the laces which is fun, so then you can match it to your outfit. I'll go like practical on the bottom and fun everywhere else.”
We saw a lot of people last weekend that had brought brand new boots, possibly from Temu or Shein at Zach Bryan.
“Oooh ha-ha brand new cowboy boots! If you like them, get them early and try them around the house for like two weeks before you got to go anywhere in them because they're gonna hurt. Luckily, my best cowboy boots were already broken in for me so someone else had done the hard work and now I could just wear them without any problems.”
Looking ahead for the rest of summer and we mentioned that you're gonna be at TLR which is another new one for you. It’s a really cool festival and it's I think this year’s lineup leans a lot more towards roots and folk sounding things. You’re playing on the Friday and it’s just got a really nice vibe, the stages are really cute and it’s just a nice one to explore but most importantly you’ll be getting to play it with some more new music out.
“Exactly and I am very excited about that. We have the new single coming called “I Don’t Know You Yet” which I've been playing live a little bit, teasing a little bit, but it will be so nice to play all these new songs that are coming off the EP which is coming out in September to an audience who hopefully will be able to sing along.”
That must have be really nice because even for today when you put the feeler out on your socials yesterday about the surprise song, you know, in in the Taylor Swift sort of vain and that was what people wanted to hear.
“Yeah, I really thought everyone was gonna say the old one so it was cool to know that they're interested to hear what is to come.”
Tell us a little bit about the background behind the new song “I Don't Know You Yet”.
“I started writing “I Don't Know You Yet” in the spare bedroom of my Nan's house, and I think it was raining, It was all moody by the beach and I just wanted to sit and write this sad song about the fact that, no one loves me and I don't love anyone else ha-ha. No, but the song is really just about not finding a person yet and kind of romanticising the idea of someone, perhaps isn't exactly who you think they are and you see it a lot. I've done it before, I've seen my friends do it and you think you're falling in love with a version that you've created in your head rather than the real thing. That’s ultimately what “I Don't Know You Yet” is about and it's got like a glimmer of being, you will find that person so they're just not there right now. It’s kind of how things stew when you’re friends are in relationships.”
Coming back to your set today, you were playing thanks to Amex Unsigned, how important is it for you as an emerging art to have people like that who can give you more resources and opportunities? Then what you learned from that whole process so far?
“It's been really nice just to have that kind of extra support really. I think as an independent artist, it can be so hard to get your name out there and to be heard, you know as there's so many artists, all who are amazing, trying to trying to do it and often felt like it was quite oversaturated, a bit overwhelming. At times you are like what's the point? So, I think having someone like that kind of support you and just say, look, we believe in you as well to give it that extra push. It really means a lot, if anything, it's just the confidence to know that out of like thousand you've been selected and that they do believe in you, they think you music's good and think you're worth putting some time in.”
Then after Long Road, we've got your first headline show at The Grace in Islington as well as one in Manchester with Jeorgia Rose and we were talking about things on this vision board where shows of your own must have been one of the big goals that you really wanted to work towards this year.
“Yeah, 100%, it's something that I've been kind of like umming and ahing about, whether I should do or not. You’re like do you think I'm ready? I don't know, you know, there's always the fear that you put it out and no one buys a ticket, but it's been so nice already to see how many people are going to come along and also really nice for me to be able to play an extended set list, give the people songs that they want to hear, be able to show some new ones and have fun really just playing around with different songs.”
That must be really fun to think about because you're going from like, I’ve got 30 minutes, here are the songs I have just put out, here's a cover and here's a new one to ooh it’s all me and I can do a lot more.
“Yeah, we’re in a lot of rehearsals at the moment trying to work out which songs we want to play, like the journey of the set and how it's gonna go but I really want to make the show like a proper interactive, fun experience. We're going to have new merch, then a chance for everyone to meet and hang out after.”
It’s going to be great and as always, you were amazing today. When we walked over, everyone was sat down on the floor and it’s like, awh this is nice, she’s got a decent sized crowd and it’s going to be super chill, then as soon as you started playing, everyone just stood up and walked toward you, which seriously looked one of the coolest things ever.
“It was really nice and a special moment. I was overwhelmed actually.”
I can’t actually tell you how cool it looked, it was almost mechanical how everyone moved at the exact same time but anyway have fun for the rest of the day, enjoy Gracie (Abrams) later, I know I will.
“Thank you, I will. I’m so excited and you’ve got the bandana on, she’s been rocking the bandanas recently too!”
For me it’s always a bandana at a festival. It’s multifunctional for keeping your hair back and if you get sweaty ha-ha. So good to see you and catch up as always and I’ll see you again in a field somewhere.
“Ha-ha see you in the field!”
The new single “I Don’t Know You Yet” from Maya Lane is out now and is available to stream HERE whilst her new EP “The Hurt And The Healing” will be released on September 4th which you can pre-save HERE. Maya will be playing her first headline show at The Grace in London on September 3rd which you can find full details for on WEBSITE plus you can keep up to date with all that she is up to by following on her socials at: INSTAGRAM TIKTOK FACEBOOK & TWITTER.
For more information about American Express presents BST Hyde Park you can visit their WEBSITE and you can see the highlights of all of this years events on INSTAGRAM TIKTOK & FACEBOOK.
The Long Road Festival takes place at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire over the weekend of August 22nd to 24th where you can find ticket details and further information on their WEBSITE and you can be the first to know all updates ahead of the event by checking out their socials on INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK.
She has just released her new track “I Don’t Know You Yet” (listen HERE) and also announced that in addition to her upcoming first headline show at The Grace in London on September 3rd, her third EP “The Hurt And The Healing” will be released the day after (pre-save HERE). Whilst Ian caught up with Maya back in March at C2C, during BST it was Jamie’s turn to catch up with her during what continues to be a very exciting year.
It’s so nice to see you and you were amazing on stage earlier! It must be really cool after coming as a fan before to now having your own set as a performer.
“It really does feel like a dream come true and it really does. I think going from coming to watch and seeing my favourite artist play, to them seeing them announce more of my favourite artists and then suddenly my name's on the lineup amongst them, It feels like a really special moment.”
Yeah, it's been a really cool year for you, actually, in terms of festivals because you played C2C, we've got long road coming up and then now we're here on the same bill as Noah Kahan and Gracie Abrams.
“It's very exciting, It feels quite crazy.”
It's a very wild journey and I saw you were at Glasto the other weekend, then you talked on stage that playing here at BST was something on your vision board of things you wanted to do I guess that's the real big goal for two years’ time, as next year is fallow but to try to get your own slot at Glastonbury.
“100%. I would absolutely love to play, I've only ever been as just a fan.”
Was that your first time going?
“I went last year as well so I've been the last two years and those have been the first times that I have been able to get tickets and go so it would be amazing to play. I mean, I've grown up watching it on the TV every year, sitting there for hours watching all my idols and discovering new artists through it so being able to play that would be a real bucket list moment.”
It’s a much bigger and longer festival compared to anything else but you must have got it dialled in after going there twice as a fan. Are there things you know now that you wish you knew before the first time? Are the things that you wish you'd have packed that first time, that you wouldn’t normally pack for a festival?
“I mean, I think you've got your usual earplugs and eye mask, however, I discovered this thing called a Snoozeband. There are ones that play noise so you wrap it round your whole head and you feel like you're in like a spaceship, basically, and it plays white noise out so you get the double whammy with the earplugs, the white noise and the eye mask where you have an actual good night sleep. Well, a semi good night’s sleep. Then also just like be prepared, wear comfort your shoes. I know everyone says it, but if your feet are killing it’s so uncomfortable.”
Every single picture I saw on your Instagram, you're always like this massive fashionista anyway, my who had never seen you before or didn’t know anything about you until she just saw you was like I love her style, she looks so cool but I guess it is that sort of balance as well.
“I think if you're going to invest in like a good pair of walking boots, I have one that I’ll change the colour of the laces which is fun, so then you can match it to your outfit. I'll go like practical on the bottom and fun everywhere else.”
We saw a lot of people last weekend that had brought brand new boots, possibly from Temu or Shein at Zach Bryan.
“Oooh ha-ha brand new cowboy boots! If you like them, get them early and try them around the house for like two weeks before you got to go anywhere in them because they're gonna hurt. Luckily, my best cowboy boots were already broken in for me so someone else had done the hard work and now I could just wear them without any problems.”
Looking ahead for the rest of summer and we mentioned that you're gonna be at TLR which is another new one for you. It’s a really cool festival and it's I think this year’s lineup leans a lot more towards roots and folk sounding things. You’re playing on the Friday and it’s just got a really nice vibe, the stages are really cute and it’s just a nice one to explore but most importantly you’ll be getting to play it with some more new music out.
“Exactly and I am very excited about that. We have the new single coming called “I Don’t Know You Yet” which I've been playing live a little bit, teasing a little bit, but it will be so nice to play all these new songs that are coming off the EP which is coming out in September to an audience who hopefully will be able to sing along.”
That must have be really nice because even for today when you put the feeler out on your socials yesterday about the surprise song, you know, in in the Taylor Swift sort of vain and that was what people wanted to hear.
“Yeah, I really thought everyone was gonna say the old one so it was cool to know that they're interested to hear what is to come.”
Tell us a little bit about the background behind the new song “I Don't Know You Yet”.
“I started writing “I Don't Know You Yet” in the spare bedroom of my Nan's house, and I think it was raining, It was all moody by the beach and I just wanted to sit and write this sad song about the fact that, no one loves me and I don't love anyone else ha-ha. No, but the song is really just about not finding a person yet and kind of romanticising the idea of someone, perhaps isn't exactly who you think they are and you see it a lot. I've done it before, I've seen my friends do it and you think you're falling in love with a version that you've created in your head rather than the real thing. That’s ultimately what “I Don't Know You Yet” is about and it's got like a glimmer of being, you will find that person so they're just not there right now. It’s kind of how things stew when you’re friends are in relationships.”
Coming back to your set today, you were playing thanks to Amex Unsigned, how important is it for you as an emerging art to have people like that who can give you more resources and opportunities? Then what you learned from that whole process so far?
“It's been really nice just to have that kind of extra support really. I think as an independent artist, it can be so hard to get your name out there and to be heard, you know as there's so many artists, all who are amazing, trying to trying to do it and often felt like it was quite oversaturated, a bit overwhelming. At times you are like what's the point? So, I think having someone like that kind of support you and just say, look, we believe in you as well to give it that extra push. It really means a lot, if anything, it's just the confidence to know that out of like thousand you've been selected and that they do believe in you, they think you music's good and think you're worth putting some time in.”
Then after Long Road, we've got your first headline show at The Grace in Islington as well as one in Manchester with Jeorgia Rose and we were talking about things on this vision board where shows of your own must have been one of the big goals that you really wanted to work towards this year.
“Yeah, 100%, it's something that I've been kind of like umming and ahing about, whether I should do or not. You’re like do you think I'm ready? I don't know, you know, there's always the fear that you put it out and no one buys a ticket, but it's been so nice already to see how many people are going to come along and also really nice for me to be able to play an extended set list, give the people songs that they want to hear, be able to show some new ones and have fun really just playing around with different songs.”
That must be really fun to think about because you're going from like, I’ve got 30 minutes, here are the songs I have just put out, here's a cover and here's a new one to ooh it’s all me and I can do a lot more.
“Yeah, we’re in a lot of rehearsals at the moment trying to work out which songs we want to play, like the journey of the set and how it's gonna go but I really want to make the show like a proper interactive, fun experience. We're going to have new merch, then a chance for everyone to meet and hang out after.”
It’s going to be great and as always, you were amazing today. When we walked over, everyone was sat down on the floor and it’s like, awh this is nice, she’s got a decent sized crowd and it’s going to be super chill, then as soon as you started playing, everyone just stood up and walked toward you, which seriously looked one of the coolest things ever.
“It was really nice and a special moment. I was overwhelmed actually.”
I can’t actually tell you how cool it looked, it was almost mechanical how everyone moved at the exact same time but anyway have fun for the rest of the day, enjoy Gracie (Abrams) later, I know I will.
“Thank you, I will. I’m so excited and you’ve got the bandana on, she’s been rocking the bandanas recently too!”
For me it’s always a bandana at a festival. It’s multifunctional for keeping your hair back and if you get sweaty ha-ha. So good to see you and catch up as always and I’ll see you again in a field somewhere.
“Ha-ha see you in the field!”
The new single “I Don’t Know You Yet” from Maya Lane is out now and is available to stream HERE whilst her new EP “The Hurt And The Healing” will be released on September 4th which you can pre-save HERE. Maya will be playing her first headline show at The Grace in London on September 3rd which you can find full details for on WEBSITE plus you can keep up to date with all that she is up to by following on her socials at: INSTAGRAM TIKTOK FACEBOOK & TWITTER.
For more information about American Express presents BST Hyde Park you can visit their WEBSITE and you can see the highlights of all of this years events on INSTAGRAM TIKTOK & FACEBOOK.
The Long Road Festival takes place at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire over the weekend of August 22nd to 24th where you can find ticket details and further information on their WEBSITE and you can be the first to know all updates ahead of the event by checking out their socials on INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK.
