15 minute read
QUEEN OF ARTS
MAYA BEN-MEIR
Tell us about yourself, what your background is, and what brought you to this moment in life.
I was born in Israel in the 80’s, but my mom moved us to Los Angeles when I was nine. I lived there with her for a few years before returning to Israel to live with my dad, finish High School, and enlist in the Israeli Defense Forces (mandatory military service). I’ve been going back and forth between Israel and the US every few years for most of my life, and I’m a dual citizen.
Both of my parents were influential in my music choices through the years. My mom introduced me to classical music, and my dad took care of the rock side of things, as well as Israeli music that we both love very much.
Almost ten years ago I made the decision to move to NYC permanently. I’d discovered that I’m more suited to the East Coast and New York just drew me in. I was feeling stuck at that point in my life, and that the performance side of my career wasn’t going in the direction I’d wanted it to go. I felt like I really needed to kick myself in the butt and I was ready for a big change. I figured New York could be that change, so I gave it a shot.
Best decision I’ve ever made.
I feel like anyone who wants to find an audience for their work can find one in New York. You just have to look.
What made you decide to become a singer, and a kazoo player?
I’ve been studying music since the age of five when my mom asked me if I wanted to learn how to play the piano and I said yes. She bought a beautiful upright piano from friends of the family whose kids didn’t play anymore, and that became the instrument on which I learned the beginnings of music, and I also sang at school and briefly at a children’s choir.
When we moved to Los Angeles I picked up the violin, and when I entered Junior High School I took both orchestra and chorus. I was also accepted into the madrigals, a chamber ensemble that performed extra concerts and a cappella (without accompaniment) works.
Singing ended up being my favorite way to express myself musically.
The kazoo entered into the picture about 10 years ago when I first decided to perform Queen’s song ‘Seaside Rendezvous’ in a show. I’ve always loved this fast-paced, quirky song, and I thought it was funny that Queen chose to use kazoos when they recorded it. I don’t know any other mainstream band that made such a choice, so naturally I had to get a kazoo so that I could do it justice.
As far as I know, Queen never performed this particular song live, and it’s the only song they’ve recorded with kazoos (which I believe were played by Roger Taylor, Queen’s drummer.)
Where did you receive your education? What is your profession when you are not singing?
I went to The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance for both my B. Mus and M. Mus degrees, as well as countless private lessons and coachings, workshops and seminars. When not singing I’ve done a variety of things including admin work, office management, social media marketing, event production, and more.
What motivates you both personally and professionally?
The first thing that comes to mind when I think about this question is love. My love for music, my passion for nuance and lyrics, melodies, harmonies, the whole shebang, and my want and need to share it with people. It’s hard to translate it into words. Having common experiences with people and being able to convey feelings through music is just the best feeling. The times in my life when I’ve managed to do that have been the most profound in my life, both as a soloist and as part of an ensemble.
What does the word empowerment mean to you?
Empowerment means being able to trust yourself. Being able to stand tall in front of people and be true to yourself while still respecting others and your surroundings. It means knowing that you’re capable of everything you’d like to achieve, no matter how long it takes and how hard the road.
Who is one person that has inspired you in your music career and why? Freddie Mercury has been an enormous inspiration in my music career. I talk about him a lot at my show, ‘Not The Queen You Know’. The show is about the band, Queen, with a focus on Freddie Mercury as the magnificent performer and musician that he was, and my own journey as a performer through that lens. His voice was exceptional, with a very
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wide range and versatility both in complexity and style. He could hold audiences in the palm of his hand and make the person standing furthest from him in a 200,000 seat stadium feel as if they were right next to him. What’s not to like?
What do you feel are your greatest strengths both as a musician and personally?
My strengths as a musician - and personally - lie in my own versatility and ability to adapt to different genres, and my emotional intelligence.
I’ve had to move across the world several times in my life, whether by my own choice or other circumstances, and that has taught me to be flexible and take things as they come, as well as introduced me to different cultures that I might not have known otherwise.
All of these components led to my empathy towards people, as well as empathy in my music.
How did you reach your level of success? Just like everybody else - hard work over many years.
You don’t get to be a professional musician without it. There have been many lessons learned over the years, a few faux pas here and there, and experiences that have taught me to listen and absorb more than anything else.
When I first moved to NY I didn’t know a lot of people in my field, just a few school friends from Israel, but they weren’t singers. Little by little, through word of mouth and new connections I made, I carved out a path that I’m still on in order to continue becoming the performer I want to be.
What skills have you learned that will help you in your singing/music career? As I mentioned before - listening. Whether it’s in a rehearsal room or a conversation amongst colleagues, listening is the best tool to get ahead. When you’re on stage, unless you’re a solo performer you’re never alone. It’s always a joint effort. I would actually argue that you’re never alone even if you’re a solo performer, because the audience is still there and they’re a big component of the show. So listening is super important, so that you can tune into the mood as well as help create it and invite people into your experience.
What kind of singer would you classify yourself as?
I introduce myself in the show as a classically trained mezzo-soprano with a fetish for rock music. It’s really a deep love of rock music.
If I had to sum it up I would call myself a multi-genre singer and performer.
“What is your ‘why? ‘” Why motivated you to pursue a music career?
I was pretty young when I decided that whatever I ended up doing, music would have to be a part of it. It was before I’d made the final decision that singing would be ‘it’, but I just couldn’t picture myself doing anything else. I always saw myself, and wanted to see myself, up on a stage.
What has been the best performance of your career so far?
That’s a tough one to answer. As a soloist I have to say it’s these recent shows of ‘Not The Queen You Know’ at the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival. Airigami, the wonderful balloon artists, have been the most awesome hosts over at ‘Made On State’, and the shows have been amazing. The original performance of the show at the famed ‘Don’t Tell Mama’ in NYC two years ago is also high up there.
As an ensemble singer it’s also tough to pick just one. It would be a toss-up between getting to perform with ‘The Tallis Scholars’, one of the premiere renaissance ensembles in the world, after a weeklong workshop with them at Carnegie Hall, and being a chorister at a performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ ‘A Sea Symphony’, also at Carnegie Hall.
What accomplishments do you see yourself achieving in the next five to 10 years?
I see myself growing as a solo performer as well as a chorister, working with premiere ensembles and collaborating on projects, performing on bigger stages and reaching a wider audience. My life partner, Christopher Whipple, and I have a project called ‘FKITYES’ that we began during that pandemic and are planning to relaunch next year. It’s a web-series centered on stories of bravery and courage, big or small, of everyday people, as well as our own journey to create the show. I see this project as central in both of our lives to become better creators and bring more positivity into the public eye. You can find us at: fkityes.com
I just love it. Listening to music when I was a child made me want to participate in it. I always liked to sing in music class, and when offered the chance to learn formally, I immediately took it.
Melodies tend to draw me in. I’m fascinated by how they move and what kinds of emotions they can evoke. When I’m happy, I sing. When I’m sad, I sing. There’s something for every feeling under the sun.
What do you feel makes a good woman leader?
I feel like a good woman leader is holistic. She should be compassionate while decisive. Knowing how to listen to others and take note of their requirements but at the same time having a vision of how things work. She needs to be able to see herself in others’ shoes while acknowledging who she is and where she comes from to try and achieve a collaborative environment, with herself at the helm.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
I read a lot. Fantasy and sci-fi are my favorite genres, but I also read romance with strong female characters. I love to cook, but I love baking more. I totally got into the sourdough phase during the first part of the pandemic. When I have more time, I plan to return to that particular hobby. I have a big love for bread.
What was the hardest decision you ever had to make?
When I first moved to LA with my mom, I didn’t like it at all. I had a hard time making friends and there was a
lot of culture shock, and I just wanted to go back home to Israel. Five years later my parents gave me the choice to go back to Israel, if I still wanted. That ended up being a much harder decision than I had anticipated, because I didn’t realize how I had grown into that place. I had made friends by then and was active in the music program. I did end up moving back to Israel at that point, but it remains one of the most difficult and meaningful decisions I’ve ever made.
What kind of music do you like?
I love classical music. Mozart and Verdi are favorites, as well as Vaughan Williams, Aaron Copland, Benjamin Britten, and Samuel Barber.
I love a lot of older rock music such as Queen, The Police, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and also some alternative bands like The Barenaked Ladies, Fastball, and Guster.
And a whole lot of Israeli artists.
Where will we see you next?
Next you will see me back at Made On State (510 State St) this Saturday, September 25, at 4PM and 9PM for my final ‘Not The Queen You Know’ shows of this Rochester Fringe Festival run. I’m beyond excited and happy with how this show is turning out and the experiences I’m having with people. Performing in front of a live audience again is unbelievable.
After that I’m planning more shows in NYC, to be announced on my website: mayabmusic.com and on social media.
YOU ARE ENOUGH. BE STILL
BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO BY OMENESA ORUMA AKOMOLAFE
My over achiever type A personalityreally set me up for major disappointments in the past. I am a Fixer. I am always DOING. Every thing I do ends with an “ING”, and so moments I had to wait on God, were extremely excruciating, because I’d always been in a continuousstate of accomplishing, moving, results. That’s the word, Results!!! of me. A side where I fought with all my might, and even my hands.
When one plus one has always equaled two, it’s hard to fathom when you calculate it again and it equals NOTHING, or it gives you a different answer, like 5. An odd number for that matter. I have had to wait on God for children. I have had to wait on my dad and my husband’s immigration. I have had to wait on better job offers and I found myself praying for a shift to take place, miraculously. Living in New York has made being “Still” even-harder. But I try everyday not to take matters into my own hands, because that’s what ended up happening for so long. I experience with forcing God’s arm, and all that does is expose you to the RIGHT people, places or promotion at the WRONG time, rendering you inept and irrelevant. It wasn’t until late 2020, that I began to get comfortable with God’s plan. I lost my job and accommodation in the covid season, and I found myself sleeping on the floor. In a few months God blessed me with over 3 jobs and got me a home for my family. I started to trust that God knew what He was doing. I’m coming from a place of God not healing me from scoliosis to watching my mother die from cancer ,when God healed others through g her. I have had to face Cultural shock and abuse from many quarters ministerially, all these experiences brought out a violent side As I got older in age and in my relationship withGod, I realized that aggressionsaps power. It takes alot of energy to be in control, to be angry(even if justified), and justice is still not served, as your emotions would have caused you to misrepresent yourself, AGAIN! I eventually saw that my anger and aggressio was coming from a place of deep rooted resentment.
I have had to watch people get ahead while I seem to be in limbo. But I’m a daddy’s girl. You know how you just trust whatever daddy says and whatever daddy does? You know how when you think and look back on those words he once spoke that didn’t make sense? Suddenly you find yourself saying, “ Mmmmm, Dad was right”. That’s where I am now with God. I trust Him. I trust that He is right. I trust that He has been right. I trust that He is right. I trust that He will be right. I trust Him because I have nothing to lose, neither does He. He wouldn’t benefit from my pain or from his “Punishment”, neither would I. So would He hurt me? He can’t, and He won’t. I trust Him because He created me. I trust Him because He created my father. I trust Him because He has utilized me in the past. I trust Him because He gave me a miracle before, surely, He will do it again(You can listen to me singing this song on my YouTube page and on my 4th album) He will do it again. Yes!!! I trust Him.
I didn’t say it’s easy to trust Him, because it is not, and it’s even harder to be still, but stillness and trust are synonymous. When you trust where your husband is at an odd hour and the company of friends he’s with, you’d be still, because you trust where
He is. You trust that he isn’t where he shouldn’t be. Even if where he is where he shouldn’t be,, because your psyche is so full of trust in him, you wouldn’t change the narrative in your head. I just trust that God will do what He said He would do in my life.
I choose to trust that He is telling me the truth, plus He has a track record of faithfulness towards me. A record of His consistent presense. Even the time you didn’t feel Him or see Him, He allowed and or orchestrated all that concerned you. He has shown up one too many times, though at very odd and late times, but He showed up, and it panned out to be just on time.
Being still means to trust that God knows what He is doing. While you are being still, go ahead and do all He has called you to do. Don’t fixate on what you don’t have or on where you are not at, just focus on where you are, and be grateful for the
