There was thunder in the skies tonight. Early evening turned unexpectedly dark and heavy rain hammered down. The joggers who had ventured out for an evening run were sheltering beneath the trees as I drove past. The storm just about sums up my last few days. Yet when skies are grey and the rain falls, music can sometimes provide a road forward.
Today’s choice, once I finally made it home, was Maya Lakhani. We spoke to Maya recently, and this feature combines both interview and review.
First, a little background:
“When the pandemic hit, British Indian rock artist Maya Lakhani learnt how to write, record and produce rock music from her bedroom. Her unique brand of stylish self-produced alt-rock has been making waves, receiving support from BBC Introducing, BBC News, Radio 1, BBC Asian Network, Planet Rock, Radio X, Spotify Editorial, Kerrang!, NME and Rolling Stone Magazine, among others.
She has also become a powerful force on the live scene, with Kerrang! describing her live show as ‘incredible’ and ‘rousing’. She has brought her fierce full-band performances to Glastonbury on the BBC Introducing Stage, Latitude, Glasgow Mela, while also supporting Reverend and the Makers. Other appearances include two BBC Live Lounge sessions, Dialled In Festival, Jack White’s Third Man Records, the 100 Club and more.
Maya is an artist who advocates for change, often writing about important themes such as women’s rights and representation. As an Indian woman, she wants to be seen and heard within the rock scene. If you can see it, you can be it.”
Pictures by Guy Joben
Let us have a read of the interview.
Hello Maya, nice to say hello. I’ve been listening to your material on streaming, but what track of yours do you think a new listener should hear first? And what is it about that one that makes it a go-to track?
Maya: Hello Lorraine & Rock The Joint readers! The first track you should listen to of mine is “The Line”. It was the very first song I released, and is a great example of my style and point of view as an artist. The message behind it is also a mission statement for me as a person and as an artist. The idea of drawing healthy boundaries, starting over and giving music everything that I got!
Having heard a few numbers, I felt “Torn in Two” was really interesting, that heavy drum and bass beat and these emotive vocals hitting a largely commercial, radio-ready rock track. What are your feelings about that one?
Maya: I love “Torn In Two”! Funnily enough, it was a demo that sat on my hard drive for about two years before being released because I wasn’t sure about it. But when I dug deeper into the production and turned it into a fully formed song, I loved it. It’s dark, gritty and stylish – very me!
Talking image for a moment, two members of our little team here are actually of Indian heritage, and we have covered Indian musicians such as Screen 6, Bollywood singer Isheeta and Aberdeen-based Nushka to name a few. None of them, even those based in India, wear the more traditional sari style dress. You do, fusing the sari with fishnets and a rock guitar. Has this evolved naturally, or was it a deliberate image strategy?
Maya: Wearing traditional Indian dress, but fusing it with my rock style, has become quite important to me. There aren’t a huge number of Indian artists within the rock genre, or within Western music generally. I thought that if young people of Indian heritage saw me proudly displaying my culture on stage, they may feel empowered to embrace their culture more and see that they can do anything and achieve anything they want to as well!
Where did the love of rock come from? Was it present in your family home, or did you discover it elsewhere? Were you singing “Crazy Train” in the school corridor while the other girls were listening to the latest pop sensation?
Maya: I started listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers when I was ten, and this opened up the whole genre of rock music to me! Then I started my first band when I was twelve, where I was writing and singing. This laid the foundation of the artist I am today!
I read that you are a fully independent artist and create nearly all of the music yourself in a back bedroom. If that’s the case, you’re clearly very hands-on with your music, from writing to production. How does having that level of control shape the final sound, and do you think it changes the way you express yourself compared to artists who work more collaboratively?
Maya: This is true! I actually learnt how to record and produce music in my bedroom during Covid out of necessity, but ended up falling in love with this way of working. I love having that level of control over my music. It means that I can truly make what I want, without anyone or anything distracting me from my vision and sound.
What plans for 2026 can you share with us?
Maya: I’m working on an extended EP, which will be released later in the year!
Fun Question – It is a hard winter’s night. The tour van has broken down and a harsh wind blows through the darkness. Nearby you see a small house. It appears abandoned, yet there is a fire burning, food on the table and working electricity. While you wait for morning, what book and what film will get you through the night?
Maya: Okay… this seems like a slightly scary situation, so to counteract that I would pick some feel-good movies and books! I would choose Mean Girls as a film. I just love the humour and nostalgia of it. The familiarity would definitely be a comfort in this situation. I’m also currently reading Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act. It’s full of creative ideas and inspiration, which would serve as a great distraction for me in this situation.
Review
I dipped into a selection of Maya’s songs, enough to give you an idea of what she offers. These are my picks, but there is plenty more available across the major streaming platforms.
“The Line” is where Maya suggested we begin, so let’s get the review moving. With more than 75,000 Spotify streams, it is easy to hear why listeners connected with it. Built around a powerful hook, energetic percussion and a melodic punk-inspired chorus, it balances attitude with accessibility. Maya’s vocal delivery sits comfortably between modern rock and pop-punk, giving the track plenty of commercial appeal without losing its edge.
“Fall For Me” moves in a slightly more indie-rock direction and is built around some bright guitar work. It was one of those songs that constantly felt familiar, as though it was reminding me of something else, though I could never quite place what. Built around themes of romance and possibility, it carries an uplifting and slightly whimsical quality while remaining firmly rooted in rock territory. At just 2:49, it never outstays its welcome.
“Torn In Two” is my personal favourite. There is an American melodic-rock flavour running through it, the sort of song you can imagine blasting from a car stereo beneath a burning summer sky. The standout feature for me is the rhythm section. The drums drive the track forward throughout, but really come alive during the middle section where the intensity rises another level.
“Nightfall” is the track guitar fans should head towards first. There is a rich, polished guitar tone throughout, while Maya delivers one of her strongest vocal performances. The emotion in the lyrics comes across naturally rather than feeling forced, creating a song that would sit comfortably on mainstream rock radio. Atmospheric and reflective, it demonstrates Maya’s ability to combine accessibility with genuine feeling.
Maya Lakhani occupies an interesting space within modern British rock. Her music is accessible enough to appeal to mainstream audiences, yet there is enough personality and individuality here to separate her from the countless artists competing for attention. The fact that she writes, records and produces much of her material herself only adds further weight to what she is achieving.
If you enjoy melodic rock, pop-punk influences and artists prepared to bring something of themselves into their work, Maya is well worth investigating. With a new extended EP planned for later this year, she also feels like an artist whose story is still very much being written.
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By Mark C. Chambers
and
Lorraine Foley
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