Today we’d like to introduce you to Maiya Sykes.
Hi Maiya, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Well, this is my second Voyage interview. The basics of my backstory is that I come from parents that met on tour, specifically an Earth Wind and Fire/Commodores concert. My uncle, the late Bill Whitten, designed costumes for both groups and introduced my parents. I was raised in a single-parent household and I’m an LA native. I went to Crossroads in Santa Monica with some of the most talented people in entertainment today. I’m a graduate of Yale and the Musicians’ Institute. I’m super grateful for my education because it helped me find the peers that I still work with to this day.
I have been singing as long as I can remember but my first real money from music was being in the youth choir for Home Alone. I still get residuals to this day!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Well, music is never gonna be a smooth road. With Covid, musicians have had to adapt in ways that no one could ever imagine. We were told that we were non-essential workers while people listened to their favorite albums and watched their favorite shows. It’s a weird mindset that musicians have to rally against. The main struggles I’ve found are getting people to pay me a livable wage while also getting them to manage expectations. It’s unrealistic to ask someone to work for 4 hours at the wage people made in the 70s for the same tasks. I’ve had to change how I operate, what I will accept and what I’m willing to do to elevate my own brand. This is a business but you cannot let it corrupt your soul. I’m grateful for all the adversity I’ve experienced. Every failure gave me an opportunity to reinvent myself and learn. You have to fail often to remain successful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m known for performance but I’m rapidly growing. Somehow I’ve become more involved in social media and in songwriting. I’ve been writing for a show called Sacrifice. I was asked to write with one of the main characters, played by Juan Antonio, and I have had a hand in crafting lyrics for multiple characters on the show. It’s been very exciting to hear others performing my songs. It’s a great time!
I’m also making a new Youtube channel called Ask A Black Girl. In creating that project, I’m learning so much. I’m learning editing and sound engineering. Learning new skills have given my mind a much-needed reset and a necessary expansion of my mind. Stay tuned!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Follow me on the socials Boo!
Instagram: maiyasykes
Twitter: @maiyasykes1
Facebook: MaiyaSykesEntertainment
For Bookings: [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maiyasykes.com
- Instagram: maiyasykes
- Facebook: maiyaoceania
- Twitter: @maiyasykes1
- Youtube: Maiya Sykes
Image Credits
Joanna Degeneres, Thalia Thomas
