LAMAYA - COMING FOR UR <3 (Single) + 10 Questions
Picture Credit: Kim Simpson
LAMAYA, a 19-year-old musical artist from Scotland, is making waves in the music industry with her genre-bending Experimental Soul sound. Despite her youth, LAMAYA weaves together global influences into a captivating musical tapestry that defies conventional genres.
Her debut single ‘COMING FOR UR <3’ is sonically layered encapsulating LAMAYA’ signature Experimental Soul sound. With vocals that switch between a powerful soar to an ethereal haunt over her heartfelt lyrics explores themes of love, vulnerability, and desire. The track is a mesmerising journey into the depths of emotion, featuring jagged, layered, glitchy effects that creates an immersive futuristic sonic landscape created by Edinburgh born producer Quested.
In ‘COMING FOR UR <3’ LAMAYA shares that, ‘When writing this song I wanted to grasp the perspective of what it’s like for a woman with intense emotions to love, it can turn us into a monster that will take your heart with no warning. When I love it’s like ripping the heart from my lover's chest and placing it into my own.’
Raised in the small town of East Kilbride, LAMAYA’ journey is nothing short of extraordinary. She's navigated a path where she's often felt like an outsider, partly due to her mixed-race background and her ambitious musical aspirations. Instead of conforming to expectations, LAMAYA embraces her individuality, both as an artist and as a person.
She began her journey by sharing the stage with Brooke Combe', Children Of Zeus, Say She She, Pip Millet, and Bemz, in addition to participating in the Scottish Hip Hop Showcase PITCH. Lamaya shows no sign of slowing down by bringing her brand of Experimental Soul to a live setting with new shows to announce soon.
LAMAYA sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?
The spark has always been inside of me, when I was evolving in my mum's tummy she would play music for me so I could hear it. So music has always been there for me, it’s been there when no one else in the world has been. We are a team.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
I’m influenced by new artists everyday, I like to keep my ears open and love to constantly learn I’m only 19 and there has been music made well before I was born so I still have years and years left to be influenced. Some major influences of mine are no longer with us, like Micheal Jackson, Prince and Amy Whinehouse. Current influences of mine are Azelia Banks, FKA twigs and YEBBA.
3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?
I have a few projects in the works on the lead up to my single launch. Lots of behind the scenes work.
4. How would you describe your sound?
The best way to describe my music is mysterious. I feel as though there isn’t a word that truly grasps my sound, one day I could be singing softly on a drill track and the next day I’m singing hard on a soul track. It’s a mixture of my madness. You can never get bored.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
My proudest moments are when I look back at my achievements and realise that I’m further along than I give myself credit for. As an independent woman I tend to be continuously moving and on to the next, there isn’t a lot of stillness especially in the world of music, so when I take those moments of tranquillity to look back and see how far I’ve come. That’s when I’m most proud.
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
All I can say to you is do it! And make sure you listen to the people around you, and make sure those people want the best for you. Sometimes it’s easy to jump down the rabbit hole and get so invested in your sound, but make sure you listen to the input of the others who love you.
7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
Yes!! I have recently been listening to this New Mexican artist called “That Mexican OT”, he is lit.
A female artist that I’m loving right now is Eartheater, she has a super unique psychedelic sound. I also saw that she can break a glass with her voice!
8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?
I’m not a big listener to albums I’m more of a playlist girl! However one Album that Q recently showed me on my heavy rotation is Wallsocket - Underscores.
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
I love to watch TV. Like so much. I love it, I get so inspired by the way film works, I one day hopefully will get into acting.
I also love spending time with my family.
10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?
WATER! I need to stay hydrated or I will literally combust. You know you’re supposed to drink like 3L of water a day… I drink like 500ml.
FOOD! And this has to be of substance. It can’t be snacks or little picky foods I need a steak dinner no question.
MARY JANE, to keep the vibes up and creative juices flowing.
All of these things and I’m unstoppable.