Introspective from the get-go, Maya Donovan doesn’t hold back in her absolutely incredible ballad, titled “Lenox”. The inspiration for the song comes from the residual emotions one feels after going through a traumatic time. This acts as the follow-up to her previous single “We Should Get Dinner”.
Maya Donovan, a 24-year-old singer-songwriter hailing from Brooklyn, New York, is a captivating storyteller who effortlessly blends folk, soul, pop, and jazz influences into her music. From a young age, Maya Donovan has been honing her craft, using songwriting as an outlet to express her innermost emotions. Raised in a creative family, with her mother being Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Vanessa Roth and her grandfather screenwriter Eric Roth, Maya Donovan has inherited a deep passion for artistic expression. With her rich, emotive voice and masterful control, she invites listeners into her world, fearlessly addressing the painful aspects of life with honesty, empathy, and wit. As a graduate of New York City’s prestigious LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts, Maya Donovan’s musical journey has been shaped by her education and experiences. Her introspective songwriting delves into themes such as anxiety, self-discovery, and the complexities of navigating Relationships in the digital age. Drawing inspiration from icons like Carole King, Billy Joel, and Lady Gaga, as well as contemporary singer-songwriters including Fiona Apple, Sara Bareilles, Madison Cunningham, and Julia Jacklin, Maya Donovan’s music blends modern sensibilities with the timeless sounds of Laurel Canyon in the 1970s. Maya Donovan’s live performances captivate audiences with her charismatic presence and genuine storytelling, making her a resident artist at the renowned Bitter End in Greenwich Village, a venue that has hosted some of her greatest influences. With Maya Donovan, listeners embark on a journey through her introspective world, embracing vulnerability as her greatest strength and finding solace in her profound and relatable music.
Written and co-produced by Maya Donovan, with Gabriel Leeman acting as co-producer and Kurt Dimmick mastering the track, “Lenox” is a powerful vocal ballad with Maya Donovan completely impressing with her stunning voice, which is surrounded by soft layered synths and a rich bassline. Bringing chills from the very first note, this incredible singer-songwriter knows exactly what she’s doing, releasing slow emotion from her heart right into our ears through hard-hitting lyrics. “Lenox” may be named after a small town in Massachusetts but Maya Donovan’s unstoppable vocals might just make the title of this track identifiable with this awesome ballad. As the track progresses, Maya Donovan hits out with superb layered harmonies. Coming from the heart, the lyrics of “Lenox” recounts her experiences of the weekend her sister went into long-term residential treatment for PTSD. The drifting, soothing ballad is full of so much imagery that you feel every single word that Maya Donovan is singing, her difficulties in not being able to help her sister and finding it difficult to find comfort after such a traumatic experience. Her profound heartache lingers even after the track has finished, making a powerful impact on every single listener.
“At its core, the song is about trauma,” she says. “It’s about watching someone close to me suffer immensely and feeling helpless in the face of her pain.”
Stream “Lenox” by Maya Donovan on Spotify here:
“Lenox”, by Maya Donovan, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms via Plaville Records.