Maya Azucena was invited to join forces with Turkish designer Cigdem Akin to perform her uplifting song, Fearless, at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Istanbul. In a costume created by Cigdem, Maya sang on the catwalk during the finale of Akin’s runway show, as the 2018 Spring Collection was showcased by a dozen models.
Maya’s latest single, “Unleash Me,” is available worldwide on all digital platforms. Unleash Me is the title track of her forthcoming album. Co-written and produced by Sonix The Mad Scientist (Sean “P-Diddy” Combs, 50 Cent, DMC of Run-DMC, Maxi Priest, Mick Mars from Motley Crue, Mario Winans), it Fuses Soul, Rock and Pop. Unleash Me is a soaring vocal anthem meant to inspire. Maya has 3 albums under her belt, with her 4th on the way.
(more…)Maya Azucena was invited by the U.S. Embassy in Lesotho AFRICA to do a tour in celebration of 50 years of Independence, and 50 Years of Partnership with the United States. Maya’s tour resulted in rousing concerts including one for the King and Queen of Lesotho, at U.S. Ambassador’s house. Her tour included stage and recording collaborations with local talent (Seramula Choir, Basotho Sounds Band, and singer-saxphonist Budhaza). Maya, along with her band, also conducted vibrant workshops for fellow musicians and youth. They were fortunate to even have local filmmakers create a documentary of their trip!
(more…)Maya has a famous collaboration with Croatian rockstar, Gibonni. Many may not know, she’s been invited to Former-Yugoslavia countries more than 40 times with Gibonni, and has appeared on stage with him at more than 100 concerts, as his special guest. In most cases, the audience is 10,000 or more in number. Her recent appearance at Spaladium Arena in Spilt Croatia was for a crowd upwards of 14,000 people. It was exhilarating, as Maya sang duets and the parts she wrote in English with Gibonni’s well-known Croatian anthems. Her work with Gibonni makes a statement that music truly is a universal language that can bring worlds together.
Maya returned to Russia to join the talented Oleg Butman Trio on a 10-venue tour of the country. This was Maya’s 8th visit to Russia, backed by Oleg Butman Trio. In their recent 10 days tour, they traveled more than 10,000 miles within the country including the island of Sakhalin, off the eastern coast of Russia. Well-received in all venues, Maya was impressed by the emotional response to her original songs and lyrics.
(more…)In July, Maya went to New Orleans as part of one of the best festivals in the country, the Essence Festival! She joined the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Tyra Banks, Reverend Al Sharpton, Misty Copeland, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, MTV’s Todrick Hall and others on the Essence Empowerment Experience Stage. Performing songs from her forthcoming LP, Unleash Me, she was proud to lend her voice to the themes of empowerment.
On June 29th, Maya joined nearly 3000 world renowned change-makers as both speaker and performer at the 2016 Points of Light’s Conference on Volunteering and Service in Detroit. It is the largest service-related convening of nonprofit, government, business and civic leaders in the world. Each year, thousands of people who really care about the future of volunteer service convene in one place – to learn from, share with and get inspired by one another- to work together to increase the number of volunteers in the world and the impact of the work they do.
Maya returns to Russia on all-star lineup. On July 11th, Maya returned to Russia to celebrate the 50th birthday extravaganza of jazz musician drummer-composer Oleg Butman. She joined an all-star lineup of players including Igor Butman (Sax), RANDY BRECKER (trumpet), Natalia Smirnov-Butman (Vocal / piano), and LEON FOSTER Thomas (steel pan) at the prestigious Svetlanovskiy Hall in Moscow, and the Coliseum in St Petersburg.
Spring 2016 brings great press for Maya’s recent single releases and appearances. Stand out feature articles in Pop Wrapped, Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Blavity, and Pancakes&Whiskey
“Travels in Music” podcast Hosted by Zachary Stockill, “Maya Azucena shares a cross-continental story of song and survival. Every artist has a unique and compelling story to tell, but after our conversation, I would argue that Maya’s story is more compelling than most.”