Maya Ixta Delgado is best known for her recurring role as Young Tess on the Apple TV+ series Ghostwriter alongside Kristin Kreuk and Brett Dalton. Other notable credits include guest starring roles on the Disney + series Diary of a Future President with Gina Rodriguez and All American with Taye Diggs. A multi-talented artist, Maya is also a songwriter and released her first EP, Shades of You, in 2017. Maya is currently in the studio recording new music to be released soon! Passionate about the importance of arts education she founded the non-profit organization HeARTs of Maya which awards educational scholarships to youth who have a passion for the arts. To date, she has awarded 50 scholarships to deserving youth in Dallas and Los Angeles and in 2019, she was awarded the SPARK! Award for her philanthropic contributions to the arts community. Maya is also the youngest member on the Emerging Leaders Advisory Board for the nonprofit, Imagine LA, an organization that is combatting family homelessness.
Where are you based?
I was born in Chicago and my family moved to Dallas, TX when I was almost 5. Right before I turned 13, we moved to Los Angeles I love it here!
How long have you been making music?
I wrote and recorded my first song when I was about 9 years old. Now I’m 17 so it’s been about 8 years!
What genre would you consider your music to be?
For the last couple of years, I have been writing a very different genre and topics because of my personal and artistic growth. I mostly write pop/alternative tracks and I write in Spanish too. I love to incorporate my Spanish language into my music. I try to experiment with different genres as well because I’m always discovering new elements that I like to incorporate into my music.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
Ever since I was very little, I loved singing around my house and putting on shows for my family and friends. When I was 7, my grandma actually suggested to my mom to take me to vocal lessons because of how much I loved singing. I fell in love with singing and performing after my very first lesson. I first started singing covers and performed at different venues in Dallas before I moved to LA. Early on, I knew I wanted to pursue this industry.
What are your biggest musical influences?
Latina artists inspire me so much. Kali Uchis and Rosalia were my top two artists I listened to last year. They have such a special way of conveying their message through music and also naturally incorporate their culture into their songs. Billie Eilish is another huge influence of mine. She has such a unique story, from being an underground indie artist, to a huge musical influence on my generation.
Are you signed to a label or are you an independent artist?
I am currently an independent artist.
What have been the biggest challenges in your music career?
I think the biggest challenges are the ones you create for yourself. Every artist has a unique trajectory and there is no set plan or timeline to “make it big.” Many industry people have told me that now-a-days, artists get 100 “no’s” before they get a “maybe.” I have been there for sure but I always think that there are circumstances that are not in my control. I have learned that resilience and perseverance are so important in this industry. I’m in this because I love the art, not to be famous.
How many songs or albums have you released to date?
When I was a wee little girl, I released a children’s E.P titled “Shades of You” which came out in 2017. Most recently, I released a single called “Count One It’s Me”, which signifies a new era of my music.
Can you tell us a few things about your latest release?
“Count One It’s Me” is an upbeat pop/alternative single with a lot of bass, electric guitar, background harmonies, and adlibs. I wanted to write a song about looking deep within yourself to know your worth. Many young people measure importance based on popularity, friend groups, and other people’s opinions. “Count One It’s Me” sends a message of choosing your own unique path. I hope to inspire others to realize they have the power to write their own story.
Any plans for new music or upcoming projects we should know about?
Yes! I am releasing my first bilingual Spanish song titled “Time” next month!. I’m also working on various songs that will be a part of my upcoming E.P., “Diary Entries.” This E.P. is very special to me because every song is based on an entry from my diary. My diary is one of my “safe spaces” and it’s helped me so much to sort out life. I would love to share my experiences with others in the hopes that it can help them as well 🙂
