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Depending on your hemisphere, the days are starting to dull slightly, light dimming a little earlier everyday, warm but more and more cozy. If you needed the musical equivalent of a favorite sweater, a garment you can wrap yourself in and be instantly soothed, that Maya Unagi’s latest EP Pieces will be the snug music fit you need. We got so warm and fuzzy listening, we just had to dig in more. So we poured some hot water and sent some letters to get the tea from this immersive talent ourselves: 

OnesToWatch: Who is Maya Unagi?

Maya Unagi: Loaded question out the gate! Honestly, I’m still figuring that out. For now, Maya Unagi is the songstress that lives in me. She’s creating the music she wants to hear, not bending to trend or label demands. Her writing explores less-traversed thematic terrain—we have so many songs about romantic love, but there’s a lot more to the human experience. And she loves her live instrumentation. She strives to make records that are timeless and true, ones she will proudly stand by three decades from now.

What is Pieces all about?

Pieces is an assortment of themes and snippets. It’s an introspective project primarily centered around self-love and exploration. I didn’t have this intention while writing, but in retrospect, a loose story arc did emerge within the project. The deception in “Fool’s Gold” fosters an overthinking and self-doubt chronicled in “Mirage”. And “Home” is a grounding reclamation…the re-centering after a spiral.“Stumbling” offers gentle self-forgiveness to remedy lingering shame about falling victim to delusion and self-doubt. And “Balloon” is an expansive ode to the vast possibility the future holds—it’s an invitation to dream, to imagine a better reality.

What a sexy sound, how’d that come about?

Sheesh buy me dinner first! But pretty naturally, I’d say.

Any collaborations or features? Who produced the EP?

There’s one formal feature on the project—Lionmilk on “Balloon”. He’s the only other vocalist on the project. He played Rhodes and co-produced the record as well. I fell in love with his sound upon first listen years ago, so to be able to work with him feels really special. There are several brilliant collaborators on Pieces!

Biako (aka Itai Shapira) produced “Mirage”, and that was a magical experience. He invited me to come check out his studio (Revival) and I started playing this idea I’d been tinkering with on the Wurlitzer. He thought it was dope, so we scheduled a proper session, and I took some time to flesh out the writing. He brought Mano on to track drums, who laid the smoothest almost lopsided groove.

"Mirage" took quite some time to unfold; I wrote the string and flute parts over the course of six months after the first session, and went back to track those lines.5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Sara Kawai and I co-produced “Home” and she sprinkled some harp on the track. She’sso badass. The song is an anti-patriarchal reclamation anthem, so it felt extra potent to bring it to life with a fellow Asian American femme musician. Curran produced “Stumbling” and played live drums on it. The story behind this collaboration is a testament to serendipity. We met senior year of high school by playing in an honor band together, and eventually lost touch. Then two years ago, we bumped into each other at a mutual’s jazz show at the Baked Potato…and the rest is history. It was a fateful coincidence. Curran is a maximally relaxed human being, but he’s tweaking the snare EQ at 3 AM to get it just right. The roster of instrumentalists on “Stumbling” is oozing with talent. We had Sara Kawai on harp once again, Sara Madani on strings, Karim Hutton (Kace Music) on bass, and David Lechuga on guitar. In addition to Lionmilk, the legendary Bubby Lewis played bass on “Balloon.” I should probably credit myself too. I played keys on every track but “Balloon”, and bass clarinet on all tracks except “Fool’s Gold”. I did some of the drums on “Home” and“Balloon” as well.

We keep hearing romance is dead, does that track for you?

I don’t think she’s fully dead yet, but she’s seriously ill. Ten years ago I’d have a different answer for you, but as I’ve gotten older the veil has been lifted in an irreversible way.

Favorite artists of all time?

Jhene Aiko, Pink Floyd, Erykah Badu, Steely Dan, Hiatus Kaiyote, Sade, Madlib, Mndsgn, Frank Ocean

Besides this excellent EP what else should we be on the lookout for?

Merch and shows! I have some really cool, thoughtfully designed merch coming your way. And I’ll be opening for Yaya Bey at The Independent in San Francisco on 9/26.

What's inspiring you right now outside of music?

At the moment, I’m finishing up Breaking Bad for the first time and that’s had me in a chokehold. I also teach piano, and the imagination of my youngest students has been a soul salve lately. I’ve also been really intrigued by nail art. My most evergreen source of inspiration is the natural world around me.

Best setting to enjoy your music?

With Pieces, every track is so different, but some foolproof ones would be a morning stretch, an evening stroll, rush hour, folding laundry, and practicing yoga (shoutout Peloton).

Musically, who is new but making all the right moves? Who are your current OnesToWatch?

Claire Brooks, Annahstasia, Lexa Gates, Ovrkast, Joyce Wrice