BY LESLEY HASTINGS

It’s always so heartwarming to watch an artist you have supported from the start of their career go from strength to strength, and that has definitely been the case when it comes to London’s Maya Lane who caught my attention back in 2022 when she released her debut single “Still The Same“. 

Maya’s music straddles various genres including country, folk & pop, but who cares about categories when an artist is such an accomplished writer and incredible vocalist? This summer has been particularly exciting for this rising star, having opened shows for Breland and Margo Price as well as supporting Noah Kahan at BST Hyde Park and playing The Long Road Festival recently. 

So it was pretty surprising to me to hear her tell the capacity crowd at North London’s The Grace last night that she was really nervous about playing her inaugural headline show! I guess it was because the night was all about her, and she had obviously planned every detail (very well I must add!) …..plus she could see so many familiar faces in the crowd….all adding that bit of pressure to deliver! 

But deliver she did, playing a well constructed (and to me nerve-free!) hour long set of original material (just one cover, her beautiful version of “The Chain“) which held the attention of the enraptured, appreciative audience throughout and had them singing along when (and when not!) invited. She has a pretty extensive back catalogue to draw from now, and the evening doubled up as a release event for her third EP “The Hurt And The Healing” which is out today …..indeed, her set opened with “Bitter” from this 6 track project. Apart from a couple of solo songs mid-set, Maya was joined on stage by a very unassuming but hugely talented “one man band”, Jack (apologies, I didn’t catch his surname) who augmented Maya’s proficient acoustic guitar playing with kick drum, electric, acoustic and bass guitars as well as some great backing vocals. At one point the pair unplugged and came out into the crowd for one song, and Maya also invited a few of her friends/fellow artists who have been pivotal in her career up on stage join the party for a few numbers. 

But mostly of course, the evening was all about Maya Lane. We heard stories behind the songs (including getting hit on by a guy in an Nashville bar when all she wanted to do was eat ramen in peace & do some people watching for song inspiration….the very clever and amusing “Guys Like You” the result) along with  some fun anecdotes from her life (yes, she overdosed on vitamin A , turns out a diet can be too healthy!). It’s clear that like a lot of great songwriters that Maya is a deep thinker, and I was particularly happy to hear her perform my favourites “Bump Into Me” (“Does anyone else want to run away from themselves sometimes?” she asked) and “When You Need Me“, a stunning ballad released a few years ago now and inspired by wanting to protect her little sister (“who is probably hiding under the merch table…. we look identical and she often gets congratulated by mistake after I’ve played a set!”) but a song which Maya so rightly said could have wider connotations in a world when we all need to be more supportive of others. 

It was also great to see the other side of Maya in an as yet unreleased middle-finger type song, “Screw You“, which got a massive reception from the audience! And of course every female country artist needs a revenge song, and it was Maya’s “Heart For A Heart” which closed her set. 

I had to dash to catch my train so couldn’t congratulate Maya personally at the merch stand afterwards, or thank her for giving everyone there a poster and delicious (vegan!) cookie courtesy of Doh Kitchen , but judging by the applause I’m sure she wasn’t short of people wanting to chat and get her autograph . 

I feel the evening will be an “I was there” one in the future when her headline shows move to larger venues, which I have every confidence will be the case for this exciting and talented independent artist whose future is looking very bright indeed. This was just the beginning, Maya. 

Stream/Download ” The Hurt And The Healing” EP here – https://ffm.to/gom1peq

More artist information here https://www.mayalaneuk.com/

Set List

Bitter

Never Be Enough 

Screw You 

Bump Into Me

I Don’t Know You Yet

Hate Her

When You Need Me 

Guys Like You 

Four Leaf Clover

Gently 

The Chain

Say What You Mean 

Good Company

Beyond Alaska

Heart For A Heart