Listening Party: Mýa's Forthcoming 'Retrospect'

Summary

Podcast Summary: Listening Party – Mýa's Forthcoming 'Retrospect'

Podcast: All Of It with Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Mýa (Grammy-winning singer-songwriter)
Date: May 4, 2026
Episode Theme: An in-depth conversation and listening session previewing Mýa’s highly anticipated new album, Retrospect.

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Overview

This episode celebrates the legacy and ongoing evolution of Mýa, as she returns with Retrospect, her 10th studio album and first release in eight years. With vibrant collaborations and deep personal influences, the album bridges the nostalgia of funk and soul with contemporary storytelling. Alison Stewart and Mýa discuss the album's origins, songwriting process, collaboration stories, influences, and Mýa's thoughts on creativity and the changing music industry, interspersed with previews of new tracks.

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Key Discussion Points

The Origins and Inspiration Behind Retrospect

• Spontaneous Beginnings

  • Mýa describes how the project started unexpectedly in 2016 when she overheard a track in the studio:

    “When I heard the very first track by accident, or maybe not... I walked across the hallway to ask, who is that for? Well, it's mine now, right?" (01:20 – 01:43)

  • The creative process was organic, intensive, and joyful, especially during the pandemic when she revisited the funk and soul music of her childhood.

• Album Title Meaning

  • The title Retrospect reflects both a backward glance at musical influences and introspection on personal growth:

    "Retrospect is literally taking all of your influences and the long library of pioneers of this specific sound, which I call Funk, that filled my living room, and bringing it to this project. But it's also an introspective project as well." (03:01 – 03:55)

Influences: Family, Funk, and Childhood Joy

• Family Roots
  • Mýa’s father was a musician, her mother a dance teacher—music and performance saturated her upbringing:

    “I have pictures of me in my mom's go-go boots with an Afro, just in my own world. And that is what I retreated to in the Pandemic.” (04:10 – 04:43)

• Musical Inspirations
  • Funk bands like Cameo, Kool & the Gang, Shalamar, Rick James, Prince, and others were constant sounds in her home.

Collaborations: Connecting Eras and Cultures

• Working with D-Nice

  • The track "Give It To You" features DJ D-Nice, whose virtual parties during the pandemic inspired and uplifted.

    “He’s big in the culture… we made it happen within a small window of two hours that he had.” (04:58 – 05:48)

• Old School Meets New

  • The album weaves in features from 21 Savage, Snoop Dogg, and Too Short, blending generations and genres.

Crafting the Album: Songwriting and Sequencing

• Track Order and Storytelling

  • The ordering is intentional, meant to evoke feelings of joy and celebration before moving to deeper themes:

    “I wanted it to feel like Central Park outside, four wheels... so that people could feel themselves, whether... in their living room or… at a party.” (07:23 – 08:01)

• Songwriting Process

  • There’s no single method—some tracks stem from solo sessions, others from collaborative vibe sessions:

    “Sometimes we have to be the vibe if we want to bring the vibe... Sometimes he'll start with a track, or sometimes we’ll just start with an idea. Let's take it to Minneapolis.” (08:40 – 10:09)

• Living the Music

  • Mýa and her collaborators would dress according to the musical era to immerse themselves fully:

    "I remember it was all black, and even my hair was wild to one side. And it was like I was the leader of the lead singer of Vanity 6, that era." (08:41 – 08:56)

Previewed Songs and Stories

"Give It To You (feat. D-Nice)"

• A celebratory, retro-funk intro to the album—Mýa wanted a 'block party' vibe.
  • Memorable quote:

    “Yeah, it’s your boy D-Nice. Welcome to Retrospect Live as we take you on a trip through one of our favorite times: 1985… bringing you that funk, that soul, that feel-good music.” (05:50 – 06:21)

"Good To You"

• Mýa contributed the bridge, adding to an almost-finished track. She wanted a sound reminiscent of Rufus and Shaka Khan, with a Bruno Mars-esque modern twist. (10:14 – 10:54)

"Just A Little Bit (feat. Too Short)"

• Mýa’s personal earworm—catchy, nostalgic, and featuring Too Short in a suited-up surprise:

  “It sounds familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it... the first time he [Too Short] said he was rocking a suit in the music video, which just dropped today.” (12:15 – 13:04)

"ASAP (feat. 21 Savage)"

• A vulnerable song about the need for urgent, honest conversation in relationships, inspired by the tradition of couple skates at roller rinks:

  “ASAP is a very vulnerable record... a conversation with self... the first warning that a conversation must be had.” (16:35 – 18:38)

Reflecting on Her Career

• Lessons from the ‘Fear of Flying’ Era

  • Emphasis on honesty and authenticity, especially in navigating public life as a young woman:

    “Honesty... being very honest and as yourself as you’re growing was probably the most intimidating thing during that time.” (14:52 – 15:44)

  • Advice to her younger self:

    “Faith. Faith to push through in uncertainty and new territory is always everything.” (15:58 – 16:21)

• Evolving Music Industry

  • Social media is empowering for fan connection and artistic independence, but the fast pace and pressure to produce unfiltered content is challenging for someone used to perfectionism:

    “There’s always a new platform, there’s always a new piece of technology... I feel a little deprived and behind or uneducated when it comes to technology.” (20:07 – 21:59)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Studio Serendipity:

  "[The song] was mine now, right?... I stayed there for over 24 hours, engineered it, wrote it myself, arranged it and recorded it."
  — Mýa (01:20 – 02:35)

• On Nostalgia and Joy:

  “I created all the playlists of my favorites and it instantly brought me joy.”
  — Mýa (04:10 – 04:43)

• On Musical Vibes:

  “Sometimes we have to be the vibe if we want to bring the vibe, and that’s how the music is created.”
  — Mýa (08:41 – 08:53)

• On Authenticity vs Social Media:

  “One of the things that I’ve realized I’m not good at is just letting things be really raw and real and authentic with no thought in posting it. That’s so difficult for me because I come from an age where everything had to be perfect and refined.”
  — Mýa (21:30 – 21:59)

• On the Album’s Essence:

  “You get a little retro and intro.”
  — Mýa (03:53 – 03:55)

• On the Importance of Faith:

  “Once you lose faith, you lose hope, and then action follows. So that is a foundational aspect that I abide by in everyday life from that point, but also now, that carries me through any and everything.”
  — Mýa (15:58 – 16:21)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:29 – Alison introduces Mýa and the new album Retrospect
• 01:12 – Mýa discusses how the album began
• 02:38 – Choosing the album title and its meaning
• 04:07 – Childhood musical influences
• 04:58 – Collaboration story with D-Nice
• 05:50 – Play of “Give It To You”
• 07:23 – Track listing strategy and vibe
• 08:07 – Songwriting process and immersing in the sound
• 10:11 – Creation of “Good To You”
• 12:15 – The most catchy song for Mýa, “Just A Little Bit”
• 14:26 – Lessons from Fear of Flying
• 16:35 – Introduction and story behind “ASAP”
• 19:44 – Reflections on changes in the music industry—empowerments and challenges

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Episode Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is warm, candid, and full of mutual respect. Mýa’s enthusiasm for honoring the past while embracing her own growth shines through. Retrospect is both a celebration and meditation—balancing block-party energy with emotional honesty. There’s a persistent theme of childhood joys, the foundational role of family, and the need to adapt in a fast-changing industry while remaining true to one’s artistic self.

For anyone new to Mýa or eager for the return of funk-infused, deeply felt R&B, Retrospect promises both a throwback and a fresh perspective.

Transcript

[Maya]

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[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Now a listening party with an artist Billboard named one of the top female artists of the 21st century. Since her 1998 debut, singer songwriter Maya has delivered era defining hits like It's All About Me and Case of the X. Now she returns with her 10th studio album, Retrospect. It's her first release in eight years and it features collaborations with hip hop heavyweights like 21 Savage, Snoop Dogg, and Too Short. The release comes on the heels of the 25th anniversary of her platinum album Fear of Flying. It's ahead of her tour. Retrospect is out next Friday, May 15, but first with a preview. Maya joins us in studio. It is nice to meet you.

[Maya]

Very nice to meet you. Thank you for having me.

[Alison Stewart]

You said this project started in 2016 at the time. What were you thinking about in 2016?

[Maya]

You know, it was no intention. When I heard the very first track by accident, or maybe not. You know, I was actually wrapping up my 2018 album TKO in the studio and through the walls, which is very similar to how Case of the X happened. I heard a track being played, no actual top line on the song, and I walked across the hallway to ask, who is that for? Well, it's mine now, right? When they cleared the room and said, hey, this belongs to no one. So I immediately asked for a bounce of it, went into the studio, stayed there for over 24 hours, engineered it, wrote it myself, arranged it and recorded it. And was last year's single, give it to you from this album. And that's the very first record I created in 2016, in between album releases, in between tours. It wasn't until the pandemic that I decided from my own personal experience that I wanted to continue this lane because it brought me so much joy. And what I was literally doing to get by through each day is retreat back to my living room when I was a kid and all of the music that filled the home and wanting to bring that to the world.

[Alison Stewart]

How did you decide on the title of the album?

[Maya]

Well, my choreographer, creative director Derek Brown and I, we have a lot of moments that we call Kikis, right. We get together in my studio and we just brainstorm on all of these wonderful ideas from music videos, et cetera. And he lives with my music because we literally write treatments for almost every song. Sometimes it's a full film, you know.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

Yeah.

[Maya]

And he actually came up with the title because in actuality, it is looking back to a very special time that influenced me to sign up to do music as a career, but also one of my very first loves that I was exposed to, I. E. My mother and my father with their vinyl collections. My dad is a musician, songwriter and performer as a vocalist. My mom was my first dance teacher. And Retrospect is literally taking all of your influences and the long library of pioneers of this specific sound, which I call Funk, that filled my living room, and bringing it to this project. But it's also an introspective project as well. On some of the deeper records, like Face To Face, Just Call My Name or asap, so you get a little retro and intro.

[Alison Stewart]

It's interesting. What were you listening to as a child that brings you to this sound? Because I can remember sitting in my living room and listening to the chef theme. Yeah, Big in our house. I had a whole dance that went with it.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

We had everything.

[Maya]

But specifically speaking about funk, you know, there were the big bands of that time, the funk bands, Cameo, Cool and the Gang. There was Shalimar, there was o', Brien, you know, Peaches and Herb, Tina Marie, Rick James, Prince, Vanity 6. I mean, the party was going on. I have pictures of in my mom's Go Go boots with an Afro, just in my own world. And that is what I retreated to in the Pandemic. I created all the playlists of my favorites, and it instantly brought me joy.

[Alison Stewart]

We're talking about the forthcoming album, Retrospect. My guest is Maya. Let's listen to the first track. This is Give it to youo. It features DJ and producer Dee Nice. He's been a fixture in New York. When did you realize he was someone that you wanted to work with?

[Maya]

Well, I knew that Give it to youo was going to be the first record of my album to introduce it. I was always kind of stuck on what I wanted to say because I knew it needed an intro. And there's a long intro of that song. And then I started kicking around DJ names, and, you know, he was definitely one of them. But my manager, Londell McMillan, he mentioned D. Nice's name because he's big in the culture. He's also a part of that time during the Pandemic that got us all through for real. And, of course, I hit him up in the DMs. Hey, we've done several events together before. Oh, really? And he's like, yeah, I would love to. Now. The challenge was being in the same state or city to make it happen. And it just so happened one random day. Hey, are you in la? Yeah, I'm in la. What type of time do you have today? And we made it happen within a small window of two hours that he had.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's listen to give it to you.

[DJ D Nice]

Yeah, it's your boy D. Nice. And welcome to Retrospect Live as we take you on a trip through one of our favorite times. 1985. And we're digging in the crates, bringing you that funk, that soul, that feel good music. Oh, it's going down. So whether you're in the living room getting ready for that block party or lacing up those skates, you are certainly in the right place for all the goodbyes.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

Let's respect life.

[DJ D Nice]

Let's do it.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

You know that I'm a classy lady but I just gotta keep it real I wanna give to you, you walk by I get we lay it and I think that you should know the day Whoa Ain't really my flow but I just want to know what it's about Usually don't do this but I can't help it Feeling some overflow you get just what I want Everything you are no, I can't help it. You got it twice I want to give you all my love.

[Alison Stewart]

You're looking to Grammy Awards singer Maya. She's here to talk to me at her forthcoming album Retrospect. You saw I was dancing. How important is the track? The orders of the track on the album?

[Maya]

Yeah, well, the orders of the track. Well, I would say track listing is very important for me to establish what it is and where it is. I want to take you. My mom is a roller skater. I wanted to feel like Central park outside Four Wheels. That is okay. And that was also my childhood. So that people could feel themselves, whether it be in their living room or getting ready for a party or being outside or getting ready for those summer festivities. That's what I wanted it to feel like before we get to the deeper records and bring the party to them, you know, that's the pace of the first half of the album.

[Alison Stewart]

How does the songwriting process work for you, especially when you're working with so many different kind of collaborators?

[Maya]

It's very different all of the time. There's not one process now give it to you. Like I explained happened just me In a booth by myself. Absolutely no one there slept overnight there because instantaneously, I was moved by the music and wrote everything myself. Now, the second track, masterpiece. We brought in a co writer, and he was also influenced by Prince. And we just spoke about an era. Sometimes we come dressed as the character that we want to evoke.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, tell me about.

[Maya]

Wait, you know. Yeah, I need to know about the whole costume, the whole vanity 6. I remember it was all black, and my. Even my hair was wild to one side. And it was like I was the leader of the lead singer of Vanity 6, that era. And that's how we come up with the track. Sometimes we have to be the vibe if we want to bring the vibe, and that's how the music is created. So my production partner, my guy Mars, and I, we've been working since 2015. He was born in 84. I was born in the 70s. Late 70s, that is. But we grew up in the same household almost. You know, our parents are both in music. And so sometimes he'll start with a track, or sometimes we'll just start with an idea. Let's take it to Minneapolis. What's the Minneapolis sound? Jammin Lewis, Prince, the Time, all these things. And what are the girl groups of that time now? There's also the Rick James side. There's the Mary Jane Girls, there's Tina Marie. And then we are playlisting. So he said, put together a playlist. And I did. And we vibed to it for about a week and a half. Just lived in that playlist. And we had so many different references that we knew already from our childhood. And I said, these are the sounds, these are the elements. These are some of the topics that I would love to cover. But this is the essence of the body of work. And we can, you know, kind of pull ideas, but it is also a frequency. It's joyful. The ballads make you feel something. Yeah, it's an emotion or a feeling. And everything is a little different, you know, a little bit from track to track.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk about Good to you.

[Maya]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

How did you arrive at this track Good to you?

[Maya]

So that one was different. I wrote the bridge on that record, but most of the record was actually already done. And I heard it when he was going through a couple of songs because the bulk of the album was actually already done. I said, we're missing something. You know, I want something a little rufous Shaka. Mm. You know, so he says, I actually have something, but it was incomplete. And so I finished it by adding A bridge to it. Feels like Bruno Mars should be on it. But that was the process of Give it to youo. I didn't start that track from scratch, but everything else we did, that was the only one that was sort of presented to me on this project.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, let's listen. This is good to you baby, you

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

get every bit of my love? Cause it feels right and gotta say work baby I know Already turned me on, got a real vibe so baby just sit back and relax and let mama know exactly what you want probably real nice and you just might get what you asked for? You've been gone a while, been a long time how about we turn it to a long way night? I'm going to be on my way don't want to rush but I don't want to wait Just let me know At a time and a place it's been too long can't wait to see your face so let me show you how we missing your garden, baby Now I know to sound good to you I know oh yeah, yeah I'mma show you I've been missing your.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is singer songwriter Maya, here to talk about her new album, retrospect. I swear every song on this record is an earworm. It, like, gets in your head and you find yourself singing it when you're getting coffee, when you're getting a glass of water. What's the song that sticks in your head on this record? The one that you just are like. You just find yourself singing when you're doing your laundry, when you're doing taking care of the dishwasher.

[Maya]

That is really, really fun to hear. First of all, that means that you've lived with this project. A little bit infectious is what I definitely wanted in the approach with songwriting to keep those, you know, nostalgic, but also very catchy hooks. One that stands out is actually the current single. I've always felt that Just A Little Bit was really, really a throwback. It sounds familiar, but I can't put my finger on it. And it's a very memorable chorus with just a little bit repetitive throughout. So I love the vibe. I also love the balance of an OG on that record. Too short. Yeah. Very unexpected. Right. But I love the ballads. And this is the first time he said he was rocking a suit in the music video, which just dropped today.

[Alison Stewart]

I watched the video.

[Maya]

Yeah. So that was a surprise for me.

[Alison Stewart]

We were kind of hoping you would

[Maya]

say that because we have that ready to go.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's listen to just a little bit.

[Maya]

Yeah.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

All I ask is you don't go wasting my time. Got to put in that work. You probably think it's easy. Easy. Well, you can learn a lot about me. I hear you. It's a lot of time. I really know what I'm going to see. O baby come and driving crazy get right oh yeah Just a little bit we can get this started off right Just a little bit Break me off you know what I like Just a little bit Come see about me Come see about me Just a little baby 9:00 clock tonight get your foul fell

[Alison Stewart]

I call that one. You roll your windows down the car It's a nice day Just wanna you crank it up.

[Maya]

Yeah, that one feels like a ride song and a skating song.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah, either one. You know, last year was the 25th anniversary of your platinum album, Fear of Flying, which really helped establish your career as an artist. What did you learn from that experience that you still use. You still use today?

[Maya]

Wow. The making of that project, you say?

[Alison Stewart]

Or just in general, something from that era.

[Maya]

Honesty.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah.

[Maya]

Yeah. Just being very, very honest and as yourself as you're growing was probably the most intimidating thing during that time. From teen to 20s young womanhood, while you're still figuring it out and allowing yourself to make mistakes and being honest through that, through your expression. And that's what every song on that album embodied. Where I was at that moment in time. And then also knowing that there's room for growth always. So I take that experience with, you know, being very uncomfortable with self on the very first album as a teen, stepping out into the world with the dynamic of people knowing you, which is very odd in learning myself as others are watching. So I think the valuable lesson is to be honest with yourself while you're creating for self within a system.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah.

[Maya]

And being. Being patient during that time to allow yourself to make mistakes and be imperfect. Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

What was something you would tell that girl that she did right at that time?

[Maya]

Faith. Faith. To push through in uncertainty and new territory is always everything. Once you lose faith, you lose hope and then action follows. So that is a foundational aspect that I abide by in everyday life from that point, but also now that carries me through any and everything.

[Alison Stewart]

We're talking to Maya. Her new album is coming out next Friday, May 15th. It's called Retrospect. Let's listen to another song. This is ASAP. ASAP, featuring rapper 21 Savage. Tell us a little bit about the song before we hear it.

[Maya]

Yes. ASAP is a very vulnerable record. We know what that means as soon as possible. So I'm Calling urgency to a conversation that is much needed. There's obviously been some avoidance, but it's also a conversation with self. You know, the conversations that we sometimes have in our minds before we act upon them and bring them to surface to address whatever needs to be addressed. You know, and in this particular situation, there are things that clearly show in lyricism that something is really wrong. So far apart in the same room Eyes don't lie Body language, all those things. Reading the energy. Reading and feeling the energy or the signs that can be the first warning that a conversation must be had. I'm feeling different, you're feeling different. We can't lie about this anymore. So once again, honesty, as uncomfortable as that is and how scary that can be to proceed in moving forward to hear something that you might not be ready to hear. There's fear. So ASAP is very vulnerable. But it's also one of those era pieces, because I grew up watching roller skaters in the roller skating rink. And there was a segment that they'd have during every skating session, they'd call couples to the floor. It was called Couple Skate. They dim the lights. Maybe it's an east coast thing, but all these beautiful colors. And I saw the synergy between two people, and they were only adults, and. And that inspired me to create a record like that. But where we're really seeing and bringing to the forefront real life things, you know, not everything is peachy keen in love, and it can be tricky. So once again, the first sign of moving forward, whether it's left or right, is communication and honesty. Let's listen to ASAP for Maya.

[Background Vocalist or Chorus]

We gotta have this conversation. The only problem is communicating. If we don't do this, then we might not make it. See, I want us to grow Ain't trying to be complacent so far apart in the same room Eyes don't lie I know you feel I can see it's been on your mind Things are just not the same I can be the changes I swear we got to talk and we got a safety A and safety we both messed up now we're way off track as Saf.

[Alison Stewart]

Mai, you've written so many shifts in the music industry. What changes have empowered you as an artist? And which ones have been the most difficult to navigate?

[Maya]

Hmm. That's a really great question. The changes that have empowered me. I'll start. There is obviously social media. I came out during a time of cassette tapes.

[Alison Stewart]

Remember those?

[Maya]

Remember those? In stores, record stores. Physical copies of everything, CDs. And now we're in A streaming digital world. But there's also social media which did not exist at all. And it's been a beautiful thing for me to witness but also connect with to promote my projects or self made tours or self assembled tours or anything. Connecting with fans in another way or supporters is what I call them. To find out what it is that they want, where they are in life, to create something around that, to test records first prior to investing and reading the room. And that's been very helpful for me as I craft my independent projects as a lot of us kind of what I say, grew up together in my live performances and knowing your demographic, that's been very helpful. The cons, I would just say the rapid pace of the world and society because of the technological age that we live in. There's always a new platform, there's always a new piece of technology. I can't even keep up with the next phone that's coming up. You know, my niece has to teach me. She's 17 and these kids are putting us to shame, like they know a lot more about tech than I do. And so I feel a little deprived and behind or uneducated when it comes to technology. And they are doing it so well. So one of the things that I've realized that I'm not good at is just letting things be really raw and real and authentic with no thought in posting it. That's so difficult for me because I come from an age where everything had to be perfect and refined and we're in editing sessions for weeks and months before we release it to the universe versus oh, I'm this angle is horrible. But I'm gonna post it anyways because

[Alison Stewart]

you're gonna post it anyways. Just the way it goes.

[Maya]

I'm not good at that.

[Alison Stewart]

The new album, which is expected on May 15, is retrospect. It has been my pleasure to speak with Grammy winning singer and songwriter Maya. Maya, thank you for coming to the studio.

[Maya]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Alison Stewart]

There's more, all of it on the way after the news.

[Maya]

Hi, I'm Maggie Smith, poet and host of the Slowdown. Each weekday I share a poem and a moment of refle, helping you turn listening into a daily ritual. It's five minutes to slow down, pay attention and begin the day with intention. Find it in your favorite podcast app and make the Slowdown your new daily poetry practice.