Interview with Maya Waked: On Music, Memory, and Lebanese Identity Amid War
Lebanese-Canadian singer, lyricist, and performer Maya Waked built a musical language that moves between Arabic influences and global sounds, shaping a personal and borderless style. Known for her thoughtful writing and emotionally layered performances, she explores themes of identity, memory, and belonging through music.
In this interview, Maya speaks about creativity amid war, the weight of cultural identity, and how music continues to serve as a bridge between places, people, and memory.
Her work often reflects the experience of navigating multiple cultures, blending her Lebanese roots with her life abroad. Like many artists right now, her perspective has been further shaped by the realities of war and uncertainty in Lebanon. This pushes her to reflect more deeply on the role of music in times of crisis.
“Helmi Ghanilak Bi Beirut” is a reinterpretation weaving Arabic lyrics with the melody of the Italian folk song Bella Ciao. Rather than a straightforward cover, her song reimagines the tune in a Beirut context, carrying it into a more personal space.
You can listen to the full song here:
Make sure to follow Maya Waked on Instagram and check out her music across all streaming platforms here.
Check out the #Support Lebanon and #Lebanese Abroad sections for more content like this.
