FEATURE: Spotlight: Revisited: Maeta

FEATURE:

Spotlight: Revisited

PHOTO CREDIT: Sonali Ohrie for NOTION

Maeta

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I am revisiting…

someone that I spotlighted in 2023. The incredible Maeta is Maeta Hall, a remarkable artist known for her alternative R&B sound. Growing up in Indianapolis, she released her debut album, When I Hear Your Name, in 2023. She released Endless Night last year. At seven tracks, would we class it as an E.P. or mini-album? In any case, there will be many wondering if another album will arrive. I will get to all the positives. I did read how Maeta supported Chris Brown on tour a while back. An abuser and artist who should not be playing and given any freedom, it is disquieting when artists collaborate with him and perform on the same stage. However, I shall step away from that and focus on Maeta and her stunning music – as Chris Brown does not warrant any of my time and anger. Last year was a busy one for Maeta. This is a moment when I can feel her gearing up for her next chapter. That is why I want to come back to her now. I am starting out with a Billboard interview from last year. We get to learn more about her musical upbringing:

“From the moment she could crawl, Maeta was immersed in music. Spinning her father’s CDs on the living room floor wasn’t just a hobby—it was an obsession. “I’d sit there every day, pick a random CD, and just listen,” she recalls with a sheepish smile, hinting at her young age. But in that childhood ritual, a lifelong passion ignited. At seven, Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love” left a lasting mark, solidifying her path. “I thought I was the best singer in the world at seven—I was so trash,” she laughs, reflecting on her early confidence.

Growing up in Indianapolis, a city she fondly calls “a breeding ground for dreamers,” Maeta was fueled by an unwavering determination. Despite limited access to a vibrant music scene, her imagination thrived. School choirs and after-school projects became her first taste of songwriting and recording. “It was bad,” she admits, “but it was the closest thing to the music industry in Indiana.” Even when her dreams felt unattainable, Maeta never wavered and her passion to be a musician was her compass.

Her journey into music wasn’t just about discovery—it was about persistence and vision. At 18, she left Indiana for Los Angeles, diving headfirst into the industry. “I spent four months in the studio, working with so many producers, every single day,” she says. It was overwhelming but formative, helping her find her sound. Even now, she remains fluid, saying, “I just did a dance project, but I’m about to go back into my R&B ballad bag. It’s fun to not always know where you’re headed.”

Her creative process is as unpredictable as her musical direction. “Sometimes I cry, sitting in the dark for hours. Other days, I’m in a good mood,” she explains. For Maeta, the studio is a sacred space. “I like the lights off. I don’t even like to see my engineer half the time. I want to be in my little cave,” she says, describing the intimacy and solitude she needs to create.

But the path hasn’t been without its challenges. Maeta speaks candidly about the power dynamics in the industry, especially with men. “I’ve dealt with men in power trying to take advantage… that’s been happening since I was 13,” she says. Yet, she’s found a team that supports her fully. “I love my team so much… they’ve been so loyal. I wouldn’t want anyone else.”

Her journey is a testament to imagination, grit, and the unwavering pursuit of dreams. “Imagination is everything… but you need the determination to make it happen. I’ve wanted to give up so many times, but you just have to come back to it,” she admits, highlighting the resilience that has carried her through the highs and lows of her career. It’s this blend of vision and persistence that defines not only her artistry but also her personal growth. Now, her music carries a profound depth rooted in lived experience and emotional truth. “I don’t even like songs unless I feel something,” she reflects, emphasizing how her creative process has evolved. “I used to sing whatever I was told. Now, it has to mean something to me.”

This evolution mirrors her alignment with Honda’s ethos of determination, resilience, and the power of dreams. Much like Honda’s commitment to turning bold ideas into reality, she embodies the spirit of pushing forward despite challenges, finding purpose in the journey, and crafting something meaningful along the way. It’s this shared sense of vision and perseverance that makes her a natural fit for this year’s Honda Stage, a platform dedicated to highlighting artists who reflect these ideals through their stories and their music. Her performance becomes a celebration of not just her talent, but the grit and heart that have defined her journey.

Her latest song, “Back,” performed exclusively for Billboard and Honda Stage, delves into self-sabotage, an emotional vulnerability she openly shares. “It’s about when you’re your own worst enemy, especially in love. You overthink, hate yourself, and take it out on the person trying to love you,” she confides. It’s this raw honesty that resonates deeply with her audience.

Her music, much like her creative process, is a blend of spontaneity and intent, where every song carries “little pieces of me.” Maeta remains a chameleon, who finds joy in experimentation but is determined to leave an unmistakable stamp on her music. “You’re not gonna hear my song and not know it’s me.” For Maeta, collaboration isn’t just a part of her career—it’s the lifeblood of her artistry, keeping her inspired and pushing her creativity to new levels. “Artists and musicians are crazy. Creatives are just so inspiring… every time I work with somebody new, there’s just something weird about them that I love”.

Someone who is among the artist who will redefine and rewrite R&B, eyes should be cast her way. I think another positive is the cover for last year’s Endless Night. Such a stunning shot in terms of the composition and colours, it is rare to find an album cover that stands out. However, Maeta’s definitely does! Even though NOTION write in their headline that Maeta is preparing to release a debut album (what do we class When I Hear Your Name as?!), they do note how she is getting rid of “the sad-girl narrative, she’s diving headfirst into a new era where love and self-discovery reign supreme”:

“Still learning as she goes, Maeta understands more than ever the importance of believing in herself and taking control of her career. “When I started out, I had 400 people critiquing my music, what I wore, how I looked and how I did interviews. When you constantly hear criticism, you lose yourself. I went through that recently. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to trust yourself. I’m the artist. We are here because of me,” she says with sincerity. This bold declaration showcases Maeta’s laser-focused ambition that has taken her to the apex of the R&B scene. Now, she’s taking back her power firmly and assuredly setting her sights on one goal: to dominate the global stage. “I want to be a damn pop star. However, I get there, I get there. I don’t plan my way, I just know I’ll get there no matter what. I want to stamp my name on this world and make sure my art and music outlive me.”

And what better way to announce herself and her trajectory than dropping her debut album? Still tweaking the final touches, the record marks a new chapter for Maeta, a chance to tear up the rulebook and declare who she truly is. “Instead of singing about relationships, I’m singing about me. I’m ready to own myself, own what I’ve been through, and own who I am.” Now that she’s done with mapping out old scars, asserting her agency has made Maeta step into “grittier” soundscapes, experimenting with darker and heavier realms that dig deep into the soul. But don’t expect a total mood shift, Maeta is still embracing that lover-girl energy she’s known for. “I want people to listen to the album and really feel how love hits me. I’m a lover-girl. Love drives me. I’m bringing back feel- good love songs. Right now, everything feels so toxic and petty. I want the album to feel like a warm hug.”

Right now, Maeta is chasing more than just musical heights, she’s seeking a deeper kind of fulfilment. After years of living in overdrive, she is finally realising that hitting pause is sometimes part of the journey. “I was like 10 years old worrying about my damn singing career,” she laughs reflecting on how “career-obsessed” she’s been from day one. She interjects, “This whole interview’s going to be all about astrology, but readers keep telling me how my career is my life. I couldn’t change it if I wanted to. But I’m working on living a little more.” How is she living life to the fullest? “My career and love are two things that drive me, so I’m trying to date more. I love love. I want something serious for once, something healthy.” And that’s not all, she’s also got big travel plans that do not involve work. “Every time I travel, I freak out as I feel like I’m wasting my life not working. I want to experience things without feeling guilty for it.”

Call it fate, call it manifestation, or just straight-up cosmic energy, it was clear from the get-go that Maeta’s path would always lead to this. She’s building her own world, where heartbreak, growth and love coexist, raw and unapologetic. And in this next chapter, she’s taking full control, making her mark, all while love rides shotgun. Because after all, what’s life without a little bit of love?”.

I am going to finish off with a CLASH interview from last summer. I hope there are new chats with Maeta very soon. After a busy past couple of years, it is clear that she is settling in for a very long and successful career. An artist that is not yet at the peak of her powers, I do hope that she spends more time in the U.K. I am not sure whether she has any dates in the pipeline:

“Maeta fully immerses herself in her art. As a songwriter, a vocalist, a performer, there are no half measures – her music and her life are intimately intertwined, like the double-helix in her DNA. Rising to prominence on the back of those early SoundCloud demos, the Indianapolis-born singer’s talents were evident from the start – soulful in the deepest sense of the word, each note felt bonded to her heart.

Yet new project ‘Endless Night’ rips up the rulebook. Swapping R&B introspection and lovelorn balladry for something steeped in club energy, the Kaytranada production pushes Maeta into a different space. And you know what? She’s loving every minute of it.

“I’m naturally a deep-lover-girl. I love to cry. I love to be in love. And I love those kinds of feelings,” she tells CLASH. “But I think that this was a nice break from that.”

Much of Maeta’s previous work focussed on love lost; 2023’s ‘When I Hear Your Name’ for instance was a scorching evocation of betrayal and grief born from giving your heart to someone who doesn’t deserve it. Now, though, she’s done with mapping out old scars. “I’m ready to let that go and just own myself and who I am and take control of my life. I feel like I gave myself to another person and I just lost who I was. This project is just me.”

“I just want to have fun. It’s summer, I want to fucking date and be single and have fun and not be stuck in this dark place. I just want to embrace newness and fun and change and freedom and all that.”

An oasis of calm in her life, the studio sessions with Kaytranada were initially only meant to birth a few songs, but it quickly became something more. “One thing that I like about myself, I guess, is that I’m very good at adapting to different things. I get bored easily, so I like trying stuff out.”

“It kind of became such a bigger thing that it was supposed to be, which I’m proud of, and I’m happy with… We just all loved it so much that we made it more of a deal than it was supposed to be.”

With the energy flowing, and with Kaytranada’s creative support, Maeta finally felt able to put the past behind her. “I think spiritually, I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me because I was in a very dark place like six months to a year ago… I was seriously in a horrible place. And right now I’m so happy!”

“I’m working on my next album already, and it is definitely going to be soulful… there’s a lot of ballads, a lot of love and those kinds of things. But this was the perfect break for me, emotionally speaking. It all happened for a purpose – but the purpose was that there wasn’t really a purpose, in a way”.

Two years after I included her in my Spotlight feature, a lot has changed for Maeta. After releasing a new E.P./album last year, she has accrued a legion of new fans. Highlighting the fact that she is among the most talented and innovative R&B artists of her generation, there will be a lot of success and riches in her future. Someone who knew from a young age that music was her calling, Maeta is…