Exclusive Interview: Maya Ixta Talks “Time,” Upcoming EP ‘Diary Entries,’ and More

Maya Ixta stands as a multifaceted talent, a beacon among the emerging voices of her generation. Whether she’s captivating audiences through acting, mesmerizing them with her singing, or blazing trails for her community, Maya’s artistry serves as a powerful means to illuminate the experiences of others, making them feel truly seen and heard. This is evident in her latest single, “Time,” which delves into the anxieties of pushing oneself too hard. Pop Culturalist had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Maya about the single, her upcoming EP Diary Entries, and her mission as an artist.

PC: You discovered your passion for music and the arts at such a young age. At what point did you realize this was the career path for you?
Maya: Music has always been a part of my life. Ever since I was six or seven, I would sing for my family and put on these little theater shows and concerts in my living room. My grandma actually heard me singing one day and she told my mom that she should take me to singing classes because I was doing it all the time. She said, “If you don’t take her, then I will.” So my mom did. [laughs]

Ever since my first class, I fell in love with learning a new song or a new way to sing. From there, I started performing on stage. When I was about nine years old, I started acting professionally as well. I realized that the more I performed on stage, the more I wanted to do it professionally, so I really took it seriously from a young age. I got an agent when I was nine. That’s when I started doing short films, commercials, and things like that, but I was still doing music.

There was never a moment where it clicked. I’ve just been doing it my entire life. I’ve never felt like there was a point in my life where something else made me as happy or fulfilled as being an artist and a performer. When you see what a performance can do for people, it’s really special. I’ve felt that from my first performance to today.

PC: That might actually answer my next question, but when you reflect on your career as a whole, who or what has had the biggest influence?
Maya: That’s an amazing question. First and foremost, my family. They’re number one. I’ve always been brought up that way. It’s very cultural. I’m Latina. I’m half Mexican and half Cuban. Family is always very important. My top inspirations have been my grandfather, my mom, and my dad. My parents have always instilled in me that it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice. That’s a motto my dad says all the time whenever we’re stressed or facing difficulties. He always says, “Do something that’s going to make you happy and that’s going to give back to your community.” Having a strong family foundation has been huge for me. I’m very lucky that my parents supported me very early on when I started working professionally at a very young age. I’m very grateful to my mom and dad for everything they’ve done for me. They drove me to countless auditions, recording sessions, and supported me in every way.

Also, my grandfather. He used to be a mariachi singer when he lived in Mexico. He was always singing and playing salsa music. We used to live in Chicago. I’d be dancing on the kitchen table at three years old, and he’d be playing salsa. I grew up on that music and modern Latin music. He was a huge inspiration to me when it came to infusing a cultural aspect into the music I make.

Actually, it wasn’t until recently that I was able to hear a recording of him sing. He passed about five years ago. But I always feel a special connection to him. My family always tells me that I got my voice from him because no one else in our family sings. He’s definitely been a huge inspiration to me. He always told me to follow my dreams when I was younger, and even now, I still feel that he’s one of my biggest cheerleaders. Even with my newest single, “Time,” I was thinking about him the entire time I was making it because I know he’s watching over me.

PC: Speaking of “Time,” could you tell us about the inspiration behind the new single?
Maya: I wrote “Time” when I was incredibly stressed, feeling like I didn’t have enough time to do everything I wanted to do. I was pushing myself too hard, and writing the song became a significant way for me to destress. Through this song, I realized the importance of taking time for oneself and finding moments to relax.

PC: You co-wrote this with your longtime collaborator, Daniel Jimenez Afandor. How were the two of you able to push each other as artists?
Maya: I’ve learned so much from Daniel. He’s really taught me to find a reason for everything I’m doing. He’s always asking, “How is this going to make the song better?” To me, that’s invaluable because I love learning about music. Not only do I like writing and performing it, but I love learning more about it because there’s so much to unpack. He’s Colombian and Latino. He speaks Spanish. This was the perfect song for us to collaborate on. I never said to myself that I’m going to write a song in Spanish. It just came about while I was journaling, so it was really important to me to work with a producer who has a similar cultural background and someone who also understands Spanish. He really helped me with that too, which was amazing. He understood everything I was saying. He was able to suggest different ways to say something in Spanish because direct translations from English to Spanish don’t always work. It was important to me to have someone who understood that aspect of the song. He was amazing with that. I’m so thankful that I got to work with him on it. He definitely helped me bring this song to life and make it what it is now.

PC: You’ve been working on your upcoming EP, Diary Entries. What can you tell us about that body of work and what you hope to say as an artist?
Maya: All of my songs are like my babies, but this EP is particularly special because, as you can tell from the name, it’s deeply personal. Every single song on the EP came straight from my diary. That’s what makes it so special.

What I hope listeners feel when they listen to Diary Entries is a profound connection, almost as if they’re reading their own diary entries but with a melody behind it. I want it to be deeply personal. I hope that when people, especially teenagers and young Latina women, listen to it, they see themselves and their stories reflected in the EP.

To keep up with Maya, follow her on Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Listen to “Time” today.