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It’s been less than a month since Maia Potter’s first four recorded songs went up on Spotify and other streaming services, and the number of listeners and followers is steadily climbing.
The first track, a wistful, piano-centric 3:45-minute song entitled “before”, has been listened to on Spotify more than 1480 times, by listeners in more than 50 countries. More than 860 users are now following the new artist.
Maia is just 13.
It’s been an exciting time for the year eight Albany Junior High student, who lives in Manly and Greenhithe and hails from a family brimming with creative talent.
For three consecutive years, Maia won or was runner-up in the NZ Music Month North Shore intermediate school songwriting competition. Over the winter, she spent three days in the Devonport studio of Depot Sound, the competition’s sponsor, where her EP was produced and recorded.
“It was a really good learning experience, very beneficial for my musical career,” Maia says. “I really enjoyed it too – it was great fun.”
Unusually for her age, Maia grew up listening to bands that were big before she was born – Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, even the Beatles.
Her own musical journey began with just a simple ukulele, which she picked up quickly.
“She’s just musically minded and was able to figure it out quickly,” says her Dad, Francis. “Some people have to mechanically learn an instrument. Maia just has this ability – it’s like a second language to her.”
She plays the piano and guitar, is learning to play the bass, and says she’d love to learn the drums as well.
Maia first started writing songs aged eight or nine.
“I start with a melody, sit at the piano or take out my guitar and just play something,” she says. “If I think, wow, that sounds cool, then I’ll build on it – rather than write lyrics first, and work out chords for it.”
Lyrics tend to be “things that are happening in my life”, with the subject matter also depending on whether the melody she has written is “melodic, sad or happy”. She cites the late American musician Jeff Buckley as “a super big inspiration for me.”
In addition to her solo material, Maia is part of a six-person school band, The Conspiracy. In this year’s Rockshop Bandquest contest, with 14 bands participating in the North Shore competition, Maia and bandmate Earl Legasto were awarded for best vocals.
As she moves up to year nine, 2024 will offer new opportunities including the next-level Smokefree Rockquest competition, which unlike Bandquest requires original songs – and also offers a solo/duo category.
“I have been fortunate to have also travelled to many countries with my Mum, which I feel has helped me experience a variety of cultures and better understand a diverse range of music genres,” Maia says.
“I would like to go anywhere that music takes me. I just want my music to be heard and for other people to love it as much as I do. I never expected my music career to go this far already. I’m super-excited for what may come in the future.”
Maia enjoys strong support from her school, friends and family, including younger sister Julia.
“We’re super proud of her,” say Maia’s parents, Francis and Joanna. “It’s just wonderful to see a child of yours who’s got talent, being able to express it and love it and nurture it.”
“Whether it becomes Maia’s career or something that she just loves to do, it’s a fantastic thing to have in your life. Music is so special. It’s something that brings people together.”
