In a music industry that rewards speed, what happens when an artist slows down?
As listeners, it seems we are used to being fed the next big thing in music before we have even sat with the last one. New singles, new visuals, new snippets, new eras, everything arrives fast and disappears even faster. The result is that new music can now often feel less like something to connect with and more like something to scroll past in a reel that we will never see again.
Maya Maunet has never seemed interested in moving that way.
The Toronto-born singer-songwriter has been building her sound gradually, across Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg and, more recently, The Voice France. Her music has shifted with each place and experience, but it has never felt rushed. That steady growth can be heard in her recent work, including “Cure,” which has been selected for the London Music Video Awards and will screen this June at Rich Mix London.
The recognition feels less like a sudden turning point and more like the result of an artist learning to trust her own voice.
Speaking exclusively to us, Maya opens up about “Cure,” her speech impediment, her evolving sound and the kind of connection she hopes her music creates.
Q) “Cure” was recently selected for the London Music Video Awards. When you were first conceptualizing the music video, what did you want the video to say that the song alone couldn’t?
I wrote “Cure” back in April 2023, and the moment I heard the guitar loop, everything came at once—the lyrics, the melodies, and even the visual concept. There was no hesitation; I immediately understood what the song meant to me. At that time, I was craving a connection to something pure, real, and new, which I found in nature. Words like “forest,” “green,” “white,” “flowers,” and “water” instantly came to mind.
In the music video, I reflect that journey through three outfits that symbolize growth. In the first, I’m fully covered in fabric, representing a sense of hiding. In the second, I begin to open up, showing a bit more of myself. By the final look, I feel freer, more hopeful, and closer to flourishing—not completely “cured” (ironically), but almost there.
Q) You’ve spoken about growing up with a speech impediment. Looking back, how do you see that part of your story shaping the artist you’ve become today?
My stutter began when I moved from Canada to Belgium at around seven years old, and it took a real toll on me. It affected my confidence, my creativity, my way of thinking, and even my relationships—because speaking meant constantly overthinking every word.
But when I started singing, that fear disappeared. Music gave me a space where I could express anything freely, without hesitation. Today, I no longer stutter, and I truly have music to thank for that.
Q) You’ve moved between Toronto, Luxembourg festival stages, and The Voice France. How has being between different music scenes shaped your sound?
I’ve explored many different sounds in my music, shaped by the places I’ve lived and explored—each one offering something unique. Canada showed me how poetic and beautiful the English language can be. Luxembourg and Belgium are where I first stepped into the world of music, laying the foundation for everything that followed.
And The Voice France made me realize that my goals are truly within reach—that anything is possible.
Q) Is there a song you’ve made that feels closest to who you are right now?
Our song “Flirt” with LOV3LEO is a flirty, playful, feel-good track that I loved making because it’s a song that’s meant to help find and/or reconnect to your feminine energy! On the other hand, I previously wrote a song called “Strawberry,” which is about my dog and my deep love for animals. Two completely different vibes haha!
Q) What kind of music or story do you want to make next?
I’m going RnB, Neo soul with the slightest hint of pop.
Q) What kind of live performance do you eventually want to create for your audience?
I’d love to film a cozy, moody, and visually beautiful live session—whether it’s for my upcoming singles or a future, longer project—with real instruments, real vocals, an absurd amount of harmonies, and all the feels.
Q) What has changed most about your songwriting since your first release?
My songwriting has become deeper and more instinctive over time. I try to let the lyrics flow naturally instead of overanalyzing their meaning. More often than not, the first idea I have ends up being the one I record—I’ve learned to trust that instinct.
Q) What do you want people to feel when they hear your music for the first time?
I want them to feel good and warm. More than anything, I want them to feel a real connection between me and whoever the listener might be—a sense of honesty and relatability that makes them feel understood.
If her rapidly growing fan base is any indication, it seems Maunet is well on her way there.