Following a brief hiatus, R&B singer-songwriter Maeta is officially back, and she’s returning on her own terms.
Known for hits like “Through The Night,” a co-sign from Beyoncé and collabs with everyone from Pharrell and SZA to Kehlani, KAYTRANADA and more, Maeta stepped back into the spotlight today with new silky new single “Decimate.” The track finds her at her most intuitive and confident, leaning fully into the push and pull between restraint and desire.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Maeta about what led her back to music, how her perspective has shifted since stepping away and the story behind her long-awaited new single. Read our full interview with her below.
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SH: Congrats on your big comeback! Why did now feel like the right time to return to music and step back into the spotlight?
Maeta: If it were entirely in my control, it probably would’ve happened a long time ago. I think I wasn’t in the right headspace and needed the right people around me.
Everything finally aligned, and I’m glad I’m putting this music out now.
(‘Decimate’ via MAETASWORLD)
SH: What can fans look forward to from your new era of music? Are there any new sounds or concepts you intend to explore, or do you see this as returning to your roots?
Maeta: One of the biggest changes for me has been being able to share my story in my own way. For the first time, I feel fully in control of what I put out and how I tell it.
That said, I haven’t made a dramatic shift in my sound or completely changed genres just yet.
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SH: How do you feel you’ve evolved as an artist since you’ve been on hiatus? How has your perspective shifted, and what have been the biggest changes that made you see things in a new way?
Maeta: I think I used to let everything in life happen to me. My schedule and what music I put out were always controlled by other people, and I kind of felt like a puppet in every aspect of my life.
With this new era, I was forced to make my own decisions for the first time and depend solely on myself to decide what I want to do. I think that has been the biggest challenge and also a lesson through all of this. But I feel fully authentic in everything I’m doing now.
(Photo credit: Marco Roman)
SH: Tell us about your new track, “Decimate.” What does the song mean to you, and why did it feel like the right song for your return?
Maeta: “Decimate” is a fan favorite that I’ve been teasing for a long time. It was supposed to come out in 2024, and life happened, and it got stalled. People to this day still ask for it, so I felt like it was a great way to thank my fans for their loyalty and give them what they’ve been asking for!
SH: What’s your favorite lyric from the song? Why?
Maeta: My favorite lyric is probably “Touch of your hands. Start a fire in me, come and tire me, you inspire me… can’t understand it entirely.”
It’s not my deepest lyric, but I love the rhyme and the tongue-in-cheekiness.
(Photo credit: Marco Roman)
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SH: Is there anything you can tease about what fans can expect next?
Maeta: Vocals, vocals and more vocals
SH: Is there anything else fans should know about you at this point in your life and career?
Maeta: I’m so excited to be back and for fans to see what’s to come. I don’t plan on taking any more hiatuses anytime soon!
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For more on the great new music out today, click HERE to read our interview with Jae Stephens on her debut album, AUDACITY.
