Behind the scenes of her new single, XO Girl, are years of iyah may’s journey to get where she is now.
While studying to become a doctor, the rising artist – formerly known as Mayah – took a leap into the deep to do what she loved. She hung up her stethoscope and moved to NYC on a student loan, hellbent on pursuing any possible musical connection she could.
Before making the leap, though, she was at a crossroads. It was during her first year as a registered medical doctor that iyah may began writing XO Girl, a track about sticking to your convictions.
Featuring a verse from up-and-coming Gold Coast rapper Saint Lane, the bold track is a testament to how iyah may grabbed hold of that energy to carry her through those years of external pressure. ""There's a lot of self-conviction & empowerment in the lyrics, which is how I felt when I was making it. I was learning a lot about confidence & believing in myself that year. And this song makes me feel like a boss.""
No stranger to embedding tough realities into her music – her debut single Pray, released in 2019 as Mayah, was a track reflecting the social pressures that threaten to bring us down when we get too lost in the social media scroll – iyah may knows the power of music to bring feelings shimmering to the surface & soundtrack tough times. ""XO Girl is drawn from being pulled in different directions and having trust in yourself. Sometimes that's all that can get you through a year like the one we've just been through.
