Maya J

Maya Jenkins (aka Maya J), is a dedicated actress, singer, and songwriter. In addition to writing the music and lyrics to all of her own music, she has written full songs for networks such as Freeform. More recently, she has been releasing a steady stream of singles. She chatted with Nyota about her songwriting process and being an actress and singer.

What was one of the biggest obstacles you had to overcome when first starting your career?

The biggest obstacle I had to overcome was my confidence level. I think when you’re a teen, and you’ve been bullied in the past, you are constantly second-guessing yourself. To be a part of an industry where it’s all about rejection, you really have to hold your head up high and not care what anyone thinks. Sometimes the song is a hit, and sometimes it’s not. Sometimes the pilot gets ordered into a full series, and other times it doesn’t. Learning how to roll with the punches and not hate yourself after a bad day or a bad show is important.