Life & Work with Maryann Murray of Greater Boston Area

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maryann Murray.

Hi Maryann, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up as a CODA (child of Deaf Adult) , people might have expected the house to be quiet, but I was always singing. Making noise freely in any space, without being told to quiet down, felt like freedom, and I slowly realized that wasn’t something everyone had. I had the freedom to sing all day, every day, without worrying about judgment, and I was constantly practicing without even realizing it. By the age of four, I realized this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

As I got older, I began performing in front of others more, in choirs, school musicals, and anything I could be part of. One thing that always mattered to me was making sure my mother could understand what I was doing on stage. There were usually no interpreters provided, so I made sure to be as expressive and intentional as possible in my acting so she could still follow along, especially in moments where I couldn’t use ASL. I was very young and did not fully understand what was happening or that she was being underserved by the lack of interpretation. I remember questioning it at times, but being subtly dismissed, and over time I began to normalize it. Looking back now, I understand it very differently.

I still carry all of this with me. I aim to continue challenging myself as an artist whether as a vocalist, actress, or singer-songwriter, while also advocating for the Deaf community to have greater access and fuller inclusion in the arts. Today, I am a multidisciplinary artist who freelances across performance, creative production, and administration. This year, I had the pleasure of performing at Amateur Night at the Apollo and co-producing Hartford’s Got Talent at The Bushnell. My personal projects center around CODA and Deaf related themes, with a strong focus on increasing accessibility in my upcoming work.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Along the way, I’ve navigated a lot of personal challenges, including PTSD, managing chronic illness, and experiencing the loss of loved ones. Self-worth is something I’ll likely always be actively working through. I think a lot of artists can easily relate to that.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an R&B/soul singer-songwriter, actress, a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), and an administrative professional, balancing creative work with behind-the-scenes organization. I also think part of what sets me apart is being a plus-size artist in an industry where representation is still limited and often inconsistent. I care a lot about visibility, not just as a token example, but as something normalized across music, theatre, TV, and all other media. I’m proud and thankful for my body, and I remind myself that there are other performers my size who deserve visibility too, so I try to show up fully for myself and for them.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
There was a time when a Michael Jackson’s greatest hits cassette got left in our car-my aunt had borrowed it from my mom and forgot it there. My mom is deaf, so she didn’t notice it playing or that it was on loop for about 2 years. I used to listen to that tape over and over again. At first I didn’t even know how to work it, but eventually I figured out how to go through my favorite songs and flip the cassette. I always think to myself that Michael Jackson was my first vocal coach.

Pricing:

• Booking rates available upon request and vary depending on the project and performance.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://maryannmurraymusic.wixsite.com/mysite
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryannthesinger
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/X7VpcjJSQ9c
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/maryann-murray