Artist Spotlight: Maya Kuriel is Splashing Into Dark Waters with Her Latest Singles
Maya Kuriel is diving off the deep end into dark waters as she steps into a new era. Kuriel is a first-generation Korean-American who was born and raised in Seattle before moving to Los Angeles. Known for her dark pop sound, her music lures listeners into a hypnotic haze of siren-like vocals and atmospheric beats. Kuriel is fully embracing her dark feminine side this year. Connecting from Los Angeles, Kuriel sat down for a chat with EnVi via video call to talk about her emerging era of authenticity.
Music All Around
Ever since she could remember, music has always been in Kuriel’s household. “It was everywhere. It was all around me,” she said. It’s no wonder she naturally gravitated towards becoming an artist. Music had been a calling rather than a conscious choice. “I don’t remember a time where I didn’t love singing or I didn’t love listening and playing music,” Kuriel said with a smile.
Growing up Kuriel wrote songs throughout her adolescent years, even before she realized she wanted to take music more seriously. Life brought her to the Musicians Institute in Hollywood where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Songwriting and Music Production. It wasn’t until 2019 when things started to fall into place. Kuriel met her current manager Sam Harrison at the job they both worked at during that time. “He kind of expressed to me that he was interested in artist management and I was like, ‘Well, I want to be an artist!’” Kuriel happily recalled.
With aligned interests, the two took the leap together – Kuriel being his first artist client and Harrison being the one to push her dreams forward. This partnership made her feel safe and guided enough to take the plunge into pursuing music. “That one person is telling me that they can see me being able to grow,” she said. “Now we’re five years later and […] I can’t imagine not making music every single day.” The journey of her music career hasn’t been short of incredible. “[I’m] so very blessed and grateful.”
Finding Her Sound
Five years later, Kuriel says she’s still finding her sound. She’s dabbled with pop rock melodies in her songs like “PTSD” and an R&B pop fusion in songs like “Intoxicated,” dedicated to experimentation of beats and lyrics. These days, Kuriel finds herself stepping away from the mainstream pop mold and embracing a sound that reflects a new stage in her life. “I’m not trying to be like anybody else, not trying to copy any other artists. I’m truly finding my own lane,” Kuriel said.
When Kuriel hits the studio, she doesn’t limit herself to a certain genre. She’s focused on “leading with a feeling” or a concept that strikes her in the middle of the day. Her songwriting process involves collaboration and drawing inspiration from all kinds of places — her own experiences as well as the experiences of others. Most of her music isn’t about one specific person or experience but rather an amalgamation of experiences. “I think I used to be so specific about my songwriting, it was very situational. I would spell it all out for the listener,” Kuriel mentioned. “Now I feel like I’m dialing that back and making sure that it’s a little bit more metaphorical and people can take it however they want,” she continued and mentioned opening the floor for her lyrics to be more relatable.
Her music has been shifting toward a moody and dark aesthetic, as seen in her latest releases “Dead Weight” and “Alibi.” Kuriel explained that each time she completes and releases a song, she feels herself growing, stepping closer to the kind of artist she wants to be. These two tracks mark her new era. “I feel very close to what I’m creating now more than ever,” Kuriel expressed. “[With] my last two releases I’m like, ‘Wow, this feels like me.’ This feels different from anything that I’ve ever heard, so I feel like that’s really, really cool.”
Always Be By Your Side
Kuriel’s latest single “Alibi” dropped on May 9th, serving as a dark pop anthem oozing with emotional and story-driven lyrics. Picture this: committing crimes with your lover, getting caught up in the thrill of changing identities, and relentlessly being on the run in pursuit of freedom. A classic Bonnie and Clyde tale. “[It’s] like lovers on the run. It’s a little toxic. It’s a little dangerous, but it’s also really passionate and strong,” Kuriel said when describing “Alibi.”
The lyrics unravel the story of being swept up in an electric, all-encompassing love, knowing it’s not good in the long run. It’s an intoxicating dance of danger mixed with loyalty. “When it all goes up in flames / I’ll take it straight to the grave,” Kuriel sings, symbolizing the bond two people share when they are in too deep to give each other up. Kuriel’s vocals seamlessly grow from quiet confessions to a powerful declaration. The beat is slow yet drops at pivotal moments along with dramatic instrumentals that further push the narrative.
For “Alibi,” Kuriel drew from past relationships along with the help of the songwriters in her sessions to build up the narrative. “I’m in a very, very healthy non-toxic relationship right now that’s been very long term. So I pull a lot of inspiration from that on the passionate side of things,” Kuriel laughed and lightheartedly emphasized.
Holding Onto Dead Weight
Honing in on darker themes, “Dead Weight,” released back in March, is one of Kuriel’s prized works. The emotionally charged track is all about suffocating under the weight of toxicity and not being able to drag yourself out. The song starts with the realization of needing to leave this “personal hell” but realizing it too late. Eerie whisperlike commands, “Wait / Drop / You’re praying on our downfall, downfall,” repeat throughout the song and amplify the feeling of helplessness. “Keep on dragging us down but you blame me / Are you gonna let us drown,” Kuriel sings as if she’s calling out in desperation to be released.
Kuriel remembered how seamlessly the song came together, finishing it in just a few hours. “This was the first song that I had written that I had a really overpowering visual in my mind,” she mused. “I was thinking of a really, really strong visual of drowning — drowning in the ocean and drowning to the depths of the water,” she said. Having this vision propelled the songwriting process.
“Dead Weight’s” music video depicts haunting scenes of Kuriel being weighed down by a chain underwater, laying in the mud, and lowering herself down in a dug up grave. The music video was shot in one day, a few hours allotted to the two different settings: a water tank and a mud scene. As she talked about challenging moments, Kuriel revealed a funny anecdote from filming underwater. “My dress that I wore had three layers of lace material. So the dress was actually riding up and I was trying not to flash anybody on the set,” she laughed. Despite the physical strain and minor bumps in the road, it was the most rewarding for her.
“It was a little bit difficult, but also so fun because I love water. I am a Pisces,” Kuriel added. She then reflected on the entire experience from writing to filming the music video of “Dead Weight.” “It’s really mind blowing because to write something and to see it in your head, then to also be able to hire a team that’s able to create that world is so insane to me. I work with a lot of talented people that obviously help me get to that point,” Kuriel said with appreciation.
Plunging In Full Force
As Kuriel is entering this new chapter in her career, she is excited to expand her musical boundaries. She hopes to play at small festivals around the Los Angeles area and continue to grow in her songwriting abilities. While she often gravitates toward darker moody concepts, Kuriel is excited to challenge herself with writing more optimistic songs. Ethereal pop is next up in sounds she wants to try. “Some of the concepts I write are pretty demanding and dark. Obviously it’s good to sit with those feelings, but not for too long, you know?” she said.
Kuriel invites listeners to take on the challenge of sitting with their own complexities. “Try not to rush things,” she noted. “Saying it’s okay to not be okay or it’s okay to feel this certain way and just not to feel so much shame in whatever situation you may be in [is important.]”
Tap into Kuriel’s world of music through her Spotify and Apple Music. To keep an out for her next releases, make sure to check out her Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok!
Need a dose of more feminine energy in your playlist? Check out our Artist Spotlight with Chinese Canadian artist PIAO here!
