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Maya
This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.
Bowen Yang
This is Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Research with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy.
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I personally love the peaches and cream,
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Bowen Yang
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Kohler Ambassador
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Danielle Fishel
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Ryan Seacrest
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Danielle Fishel
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Maya
Don't use if allergic to Skyrizi. Serious allergic reactions, increased infections or lower ability to fight them may occur before treatment. Get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor about any flu like symptoms or vaccines.
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Interviewer/Host
Give me money for cigarettes.
Maya
I'll never need your bed
Interviewer/Host
I stay
Maya
the night and one night be came two or three.
Danielle Fishel
Welcome back to Teen Beat. I am your host, Danielle Fishel, your guide for a weekly journey into awkward teenage years and embarrassing childhood stories that have somehow teamed up to create a powerhouse influence on who we are today. Every week I sit down with interesting people who've done interesting things in hopes of connecting in this commonality, knowing that the stories of our past have shaped our blueprints of today. And since I shared my youth with millions of TV viewers living in public from 12 to 19 years old, it's time to turn the tables. I see it like this. I gave you my childhood. It's time we hear yours. And guys, if I had my druthers, this podcast would be about one thing and one thing only. Something I'm already always talking about. No, not Boy Meets World, not the finicky nature of the Sneakers app, not even my local Topanga Mall. It would be about late 90s, early 2000s R&B. I could argue and convince just about anyone willing to listen that this was peak time for the genre, especially when it comes to strong, talented women who are still thriving in the industry. Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah, Brandi, Missy, Destiny's Child, swv, Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Monica, tlc, xscape, En Vogue, Faith Evans, Idina, Howard, Khalees. The list goes on and on. And my guest this week is a pivotal member of this sorority. She's a triple threat who as a child began her career in dance as a child prodigy of sorts, focusing on ballet, jazz and tap dance, a style in which she'd studied under and later with Crispin Glover. But it was her voice that landed her an Interscope record deal in the mid to late 90s, resulting in her double platinum self titled debut featuring collaborations with Babyface, Diane Warren, Drew Hill, Silk, the Shocker, and Missy Elliott. And her song on the Bullworth soundtrack, ghetto Superstar, featuring Proz and the late Old Dirty Bastard, earned her a Grammy nomination in the best rap performance by a duo or group category. But come on, it was her second album. Also platinum 1999's Fear of Flying and the single Case of the X that real heads know is the Jam. Come on that song. And soon after, she'd be forever immortalized as part of the Grammy winning Moulin Rouge posse. Cut Lady Marmalade with Christina Aguilera, Lil Kim, Pink, and Missy, a track that my kids kids kids will still be blasting. And don't even get me started on how good she made a Rugrat song. And she's nowhere near done. Her tenth studio album, Retrospect, was just independently released, marking a new journey for the singer. And it features Snoop Dogg, too short and 21 savage, just to name a few of the guests. But the real standout is her now creating on her own terms as a veteran in the game with a sound influenced by 70s and 80s soul mixed with modern day hip hop roots. I am honored to welcome my former 21 hottest stars under 21 partner in a 1999 issue of Teen People. Maya. Hey there.
Interviewer/Host
Hi.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Good to see you.
Danielle Fishel
Good to see you. It's only been four years. We're 25 now, right? Yeah, we're about there.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Exactly.
Danielle Fishel
So good to see you. This really does feel like a reunion of a Teen People shoot. My goodness, I remember seeing that picture the for the first time and thinking, was that, was that the best picture of me they could find? I look very much like a deer in headlights.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
I'm like, you were not the only one because I was thinking the exact same thing.
Danielle Fishel
You didn't like it of you either?
Maya
No, I didn't.
Danielle Fishel
I thought, I think we're cuter than this but, you know, listen, I'm just happy to have had the honor of standing next to you and what.
Interviewer/Host
What?
Danielle Fishel
We had a lot of those, you know, so much fun. We have so much to talk about, but there's really only one place I want to start, and that's with Take Me There, a song for the Rugrats movie that has no right being as good as it is. Can you tell me how that song came together?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
You know, some things you just have no clue about. You just show up and go.
Maya
But I was in the studio with Teddy Riley creating that song, actually recording that song, because it was actually written already when I walked in specifically for the soundtrack. We did cut it here in la.
Danielle Fishel
Really?
Maya
Yes. But I was not in the studio with Black street or Mace.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Maya
And I did, however, get to work with the iconic producer himself, Teddy riley.
Danielle Fishel
Riley.
Maya
In 1998, which was the very first year I hit the scene. So.
Interviewer/Host
Yeah. So you're like, oh, this is a
Danielle Fishel
great way to enter what is going to be the entire rest of your career.
Maya
Well, you're not thinking that way. You're just kind of, like, going through
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
the motions and learning as you go in new territory.
CarMax Spokesperson
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Maya
But it was awesome. I learned that night that he was also a Libra. Oh, I'm a Libra as well.
Danielle Fishel
Okay. And you guys connected over that.
Maya
He works very similar to myself.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Maya
It's very quiet until it's showtime, and
Danielle Fishel
then it's time to go. That's actually one of the things I want to talk to you about, but I want specifically for this song, when you first hear it and they're spelling out Rugrats, are you like, what the is this? Or do you right away love it?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
So I have a baby brother. We're 12 years apart. I already knew what Rugrats was.
Interviewer/Host
Okay.
Okay.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
And that's actually when he became my fan because, yeah, he's like, I get it.
Interviewer/Host
Now you're doing Rugrats music.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yes, I get it. Yeah. He didn't really care about his sister before then, but I always loved Angelica the character, so I was so ecstatic to be a part of the soundtrack.
Interviewer/Host
So cool.
Danielle Fishel
And the music video, I feel like an entire generation is connected to the song and the visuals. I'm sorry. I could literally make a whole podcast just about Take me there. Do you have any memories from the video shoot?
Maya
I do. So Jamie King, the iconic choreographer, he's worked with Madonna, Janet Jackson, and so on. He puts tours together. I remember he choreographed this video.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Okay.
Maya
And I learned the choreography the night before, coming in from somewhere in Europe. And the next day we were on set.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
It was just so fake fast.
Danielle Fishel
I'm gonna need you to teach me that xylophone part.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
That was actually a freestyle.
Maya
Was it? Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
That's my favorite part.
Interviewer/Host
So congratulations to you. No offense, Jamie King, but your little xylophone number is something special.
Maya
Do you remember the movie Big?
Parent or Family Member
Yes.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
That was your mom. That was what was in your head.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yeah.
Interviewer/Host
Your big moment.
Maya
I love it.
Danielle Fishel
I mean, Teddy Riley, as you mentioned, he is a legendary producer, one of the many that you've work. While I was researching, I was just counting up the superstars you have collaborated with. Check out this list. It might be the best list out there. Swizz Beats, Babyface, Missy, Wyclef, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Timbaland, Rockwilder, Tricky Stewart, Rodney Jerkins and Scott Storch. And that's truly just a tease of your entire roster. So I'm gonna put you on the spot a little bit here. Who blew you away the most from a producer standpoint?
Maya
Oh, my goodness. Well, Tricky Stewart, he is an instrumentalist. He knows how to play instruments, and I've watched him on the keys. But it's also a tie between Wyclef because he's a guitarist.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Maya
And I see it happen in real time. I get to watch them actually create from nothing, which is magic. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Seeing there be nothing, truly nothing. And then someone go, I have an idea. And then to be able to with their body, bring it into, like, fruition. It's magical.
Maya
Yeah. And Wyclef is also a performer, so he has all of that experience on stage.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
And he's so spontaneous. He's also a comedian.
Interviewer/Host
Right. Okay.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
He brings it to his creation of music. And just being in the studio is electric.
Interviewer/Host
Right. I bet.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Lots of good stories, backstories.
Danielle Fishel
Is there a producer out there that you haven't worked with yet that you're still dying to work with?
Maya
Well, he's not with us anymore, but I'd always wanted to work with Quincy Jones. And still, even though I have a song on my very first album that Babyface produced, I didn't actually get to meet him. Oh, okay. During that process. So I would really like to work with Baby Face. Okay.
Danielle Fishel
Let's manifest that for you. Yes, I love that.
Bowen Yang
This is Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Research with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy.
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Bowen Yang
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So they're a healthy choice you'll actually want to make.
Bowen Yang
It's not just for fitness, it's for getting after life.
Premier Protein Spokesperson
The 30 grams of protein gives you the fuel you need. It's not just for intense gym sessions, it's just with the wide variety of flavors from cafe latte to cake batter,
Bowen Yang
it never feels boring.
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It's a flavor for everyone.
Bowen Yang
I personally love the peaches and cream,
Premier Protein Spokesperson
but maybe you're a root beer floater
Bowen Yang
cinnamon roll kind of person.
Premier Protein Spokesperson
Premier Protein empowers me to say yes to more Find your favorite flavor@premierprotein.com that's P R E M I E R protein.com or at Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers.
Danielle Fishel
Hi, it's Danielle Fishel, podcaster, actor and treat connoisseur. As someone who takes snacks seriously, a good frozen treat has to be delicious, fun, and something I feel great about sharing with my four and six year olds. That's why I love Johnny Pops. Simple ingredients, no artificial dyes and flavors for the whole family. From organic rainbow to chocolate dipped strawberry to organic unicorn twist. And every stick has a kind deed on it, encouraging all of us to spread the love. So next time you're in the freezer aisle, grab a box of Johnny Pops. Thank me later. Johnny Pops. A better Pop for a Better world
Kal Penn
hey everyone, it's Kal Penn. I'm the host of Irsay The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Ray Porter, the narrator of Andy Weir's audiobook project, Hail Mary Massive Sci fi adventure about survival and science and what happens when you wake up alone, very far from Earth.
Ray Porter
I really had to make a decision because I caught myself getting that frog in my throat and starting to get teary as I'm narrating some of these sections and it's like, okay, yo yo yo, is this indulgent? And I really thought about it. I was like, no. At this point it would kind of be betraying the trust the author and the listener have in telling this story if I don't go through it. There's places in this book that that deeply, emotionally affected me and I left it on the mic. That's great because it served the story. People will say like, oh my God, I cried at the end. It's like, yeah dude, me too.
Kal Penn
Listen to Hearsay the Audible and iHeart audiobook club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts Are you
Interviewer/Host
really buying a car online on Autotrader right now?
Parent or Family Member
Really? I can get super specific with dealer listings and see cars based on my Bud.
Interviewer/Host
You can really have it delivered or pick it up. I think kid is walking up the slide.
Danielle Fishel
Really?
Parent or Family Member
Auto trader. Buy your car online. Really?
Ryan Seacrest
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Danielle Fishel
Let's talk a little bit about Maya in dc. Your dad was in a band, Jump Street. So were you always surrounded by music?
Maya
Always. Since I was born. I had a baby picture.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
She can share it with the publicist.
Maya
I was obviously in Pampers and my mom is teaching me how to play piano. Her dad orchestrated for orchestras. He wrote all of the sheet music for every instrument in an orchestra by hand. Composer, classic pianist. But yeah, there were always instruments in our house. My dad is a singer, the leader of his band always, since he was
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
about 16, 17 and it was an electric living room, you know, and so much rich music.
Danielle Fishel
You started dancing at a very young age, but you also played violin and obviously you sing. It was like you were a musical. Bo Jackson, how did you choose which avenue you wanted to pursue?
Maya
It was actually Broadway for me.
Interviewer/Host
Yes.
Maya
I was going to college after high
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
school, University of Maryland, College Park. The goal was eventually to go to Juilliard at some point in New York
Maya
and pursue Broadway because I love to do so many things. But the record deal happened in the midst of my first year of college and I'd been recording demos, taking the train back and forth to Philadelphia from D.C. d.C. Yeah, two hours and had to make a choice because there was investment being put up and there was a label that was interested. I said, well, this is a shot that I might not get again, so let's go for it. College is always there, correct?
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, seize it. Seize that chance. Like I said, we did a photo shoot together in the late 90s and you are a very sweet, relatively soft spoken person, but musically you have always commanded such a presence on stage. You are anything but shy there. Is that how you've always been? Is that your Libra. Libra personality.
Maya
Yes. So my parents are polar opposite.
Interviewer/Host
Okay.
Maya
But they're both Libras. And I'm the even balanced 1010 Libra
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
who was born October 10th.
Interviewer/Host
Okay.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
The perfect amount of my dad.
Interviewer/Host
Okay.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
To survive this business is in me.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Maya
The perfect amount of my mom to survive this business and be super creative. Okay. My dad is the performer. She's the artist, but she's also the accountant. She's sewn my costumes. She's so great with organization. My dad, not so much.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Right, right, right.
Maya
But he's the creator and understands spending and investment and, you know, aesthetics. Yeah.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Wow.
Danielle Fishel
You really had a perfect.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
All of these things.
Danielle Fishel
All perfect mix of both of your parents. And you're right. You need both sides to make it.
Maya
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
In this industry.
Maya
Yes.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
So what was the question?
Danielle Fishel
It was, what were you like as a kid? Were you.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Well, it depends on the environment because
Maya
I grew up with brothers. My dad raised me a little rough around the edges. I was a bit of a tomboy. We played tag football, tackle football, grass stains on the knees. I was very athletic.
Interviewer/Host
Yeah.
Maya
Just kind of whatever, huh?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yeah, yeah.
Danielle Fishel
You were just thrown into dirt. Yeah.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Whatever it was.
Maya
I was very active. Then there were the activities that I was placed in, thankfully, summer camps and all the things majorettes. But I was very quiet. I was an observer. Still am. Until it was time.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Maya
Not to be.
Interviewer/Host
And then.
Maya
But I was loud when I was a kid. As far as playtime. Okay. Is concerned, I was tomboy.
Interviewer/Host
Okay.
Danielle Fishel
I love that you were a high school senior at only 16 years old. And it wasn't that long after that that you would be on trl. So what was high school like for you?
Pedigree Spokesperson
Yeah.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
I was the quiet girl until about
Maya
my junior or senior year.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Okay.
Maya
I became the captain of the dance team.
Danielle Fishel
Yes.
Maya
Along with another girl named Nessa.
Interviewer/Host
Okay.
Maya
And, you know, we were leaders. But I also had my very first job in high school at 14. Okay. As a dance teacher. Yeah. Outside of school. So I was very disciplined, very focused and driven. Did a lot of shopping.
Interviewer/Host
Oh.
Maya
And so my identity, you know, came about. I got my nose pierced illegally with a fake ID. Oh, my 16.
Danielle Fishel
Where'd you get the fake ID?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
At the mall.
Maya
At the mall. One of those kiosks I love.
Danielle Fishel
The mall had a kiosk for fake IDs.
Maya
Well, for nose piercings.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, for nose piercings.
Maya
I don't know who. Yes, I do know who gave me the hookup.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
One of my male friends in high school.
Maya
He said, I can get you A
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
fake id, but, yeah, I got it.
Maya
I showed my id, you know.
Danielle Fishel
What did your parents think about the nose piercing?
Maya
Well, they thought it was fake because I'm a wimp when it comes to needles.
Danielle Fishel
So they were like, there's no way she would do that. And did you just let that go? Oh, yeah, it's fake.
Maya
Like, no, I said, no, it's real. They were disappointed at first. They said, why would you do that to your face? Your career. I said, it'll be fine, you know,
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
and look at you now.
Interviewer/Host
It's like such an iconic part of who you are.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
I guess I was a little rebellious back then. Just trying to find my own.
Ryan Seacrest
Yes.
Maya
Identity.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Listen, individuality is.
Danielle Fishel
I got my belly button pierced at 15 and it was. I'd still have it today if it were up to me, but I've had it beaten out of me by.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
I've always wanted one.
Interviewer/Host
Really?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, it's so funny. What's stopping you now?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
It's never too late.
Interviewer/Host
Never too late. Yeah, never too late.
Danielle Fishel
On weekends, you were studying with Crispin Glover with your own solo in a Kennedy center performance. And you were on BET's Teen Summit. Were you in any way still able to live a normal teenager's life? I know you got your nose pierced at the mall and taught dance classes, but once it really started happening for you and you were performing for crowds, were you able to feel like you had a normal teenage life?
Maya
Yeah, I think so.
Interviewer/Host
Yeah. Yeah.
Maya
I was a country girl. I rode dirt bikes and go karts and all of the things.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
So we definitely had a great life
Maya
as kids and teenagers. It was busy, but I loved it because it was a bit of independency as well as seeing a chick name
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
on it, you know, every few weeks.
Maya
It was great.
Danielle Fishel
What was the first thing you splurged on and treated yourself to?
Maya
It was always clothes and shoes. I would always be at the mall, you know, and it was literally an investment for my performances because I was tap dancing solo and becoming this the girl that I wanted to be. Right at that time, it was around 15 or 16, so it still had something to do with business.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. Back then, I think we also got to use it as a write off. You could buy clothes and be like, I need this for performance. Now that they don't even let you write it off anymore.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Well, that was before the record deal. Oh, okay. We didn't have the business established then. This was just me in high school, you know, with my first job, just
Danielle Fishel
thinking, this is business.
Maya
Business and the reasoning behind that is because, you know, we always had hand me down clothes, or my mom would go to the thrift store and repurpose things. She would upcycle, or she would actually make our clothes, and we hated them because they weren't like the name brand
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
clothes that all the cool kids were wearing. And we got teased for everything.
Maya
But when I found that independence, I got to choose what I was going to wear. But I was also an artist, just like herself, sketching designs and all of these things and bringing those things to life. She.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
She sewed my prom dress that I designed.
Danielle Fishel
Really?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yeah. So those are the first things that
Maya
I would spend with my own money.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Maya
Now, when the advance came for the record deal, I invested in equipment because I've always wanted to record harmonies. I was always fascinated with layering. Okay. My voice and different notes, and I
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
would flip karaoke tapes and cassettes over
Maya
and over and again, and the quality was just awful. So that's the first thing that I did.
Danielle Fishel
Equipment. Investing in yourself again. Everything you're saying. I keep hearing that perfect mix of your dad and your mom. You know, you're like, this is an expense, but it's an investment in myself as well, and it'll allow me to create.
Maya
Yeah. So fun. It wasn't even investment to me. I just wanted to do it.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, yeah. Like a toy.
Maya
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
But for fun. And. And your career. So bet 106 and park and TRL were both so pivotal in your career. I don't mean to sound like an old lady here, but I don't think people realize how great of a time that was to be a part of. Maya could be doing the first segment, and then Korn was premiering a video immediately after. Did you like doing those shows?
Maya
Absolutely. There was a live audience, and there's nothing like that. You know, give and receive. The exchange, the energy. Seeing Times Square outside of the windows and the fans and the supporters. It's electric when you're just a spectator watching at home on the tube, but when you're there, it's a whole other world. It's awesome.
Danielle Fishel
Do you have any memorable stories from a trl?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yes, it went viral a couple of years ago. Odb.
Interviewer/Host
Okay.
Maya
Praz and I. I'm not sure if Wyclef was there. Okay, he may have been, but we were all on the couch being interviewed for the Ghetto superstar record.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yeah, ODB was a very honest guy.
Maya
And I think the question that was
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
asked was, what would you like your legacy to be?
Maya
Or how would you Give back to your community. What it is. What is it that you would like to give back?
Danielle Fishel
Uh huh.
Maya
He said nothing straight to the camera.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
I'm just saying what. Okay, well, maybe that's the honest answer here.
Interviewer/Host
Did you say anything?
Did you?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Like we just all burst out laughing. All of us. The host, the audience, everyone on that couch.
Interviewer/Host
Nothing.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
I mean, it wasn't even nicely said. Nothing. That's how he said. Said it. Not followed up by a laugh or anything.
Maya
Just not.
Interviewer/Host
Oh my gosh, I love it so much. I found a clip online of Carson Daly's birthday special where you.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Was that TRL or was a birthday special?
Interviewer/Host
I don't think it was trl.
Maya
Mtv, maybe?
Interviewer/Host
Yeah, it was mtv. Yes. And you are giving him a lap dance during the final credits. Nikki Hilton is there, Jessica Simpson is with Nick Lachey, and Sarah Silverman is on Jimmy Kimmel's lap. It is so wildly Y2K. Do you remember that taping at all?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
I remember clearly and I remember all the reactions and the faces. I don't know if they edited it to be that way, but I mean, the jaws dropped.
Interviewer/Host
Jaws were on the floor.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
That was the My love is like, whoa, yes.
Maya
Cocky era.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Just very overly sexy and cocky of a record that Missy Elliott wrote, by the way.
Maya
So of course it would be.
Interviewer/Host
Of course.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
But yeah, that was, I think, a shocking moment for myself, but so great. I said, this is not gonna happen again.
Maya
Cause I'm not gonna be able to
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
fit these shorts ever again. So why don't you enjoy it while you can?
Interviewer/Host
Do it while you can. I also stumbled upon a picture from
Danielle Fishel
the 2001 MTV Janet Jackson tribute, which. And the photo is you, Busta Rhymes, Pink Tyreese, Stevie Wonder, and Aaliyah, which is quite the lineup. But it also got me thinking about your interactions with Aaliyah, who would tragically die just a few months after that photo was taken. Did you get to know her at all? Did you have a relationship with her?
Maya
We'd done a couple of different shows together. We were just always crossing in workplaces. And we'd done a photo shoot in New York. There were individual photo shoots. I think they were called fanzines.
Interviewer/Host
Okay.
Maya
At the time, where you do several, you know, outlets at once in one place. Lots of hair magazines, et cetera. And, you know, we kicked it. But we never had, like, a very close relationship. It was more so a work associate out of respect, you know, very friendly at all times. Cordial. Yeah, yeah.
Danielle Fishel
So you signed to interscope records at 19 pretty quickly, right? Out of high school, what is it like going from Maryland to the very fast paced music business, recording that first album, especially because so much of your life had been focused on dance, not necessarily becoming a pop, R and B sensation. So what was that transition like from high school to Interscope?
Parent or Family Member
Deal?
Maya
Well, I was actually in the orchestra and choir. Gospel choir.
Danielle Fishel
Okay, so you. So singing was always.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yeah, singing was always there, but it
Maya
was more so done in, like, plays or a Broadway.
Danielle Fishel
Right, Like Broadway idea. Yeah.
Maya
Capacity. So, you know, the recording artist thing was unexpected.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
And of course, you know, I knew that I could execute it because of the entertainment value and entertainer was always the goal in mind. Some of the inspirations were Gregory Hines, who I'd seen live when I was about 10 years old on Broadway and got to train with him and dance with him. But Sammy Davis Jr singing, acting, dancing, just personalities and very nice, you know, very warm and welcoming spirits. So they were always in my living room, black and white films, et cetera. So I was always surrounded by music through my grandfather, my mom, my dad.
Interviewer/Host
Yeah.
Maya
And I was always doing something in choir or national anthems and talent shows. But the goal was never recording artists.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
Until my late later teens. Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
And so were your parents involved in your career still at that time? Like when you signed to Interscope, are your parents actively involved in it?
Maya
Yes.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
So it's really wild.
Maya
As I was in high school, going into college, I'd recorded demos, you know, in Philly. But prior to that, I recorded my very own first song, original of my own, and I was 15 years old. They invested in me to do that. That was actually shopped to the independent label that was in Washington, dc.
Ray Porter
Okay.
Maya
Who discovered me. And my parents were my managers at the time. My mom had experience running my dad's independent label called TMC Productions, where he'd recorded his own records for years, dressed up his own vinyl, took them to the radio station in our state. So they had all of the. The chops, you know, they knew what they were doing.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
Business in a very boutique way. But at the release of my very first single, they got divorced.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, oops. Wrench in the system.
Odoo Spokesperson
Yeah.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
So that didn't work out.
Maya
And, you know, I found myself being managed by those that I didn't know. They were strangers. And, you know, divorces can be taxing. And so neither one of them were kind of capable at the time to. To really be engulfed in the business of Maya.
Danielle Fishel
Yes. And. And it is all encompassing, especially at the beginning when you're getting started and it's meetings and phone calls and appointments and. Yeah, when you're going through a divorce, guess what? There's not a lot of time for thinking about all of that stuff.
Maya
But my mom has always remained my accountant and watched the books since, so.
Danielle Fishel
Great. My mom was that person for me, too. And she was meticulous about it.
Maya
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
She was always so worried that I'd ever have a reason to suspect that something had been mismanaged. And so she kept every pay stub. I mean, just meticulous records of everything in case I ever needed it. I never needed it.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
So important.
Danielle Fishel
But it is.
Interviewer/Host
We're lucky.
Maya
There are horror stories.
Danielle Fishel
True horror stories. Yes.
Maya
Very fortunate.
Interviewer/Host
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
You have somehow also been able to avoid being gossip fodder for nearly three decades. You've kept to yourself and you've honestly, you've lived a relatively private life. Let's say you were just starting out in 2026 and social media and content creation is so important. Do you think you could do it?
Maya
I think I could do it with the faith that I've been rooted in, in any timeline, any world. I think, of course, today would be a lot tougher, but I would, I would want a mentor for myself.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Maya
That has walked this business and walked the shoes of an entertainer. Experience the highs, the lows and devastations to guide me and hold my hand along the way. Because it's a different time that we're living in with oversaturation and sensory overload and mental health awareness, I'd say is at the forefront, which is great because we didn't have those discussions back then, but I think my parents exposed me to so much for a long time. It instilled so many values, which is why I am a huge advocate of the arts and sports or any programs for, for youth so that you can get through this thing called life, regardless of the time or the era. But yeah, I think mentors are very important.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, you're absolutely right.
Bowen Yang
This is Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Resource with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy.
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Bowen Yang
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Bowen Yang
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Danielle Fishel
Hello, it's Danielle Fishel and I am here to talk treats. I take em serious and as you know, they can make or break a day. Whether you're looking for something on a hot afternoon, an after dinner treat, or just a little moment to make the day feel special, Johnny Pop's is such an easy family favorite. Johnny Pop's frozen treats are deliciously made with simple ingredients and no artificial dyes, which means I love sharing them with my four and six year olds. And the flavor options run the gamut. Organic rainbow fruit stacks, chocolate fudge minis, chocolate dipped strawberry, organic cotton candy, unicorn twist and even some no sugar added options. And one of my favorite things about Johnny Pops is that not only are they delicious, they're full of joy. Every stick has a kind deed printed on it and that small moment can turn snack time into a little reminder that kindness is king. Johnny Pops are available in all your favorite stores. To find the store nearest you, visit J O N N Y p o p s.com Johnny Pops a better Pop for a Better World
Kal Penn
hey everyone, it's Cal Penn. I'm the host of Irsay the Audible and I Heart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Ray Porter, the narrator of Andy Weir's audiobook project, Hail Mary Massive sci fi adventure about survival and science and what happens when you wake up alone, very far from Earth.
Ray Porter
I really had to make a decision because I caught myself getting that frog in my throat and starting to get teary as I'm narrating some of these sections and it's like, okay, yo yo yo, is this indulgent? And I really thought about it. I was like, no. At this point it would kind of be betraying the trust the author and the listener have in telling this story if I don't go through it. But there's places in this book that deeply, emotionally affected me and I left it on the mic. That's great because it served the story. People will say like oh my God, I cried at the end. It's like yeah dude, me too.
Kal Penn
Listen to Irsay, the Audible And I heart audiobook book Club on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Interviewer/Host
Are you really buying a car online on autotrader right now?
Parent or Family Member
Really?
Interviewer/Host
At a playground?
Parent or Family Member
Yeah, really. Look at these listings from dealers.
Interviewer/Host
Wow, your search can really get that specific.
Parent or Family Member
Really?
Interviewer/Host
And you just put in your info and boom, car's in your budget.
Parent or Family Member
Mom needs a second. Honey.
Interviewer/Host
You can really have it delivered.
Parent or Family Member
Really? Or I can pick it up at the dealership. One second.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Bag, sweetie.
Parent or Family Member
Mommy's buying a car.
Danielle Fishel
Mommy, look.
Interviewer/Host
I think your kid is walking up the slide. Kyle.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Again?
Parent or Family Member
Really? Autotrader buyer, Car online. Really?
Interviewer/Host
Hey there.
Ryan Seacrest
It's Ryan Seacrest for Safeway for you. Save days are here now through June 25th. Find hot deals throughout the store and earn four times a point. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Kinder, Ghost, Energy, Cottonelle, Ben and Jerry's, and Popsicle. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings. When you shop in store or online for easy pickup or delivery, restrictions apply. See the website for full terms and conditions.
Danielle Fishel
Let's get into Lady Marmalade. This obviously is just Heavy Hitter Central, and you are all so talented. Do you remember the pitch for it and how did you find yourself on the song?
Maya
Yes. The managers that I had at the time, they were in touch with the record label Interscope, and they mentioned it without too many details. I was familiar with the song, of course, and of course the names. I just. I said, yes, of course. I'm a fan of everyone, and I didn't think twice about it. And there we were laying our backgrounds together in California one day, and then we cut our lead separately. But I was a fan of everyone, including the producers. Yeah. So it was a match made in
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
heaven, and it was a lot of fun.
Danielle Fishel
I'm noticing a little theme with you that's so important, which is that when an opportunity that sounds exciting to you comes about, you don't overthink it. You seize it immediately. You go, hey, there's a record label right out of high school. This is unexpected. Yes. And Lady Marmalade. Yes. And it's really paid off for you, the trusting your instincts and trusting your gut. Is that something that your parents have nurtured in you? Is that something. Is trusting your intuition something that's important to you?
Maya
Yes. My parents have everything to do with that. I'd say there was a lot of fear and intimidation or insecurity in my childhood. Uncertainty. Okay. But the arts definitely taught me. Teamwork, of course, taught me that you just go for it. Yeah. You might make a mistake, you might fall in your face eight times in
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
front of the world or whoever's watching.
Interviewer/Host
Right.
Maya
But there's a lesson to be learned. You actually get to be better the next time. And you're not alone.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Right.
Maya
You know, so go for it. Why regret? Why not? So I've seen the improvement, and I think I've had opportunities that prove time and time again that, you know, you might suck at something first, but if you have a little bit of resilience
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
and perseverance and can take the criticism along the way. Yeah. You might just get good at it
Maya
or be great one day. Just hanging there. Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
So you all laid some of your tracks together. You did the independent, the solos separately.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
But Lady Marvel, you're all in the same room.
Maya
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Did you. Did it just feel special immediately? I find it hard to believe that it didn't sound like a Grammy winner from just the very first get go.
Maya
Well, I wasn't even thinking Grammy. I was honestly thinking, oh, this is for a film. How cool. Soundtracks.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Oh, this video's gonna be amazing because movie money is a little bit different
Maya
than music money, and I'm so excited for that. So I wasn't really thinking Grammy because I didn't even know at the time that songs on soundtracks could get me nominated for Grammys, you know?
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
I was still new.
Interviewer/Host
Yeah.
Maya
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
So, yeah. That's so crazy that then being nominated for Grammy isn't even yet, which makes sense. You're thinking a movie. Movie, money, video, Grammys, like, the last thing on your mind. I had mentioned your class of R and B singers from the late 90s, early 2000s, and it is stacked in with talent. Who impressed you? Was there anyone that you were, like, a big fan of from your peer group?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Of course. I have to think about this.
Maya
From my peer group.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Oh, yeah.
Maya
Usher.
Odoo Spokesperson
Yeah.
Maya
I'd work with Usher for the Michael Jackson 30th anniversary tribute.
Interviewer/Host
Yep.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Maya
And he's just very focused. He's also a Libra.
Danielle Fishel
Libra.
Maya
Libra.
Danielle Fishel
Have such a special place in your life.
Maya
Yeah. My production partner for this new album is a Libra. Snoop is a Libra. Like, there are a lot of folks.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
21. Savage is a Libra.
Maya
Libras and I work so well together. Lots of creative energy. But yeah. Yes.
Danielle Fishel
Usher is a great one.
Maya
So Usher.
Interviewer/Host
Yeah.
Maya
I thought he was very focused, driven. He was so young when he stepped into this business. Probably about 14.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
Maybe even younger when he recorded his first album. And growing up in front of the world. Yeah. But of course, cardio dancing and singing are two different types of breath work, and he mastered that so young. And to see him in rehearsals, but also see him perform at Madison Square Garden with no fear, like, yay. Like, we're the same age.
Kal Penn
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
So I was highly impressed. Michael Jackson was in the room.
Bobcat Spokesperson
Really?
Maya
During our rehearsals. Whitney Houston was there. Oh, my gosh.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Timid. And yes, you're just having a ball. So I was so impressed with his free energy.
Danielle Fishel
So do you think when you perform. Because no one would ever think you're nervous watching you perform. Do you. Are you putting on a character in order to be able to do it? Are you nervous inside?
Maya
I think we all are a bit nervous because so many things can go wrong. And when it's in front of an arena crowd, something that's actually being taped or filmed or live, I get so nervous inside when something is airing live because there's no room for mistakes.
Interviewer/Host
Right.
Danielle Fishel
Gotta do it.
Maya
With millions watching Dancing with the Stars, was that every single week for me,
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
and I'm a dancer.
Danielle Fishel
I have absolutely no idea how you did not win Dancing with the Stars. Can we. Can we just for a moment talk about how you're the best dancer to have ever been on Dancing with the Stars? I'm saying it right now so you
Maya
can win in scores and points, which I did. But that doesn't matter. It's about, are you being voted for?
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Maya
Your fan base has to chime in if people think you're safe because you have high scores and, oh, you might technically be a good dancer. That's not what that show is about. It's about. Okay. Do the judges think so? Did you nail every component of technique and this hand and this finger placement
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
or whatever it is that they judge
Maya
timing and embodiment for that specific dance style, which I have no clue of, because you're literally learning a new style of dance every single week.
Danielle Fishel
Yep.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Not my forte or anyone's, for that
Maya
matter, but it's about all of those things, including the votes at the end of the day, which really counts.
Interviewer/Host
Are.
Danielle Fishel
Are the thing at the end of the day. That's the end. All be all. Did you have a favorite dance from Dancing with the Stars? Is there anything when you look back on your time, you think, I think that's my number one. I'm the most proud of that.
Maya
Yes. There was a very difficult dance on Dancing with the Stars that I'm most proud of because first by seeing it, I didn't think I could do it. It's so technical and it's actually so brutal because your partner and you are kicking each other most of the time until you're in team tango. Exactly. My legs were bl. Black, blue, purple from bruising. And I loved it. But when I saw the performance and like, I literally worked overtime to get it right because it was so difficult. So difficult. Looking back at it, I was so impressed.
Odoo Spokesperson
Yeah.
Interviewer/Host
You're like, I can't believe that's me.
Maya
And learning it in just one week and being lifted in the air.
Kohler Ambassador
Yes.
Maya
Yeah, it was a lot.
Danielle Fishel
Argentine tango was my favorite too. Absolutely loved it. Yes. Absolutely loved it. Same. Like, I remember watching videos of it and being like, I, I, I'm not gonna be able to do this. And the lifts and, and I also huge bruise on my hip from a couple of the, you know, lifts where you get swung around and you're just smacking your hip into each other. It's, it's, it's brutal. But it's my favorite one, my favorite performance. I did my everything about it. Loved it so much. So I.
Maya
There's so much strength in it too.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, absolutely.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yep.
Danielle Fishel
You come away from that experience real ripped.
Bowen Yang
This is Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Resource with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy.
Premier Protein Spokesperson
Taking care of yourself can feel impossible. That's why Premier protein shakes are my go to. They have 30 grams of protein, 160
Bowen Yang
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Premier Protein Spokesperson
So they're a healthy choice you'll actually want to make. It's not just for fitness.
Bowen Yang
It's for getting after life.
Premier Protein Spokesperson
30 grams of protein gives you the fuel you need. It's not just for intense gym sessions. It's just for life. With the wide variety of flavors from
Bowen Yang
cafe latte to cake batter, it never feels boring.
Premier Protein Spokesperson
There's a flavor for everyone.
Bowen Yang
I personally love the peaches and cream,
Premier Protein Spokesperson
but maybe you're a root beer floater,
Bowen Yang
cinnamon roll kind of person.
Premier Protein Spokesperson
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Danielle Fishel
Hey, it's Danielle Fishel and I love me some treats for real. It's my love language. All I'm looking for is something simple that tastes amazing. And that's why I love Johnny Pops. Simple ingredients, no artificial dyes. Absolutely delicious. Whether it's a quick snack for the kids or a sweet treat for yourself, which we all absolutely deserve, Johnny Pops are perfect. And there's a kind deed on every stick to encourage everyone to share a little kindness. So next time you're in the freezer aisle, grab a box of Johnny Pops and feel great about what you're sharing. Johnny Pops, a better Pop for a better world.
Kal Penn
Hey everyone, it's Kal Penn. I'm the host of Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Ray Porter, the narrator of Andy Weir's audiobook project, Hail Mary Massive sci fi adventure about survival and science and what happens when you wake up alone, very far from Earth.
Ray Porter
I really had to make a decision because I caught myself getting that frog in my throat and starting to get teary as I'm narrating some of these sections. And it's like, okay, yo, yo, yo, is this indulgent? And I really thought about it. I was like, no. At this point it would kind of be betraying the trust the author and the listener have in telling this story if I don't go through it. But there's places in this book that that deeply, emotionally affected me and I left it on the mic. That's great because it served the story. People will say like, oh my God, I cried at the end. It's like, yeah, dude, me too.
Kal Penn
Listen to Irsay, the Audible and iHeart audiobook club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Interviewer/Host
Are you really buying a car online on Autotrader right now?
Parent or Family Member
Really? I can get super specific with dealer listings and see cars based on my budget.
Interviewer/Host
You can really have it delivered or pick it up. I think kid is walking up the slide.
Danielle Fishel
Really?
Parent or Family Member
Auto trader Buy your car online. Really?
Ryan Seacrest
Hey there, it's Ryan Seacrest for Safeway for you. Save days are here now through June 25th. Find hot deals throughout the store and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Triscuit, Quaker, Reese's and Dot's Pretzels. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy pickup or delivery, restrictions apply. See the website for full terms and conditions.
Danielle Fishel
You Last year performed on some dates with Brandy and Monica and I have to think that was a blast. I can't believe I missed it. As someone who is also heavily associated with nostalgia Myself. Do you enjoy seeing these crowds who have grown up with you coming out to support you and sing along to every word with you?
CarMax Spokesperson
Yes.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
It's.
Maya
It's so special to be amongst your family.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yes, Literally.
Interviewer/Host
The peers. Our peers.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Your peers.
Maya
You know,
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
we speak the same language
Maya
and we've had lives that have been lived since we were teenagers. And the music that speaks to us, whether it would be core memories for some or where we are in our lives, because we're all still making music that resonates with our timeline now, and the world has changed so much, and we're still here holding each other down. So I loved it. I loved being a spectator, just listening to all the nostalgic songwriting compositions, the great music with bridges and modulations and wonderful lyrics. My dad and I sat front of house at one of the shows. I can't remember the city. I think it was actually Baltimore. Okay, okay. Which is, you know, close to where we're from. And he held my hand when Brandy started singing. Have you ever? I'm like, oh, the power of music. The power of music and lyrics. So that was so special for me and it being from my generation, you
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
know, because usually parents and grandparents kind of talk down on the generations under
Maya
them about the music that we're making, and it doesn't sound like real music anymore, you know, so for him to resonate with something from my age bracket was really great and an emotional song at that.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, that's a beautiful moment. I want to talk a little bit about Ghetto Superstar. It's an infamous rumor that ODB was on the song because he was going door to door at the recording studio trying to force his way into songs.
Maya
Is that true? I've never heard that story.
Danielle Fishel
Okay, so then I'm gonna check out. That is not true.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
I don't know.
Maya
I've never heard that before.
Interviewer/Host
Really?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
It could be because he was very spontaneous.
Odoo Spokesperson
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Interviewer/Host
All right. So not unsurprising for him to knock
Danielle Fishel
on the door and be like, I'm here. What can I do?
Maya
Uh huh.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
I actually believe that.
Interviewer/Host
Really?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
You're like, I do believe that.
Interviewer/Host
Oh, that is so funny.
Danielle Fishel
Do you have any fun favorite experiences with him other than him saying nothing?
Interviewer/Host
He almost burned himself on pyro performing
Danielle Fishel
at the 1998 MTV VMAs. That must have been been traumatizing.
Maya
I'm not sure if pras pulled him back.
Danielle Fishel
I think so. Yeah.
Maya
Yeah. And I'm not sure if we rehearsed it at all.
Parent or Family Member
Really.
Maya
I can't remember. Or if he Was there during rehearsals, but that could have been a disaster.
Danielle Fishel
I mean, yes.
Maya
But thankfully nothing happened. My gosh.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Cues matter, which is why I'm so detail oriented. It's very analogous, but things like that
Maya
matter to know exactly what part of the song and going over it and over every time. So every person on that stage understands, you know, where they need to be markers on the stage.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
I'm literally there making sure we have
Maya
a long strip of tape of where every prop goes, cutting them, placing them, where, you know, having the dancers in certain places. Because anything can happen at anything anytime. But, yeah, details matter.
Danielle Fishel
They really do. I just went on the Dancing with the Stars tour. I was there for a month, and we. It was very much the same way. You know, there's three sets of stairs and everyone's gotta walk and people are crossing. And you've got 12, 13 people dancing at the same time.
Maya
In heels.
Danielle Fishel
In heels, by the way, with fog, which makes the stage moist or half. You know, sometimes we were at amphitheaters where it was humid outside, and now you're like, watch out. Beads falling off of costumes and people dancing barefoot. The amount of beads lost dodged into bare feet while we were on tour. And those, you know, if you're not showing up for your cues and you can't see the tape when it's dark. Those things are important. These are people's bodies. And yeah, it all very important. So don't ever feel bad about being
Interviewer/Host
anal and being like, I'm here, taking notes.
Danielle Fishel
Very smart.
Maya
I will share this with you. ODB was responsible for my feature on Ghetto Superstar.
Interviewer/Host
Really?
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
I only had one song out in the Universe, which was all about me featuring Cisco, my debut single. In 1998, my dad and I took a train to New York, had a session with Wyclef Jean.
Interviewer/Host
Yes.
Maya
Laid down the chorus, and that was that. We didn't hear anything back, you know.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
I was asked to do the chorus, and it was the shortest session I probably ever had. To this day, there were several other singers that were established that recorded that chorus that were being considered because, you know, they had much bigger presence.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
And, yeah, I was just the new
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
girl on the block. Right.
Interviewer/Host
Right.
Maya
ODB heard my voice and said, that's the magic. That's the money. Who's that? Keep that.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Keep her.
Maya
Whoever that is. I'm telling you right now, it's her. Yeah. That's why
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
my voice was on Get a Superstar.
Danielle Fishel
Unbelievable.
Maya
Yeah, he convinced them so great.
Danielle Fishel
And what an ear. I mean, he's right. He's absolutely right.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Well, he may or may not be. Oh, no, we don't know.
Danielle Fishel
I'll say it. I'll say it. You don't have to say it. I'll say it.
Interviewer/Host
He's right. But it was written and that's the
Danielle Fishel
way it turned out.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Pretty great. Your music has always included such great rap features. From Mace to Jadakiss to ODB to Jay Z on the Best of Me remix. How did that come together with Jay Z? Because he was flying very, very high at that time.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Yeah.
Maya
So on the record label side and Interscope, there's my independent company through Hak Islam University Music Entertainment. And then in marketing, there's like Steve Stout Advertising as well. And he had all of these relationships being that he's from New York, from Jadakiss to Jay Z and he would do some calling for features, etc. There were a lot of remixes that happened around that time too. So he and Jay Z had a relationship and he may have actually called the producers track masters who are legends in hip hop to create the new track for the remix as well. And the rest is history. Jeez.
Danielle Fishel
Isn't it funny? It's just like knowing the right person who knows the right people who get the inspiration at the right time.
Maya
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
And the next thing you know, history is. Has been made. Well, Hype Williams. The Hype Williams video brought us the iconic North Carolina baby blue basketball dress. Just an all timer. Tell me all about that dress. Where did it come from? Did you design it? Did your mom design it? Did you know how big of a deal it was going to become? Were you offered Tar Heel tickets for life? Where is it now? Can I put it under glass? What? Tell me everything about that dress.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Oh, my goodness.
Maya
Well, the North Carolina jersey dress from the Best of Me remix video. We call it part two, by the way.
Interviewer/Host
Okay.
Maya
That was styled and thought of and manifested by June Ambrose, a legendary, iconic stylist. You know, fashionista.
Parent or Family Member
Yes.
Maya
Yes. She was doing so many artists at that time in hip hop and R B that created this whole aesthetic during that time. It was the Mary J. Bliges of the world. A lot of artists that were on Bad boy Fashion was a big thing.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
In hip hop and R B culture during the early 90s till I came into Equation into the 2000s to this day. And she was a part of that. So her iconic mind came up with the idea of turning something just so sporty and casual to. For the woman in a dress form. Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
And perfect for you who grew Up. Such a tomboy. And I mean, just so perfect for you. Where is it today? Do you have it?
Maya
I do, yes. And I have renditions of it too, that I'll wear for live performances.
Danielle Fishel
So great. Oh, so great. Your new album, Retrospect is wonderful. It is a really evolved, unique sound. And it's been a while since you've released an album, so why now? What was it about now that spoke to you?
Maya
Well, if I could release an album every year, it would be now.
Interviewer/Host
Yeah.
Premier Protein Spokesperson
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Maya's Sister or Close Associate
So what I do is release lots
Maya
and lots of singles in between projects. And my Last one was TKO in 2018. And pandemic happened while we were actually crafting other projects and singles as well as putting them into the universe. But that time, that uncertain time in all of our lives was the confirmation to continue the thought of this project that started in 2003, really, with a Rick James cover on my Motoring album.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
So this is my living room on retrospect.
Maya
A lot of these sounds, especially for the first half of the album, which is very celebratory, pick me up moods and in party moods. That's how my living room sounded. And that's the music that I would craft in my playlist during the Pandemic. And I was instantly brought joy, like the environment and my frequency. My vibe shifted.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
To an uncertain place. Doubtful place. To joy. And I said, yeah, we have to do this. This is the direction we're going. No if, ands or buts about it. And that's how Retrospect was finished. Because the very first song on this project I cut in 2016 because I heard the music happening across the hall
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
while I was working on another album.
Maya
Wow.
Danielle Fishel
And you went across and you were like, what is that?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
What's that?
Maya
Who does that belong to? Oh, no one. Okay, give me a copy now. And I wrote the song that night. Really? Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Wow. So this has been. I mean, you mentioned 2003, so 23 years in the making, but also the first song 10 years ago, special place in your heart. Getting 21 Savage on the ASAP was a big deal. Are you a fan of new hip hop?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
I am. I kind of like it all.
Parent or Family Member
Yeah.
Maya
It has its place in my life.
Interviewer/Host
Life.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
There are certain things I don't listen to on Sundays.
Danielle Fishel
Huh? Right.
Maya
There are lots of things I do
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
listen to that I don't listen to on Sundays. In the gym.
Interviewer/Host
Right.
Danielle Fishel
There you go. Everything has its place.
Ray Porter
I love it.
Interviewer/Host
Yes.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Because I need to get in beast mode.
Maya
So I love all the sub genres of R B sub genres of hip hop. It's really interesting to see how the new kids and the younger kids are expressing themselves.
Domino's Spokesperson
Yeah.
Maya
I just love honesty and we grow as human beings. But it's not for me to talk down on. I like the transparency that the kids are going for nowadays. And there's like not a care in the world. It doesn't have to be perfect anymore.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Maya
I come from a specific era where everything just had to be too perfect. And so there's a bit of freedom that's stripped. Or honesty. Sometimes that's stripped when things are overworked. Yeah. Or too refined. And I love the rawness of today, even if it's not necessarily what I can relate to.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Maya
I like the rawness of the younger generation.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
Like, I admire that because I'm too meticulous.
Danielle Fishel
I. I feel you on that. I also, I'm like, ah, wouldn't it be nice to be a little more. I. I don't have it in me. I don't have it in. I cannot do it. But it is enjoyable to watch someone else do it.
Maya
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
I sensed a big funk and 70s soul influence on the album. Was that a conscious direction? Cause the first thing it made me think of was that it was like hearkening back to albums your parents probably played for you when you were a kid.
Maya
You nailed it on the head.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
I transport and retreat to my living room where the touch and feel vinyl, the needle to the wax were all experiences. The artwork on the vinyl, the little. What are they called?
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Those plastic things for the 45s.
CarMax Spokesperson
Yes.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
The little discs.
Interviewer/Host
Yes.
Maya
I don't even know what they're called. But it was fascination being able to see but also witness and then experience the music and the artwork of all of those individuals or bands from that time. But what happened in my living room as a kid was just pure joy.
Maya's Sister or Close Associate
Whether it was extended family coming over and being the center of attention and singing and dancing for everyone, or just
Maya
literally being in my own world and letting the music take me wherever it took me. But there were musicians as well that came to rehearse with my dad for his performances. Still to this day, by the way, and I use this word so many times in this sit down with you, it was electric.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Maya
And I will never forget those experiences. And I've always wanted to bring that to my own projects, but also the stage because my dad is a kick butt performer too.
Parent or Family Member
Right.
Maya
And so it's all of that. It's my childhood wrapped in one project.
Interviewer/Host
Oh, I love that.
Danielle Fishel
Listen, if Maya is willing to sit down with me for an interview, I am going to force her to stick around for as long as possible. So we have a bonus episode dropping this Friday exclusively on the Teen Beat dedicated podcast feed where I continue this conversation with Maya and we listen to one of your voice memos recalling an embarrassing childhood memory that will forever remain our little secret. And don't forget to listen to Maya's newest album, Retrospect, available wherever you stream music music. And you can go to mayamya.com that's my a m y a dot com to learn how you can pick up physical copies, which is a great way to support her new independent journey. Teen Beat is an I heart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman Executive in charge of production Danielle Romo Producer and Editor Tara Suedboksh. The theme song is by Mark yes, that Mark Hoppas. Follow us on Instagram eenbeatpod
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Maya
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
Podcast Host: Danielle Fishel | Guest: Mya
In this nostalgia-rich episode of Teen Beat, Danielle Fishel welcomes Grammy-winning R&B star Mya. The conversation dives deep into Mya's childhood, formative years, her breakthrough in the late 90s and early 2000s music scene, her family roots, iconic collaborations, and her journey as an independent artist with her new album, Retrospect. The discussion flows with candid stories, laughter, and poignant reflections on creativity, identity, and legacy.
| Segment | Time | |--------------------------|------------| | Welcome & R&B Intro | 04:33 | | Mya's Music Upbringing | 17:03 | | Take Me There/Rugrats | 08:29 | | Producers that Inspired | 12:03 | | Broadway/Stage Dreams | 18:13 | | High School Anecdotes | 21:07 | | Managing Fame/TRL Stories | 26:43 | | Lady Marmalade Backstory | 40:44 | | On ODB Ghetto Superstar | 55:04 | | Jay-Z "Best of Me" Story | 59:07 | | North Carolina Dress | 60:46 | | 'Retrospect' Origins | 62:27 | | 70s/80s Soul Influence | 66:00 | | Wrap-up/Closing | 67:45 |
For more stories (and a bonus confessional!), check out the extended Friday episode and support Mya by streaming Retrospect and visiting her website: mayamya.com.