Maya Lakhani: The Sound of Nightfall
Every once in a while, an artist comes along where I think, ‘Wow, I haven’t heard anything like that right now.’ Diving into this artist’s work has been a pleasant surprise, including her latest single ‘Nightfall’. Let’s talk about Maya Lakhani.
Producer and songwriter Maya Lakhani has been making music for some time. Between 2017 and 2019 Maya was the vocalist for Concrete Bones, with her and guitarist Sally-Anne Hickman forming their duo Gemtone early in the pandemic. Lakhani also kept busy during the summer of 2020 by recording a series of covers for her YouTube channel, including songs by Hayley Williams, Dream Wife and Arctic Monkeys. It was during this time where she began experimenting with her own sound and bedroom recording set-up, culminating in the release of her first solo single ‘The Line’ in November 2020.
‘I'm always drawn to the darkness, things that wreck my mind. I'm always drawn to a sweetness that don't satisfy.’
Straight in with drums, guitars and vocals, ‘The Line’ is a confident debut single from Lakhani. Immediately grabbing the listener’s attention with her voice, clear and passionate, it’s soundtracked by a healthy layer of guitar distortion. Listen closely and you’ll be pummelled by the bass and the ringing of Maya’s lead guitar parts. Lyrically, it’s infectious, delivered by Lakhani’s perfectly fitting vocal, ‘Is it any wonder that I, that I cry, wonder why I, why I tried, wonder that I, draw the line.’
In the sheer space of this recording, it’s hard to believe most of it came from Lakhani’s bedroom studio. Together with drummer Zamm Kenoby, Maya’s sound arrives fully formed, a band performance orchestrated by this producer. Towards the song’s conclusion, her words are wrapped in reverb as they twist away in ‘I’m drawing over The Line…’
‘I want to walk all alone in the dark. It’s not much to ask, it’s not much to ask, with my music in blaring, don’t want you to stare, or to pull me out into the dark, into the dark.’
Inspired by the ongoing conversation of women’s safety in public spaces, Maya Lakhani wrote and produced her second single ‘Walk Alone’, releasing it in April 2021. Beginning by accompanying herself on guitar, Maya highlights an everyday occurrence: ‘It’s not just after dark that I am watching over my shoulder…’ The melody in Walk Alone is both fragile and powerful. Backed by even more force than her debut, especially in the chorus, this is the kind of track that could work equally well with all the instruments stripped away due to Lakhani’s lyricism and sublime vocal performance.
Whether it be a mixing decision by Julian Simmons (who also mixed The Line) or by Maya herself, the way her voice is enveloped in delay and reverb in the song’s chorus is truly an ethereal moment. Overlapping and carried by the force of Zamm Kenoby’s drum track and Lakhani’s soaring guitar wall of sound, Walk Alone does more than just drive the point home.
Maya Lakhani’s latest single ‘Nightfall’ begins with a guitar riff and a programmed drum beat before being joined again by drummer Zamm Kenoby. Considering Lakhani could’ve programmed drums for all of these singles, it’s her commitment to her band sound that allows Kenoby’s drum personality to enhance these tracks. Often steering clear of conventional patterns in the verses, Zamm’s performance is heavier for Nightfall, mirroring Lakhani’s darker lyrical tone.
‘I am holding on when nightfalls, for my life, my life.’
Based around the thoughts that creep in at night-time, Nightfall is the most melodic of Maya’s singles so far. Underneath the pounding drums and expansive guitar sound hides a softer vocal styling, a vulnerability disclosed from the first verse, to the choruses, a short spoken word part and beyond: ‘This freedom, contorting, forever controlling, I want you to see how far I’ve fallen.’
Nightfall is Maya Lakhani’s most exciting single so far, because it shows the potential for diversity in her songwriting. And with her growing skill as a producer, Maya can fully realise those ideas with the attention to detail she’s already given her music. I’m excited to hear what she does next.
Continue reading for our Q&A with Maya Lakhani. We ask about the making of her three singles including the inspirations behind the tracks, the involvement of Zamm Kenoby and Maya’s other music outside of her solo work. All this and more below!
1. You've just released your third single 'Nightfall', what kickstarted the lyrical inspiration for this track?
“Nightfall” was inspired by dark thoughts and depression coming to the surface at night time. When the day is done, and you finally have alone time for your mind to wander. The idea of really fearing being alone with your thoughts, “I am holding on when night falls, for my life”.
2. The production across your three singles is superb, would you take us through your guitar and recording set-up?
Thank you! All guitars, vocals & production are done from my bedroom. I have an amp, which I can plug directly into my laptop, so that’s how the guitars are recorded. I have a separate audio interface for recording vocals. I put this all through Logic Pro and spend quite a lot of time layering & producing, to give that big stadium rock feel! I then send it off for remote mixing & mastering.
3. The only outside performer on these tracks is Zamm Kenoby, how did he become involved in the recording process?
When planning drums for my tracks, I create a computerised drum track that is pretty close to how I want the final drums to feel. I found Zamm on the website “Fiverr”. I sent him my first track “The Line” and he completely nailed it on the first take. He took direction from my drum track, but really added some personality and style. He just got the feel of the song perfectly! Ever since then, I’ve always returned to him to get that final drum track down.
4. When you began writing your first single 'The Line' in 2020, did you envision this being the beginning of your solo career, or more of a lockdown experiment at the time?
I definitely wanted it to be the start of my solo music journey. But I created it purely out of love and to prove to myself that I could do it. I didn’t really expect that many people would hear it. The fact that it did so well was such an amazing surprise, and just reinforced the idea that this was the path for me!
5. You also did a series of covers on YouTube during lockdown, which was your favourite of these to make and why?
I really enjoyed covering “Come & Go” by Juice WRLD. That was a fun one, because it was taking a track from a completely different genre and reimagining it to fit my sound and style.
6. The lyrics to 'Walk Alone' are especially apt right now, was there a particular catalyst to penning this track at that time?
Yes, I wrote that on the weekend we found out that Sarah Everard had been kidnapped & murdered on her walk home. I was a huge ball of emotion. I felt sad, angry & frustrated. I was heartbroken for Sarah and her loved ones. I was also really angry, that in this day and age, women still can’t walk alone without fear. Something I feel and experience myself. I saw a lot of victim blaming happening too, and that really triggered a lot of emotion in me. I put this all into “Walk Alone”.
7. Tell me about your musical journey, were you in bands growing up? When did you begin writing your own music?
I’ve always had a real love for music. I think I wrote my first song when I was 8, so that desire to be musically creative has always been there for me.
I started my first band at the age of 12. We used to practise every Friday after school, writing our own songs and performing small gigs. All of this was a really great foundation for songwriting, performing and general musicality. I have been in various bands since, and have learnt so much from each experience. All of this has definitely been part of the journey to get to where I am now.
8. You've previously performed as part of Concrete Bones and Gemtone, what's to become of those bands?
Concrete Bones came to an end in 2019. Gemtone was a project I started with a good friend of mine just as the pandemic was starting, however was halted due to lockdowns etc. My focus is most definitely on my solo music now 😊
9. You produced your own album during your time at university called 'Every Street'. If you were to approach making that record now, would you do anything differently?
I think I would create it from home this time! I love the freedom of being able to record and make music whenever I want to, on my own terms. I did really enjoy making that album though, it was how I learnt the fundamentals of record engineering and production. So it definitely brought me to where I am today.
10. Outside of your own music, you've created commissioned pieces for Nickelodeon, how did that side of your career evolve?
Yes! So working for Nickelodeon is my day job. Since leaving university, I have worked in tv production, specifically children’s TV. Every now and again I get to use my musical skills at work, like singing on adverts. That’s really fun, and very cool to see my two worlds collide!
11. Yours is a big sound, what would be the ideal presentation of your new music in a live setting?
I’m really excited to play my music live, and actually hear it in this way for the first time! It will be really cool to play my music alongside other musicians on stage, and hear it as it was always intended! I would definitely have a full band behind me. Fingers crossed for some gigs in 2022!
12. What more can you tell us about your 2022? Are there more singles? Perhaps an EP?
I will definitely be releasing more music, more frequently this year. I feel like I’ve really found my process, my sound and the people I like to work with. So there will be more singles! I would love to do a physical release, perhaps an EP on vinyl. As well as some music videos! Watch this space!
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Download and stream Maya Lakhani’s singles on her Bandcamp page.
For more information about Maya Lakhani, visit her official website.
Follow Maya Lakhani on Instagram and Twitter @mayalakhani_ and on Facebook @mayalakhanimusic.
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