Melbourne-based Māori pop artist Mareya is making waves with her energetic and deeply vulnerable new single, ‘ADHD & Me’. In this powerful anthem, she opens up about her personal journey with ADHD, reflecting on the challenges of understanding her own mind and the relief that came with her diagnosis. With a unique blend of heartfelt songwriting and captivating production, crafted in her home studio, Mareya captures both the chaos and beauty of her experiences. As a rising star who has already shared stages with notable acts like The Jungle Giants and The Veronicas, Mareya is not only gaining traction with over 620K streams and 1.9 million video views on social media but is also aiming to inspire and connect with audiences through her music.
Let’s dive into my interview with Mareya, to explore her creative process and the significance behind ‘ADHD & Me’.
Your music blends raw vulnerability with high energy—how did you find that balance, and how has it evolved over time?
I wanted to essentially delve deep into the personal struggles I was facing during the writing process of my upcoming EP and reflect this in the songs but also not have everything come out as ballads. In the past I would usually write a ballad or an angry rock song when I felt these feelings but I was set on making an epic pop record that could still carry the essence of that raw vulnerability because I wanted the lyrics to connect. I love pop or dance songs that are actually sad in theme but have high energy, I think Charli XCX does this really well!
Being a Māori-Australian artist, how does your cultural identity influence your songwriting and sound?
Sonically I haven’t got anything yet to release that reflects my culture but I do have a few demos where I have been playing with sampling sounds from Māori instruments and language. It is really important to me to reflect this in my music in future and I want to take my time with it. In terms of influence though, I listen to alot of Māori music. It is very healing and grounding for me. Performing in Kapa Haka when I was younger was actually my intro to singing and performance!
You’re not just a performer, but also a producer and songwriter. How does wearing all those hats affect your creative process?
I’ve been on and off producing since I was 19 and love being able to access this part of my creativity when writing. I still have a bit of imposter syndrome when it comes to producing because I struggle a bit with the tech side of it (working on it!) but I do really enjoy it. Being able to hear all the sounds you want for your song in your head when writing just makes the process so much more exciting to execute and gives you more creative control so I can be the one who directs my sound. It makes it easier when working with co-producers too because essentially we can speak each other’s language when it comes to communicating what’s best for a song.
This upcoming EP is described as your most personal project yet. What made you decide to open up on such a deep level this time?
Honestly, it was really down to what I was feeling and going through at the time. These last 2 years have been rough mental health wise and so It just felt natural to write about and that was therapy for me. It is scary though, it feels like I am handing over a diary of my deepest insecurities and feelings to the world which feels very exposing. I wanted to make it as authentic as possible because I feel it will really help validate others who have or are going through similar things.
Mental health and societal expectations are big themes in your new work. Was there a turning point or specific experience that inspired that focus?
With regards to mental health, getting diagnosed with ADHD was definitely part of what sparked that focus. I have also been very passionate about social expectations (particularly for women) since I was younger and having experienced these pressures myself for so long, they had taken a toll on me mentally and I needed to get it off my chest. There is a song on my EP called Ugly which is a focus track for these themes. It’s also the only ballad on the EP.
What do you hope listeners take away after hearing the full EP?
I hope they feel less alone in their personal struggles and have something they can connect with that validates them. Also, the majority of the EP is actually quite upbeat so I just want people to also be entertained and enjoy it! You can dance to it, you can cry to it and you can just vibe to it. It is also a bit of a blend of early 2000’s nostalgia with a mix of today’ssonic elements so I hope people enjoy that aspect too.
Let’s chat about ‘ADHD & Me’. What was the initial spark that led to this track?
When I was diagnosed I found a lot of comfort in connecting with others online who also have ADHD. Music is truly the soundtrack to people’s lives and I noticed when I was engaging with ADHD content on social media, that there wasn’treally an anthem for us ADHD folk at the time, so I decided to use that as an opportunity to write one and fill that gap! I was inspired by all that I was learning about myself and ADHD at the time too.
You describe it as a ‘battle cry‘ and a celebration of neurodivergence. What message are you hoping it sends to listeners who see themselves in it?
‘ADHD & Me’ captures the ADHD experience—the self-blame, the lightbulb moment of understanding, and the mix of emotions that come with it. I chose an upbeat sound to reflect hyperactivity and give ADHDers something fun to bop to, helping transmute its heaviness. A softer, vulnerable bridge honours the struggles. Writing this was cathartic, and I hope it helps others feel seen, get diagnosed, or better understand a loved one. I am still learning to accept and celebrate this part of me and this song really helps when I’m feeling down about it and I’d love for it to be that for someone else too.
The music video is set to be high-energy and chaotic – in the best way. What was the concept behind it, and how involved were you in shaping the visual narrative?
This video is my best attempt at capturing the many facets of ADHD in a dynamic 3-minute visual. Every scene reflects something I’ve experienced, with deeper metaphors like the maze, symbolizing what it feels like navigating an ADHD brain. I wanted to showcase ADHD truthfully while keeping it engaging—fast-paced, ever-changing, and stimulating, just like our minds. The only slow moment aligns with the song’s shift, mirroring the sonic experience itself. You can think of it as something mirrored off ‘a day in the life with ADHD’. I was heavily involved in the entire process, my partner Younique and I both wrote the treatment, shot listed every scene and directed the video. It was also fully self funded by myself and I was lucky to get to make it with some very talented friends of ours.
Have you received any responses ahead of release from fans who relate to the ADHD experience? What’s that been like for you?
Yes! And it warms my heart everytime! I have had people with ADHD come up to me at gigs where I have performed it sharing how much they love the song. I’ve also had a few people on Tik Tok comment on it when I have shared a teaser too so I’m really excited to get it out there. And my friends who have ADHD really connect with it so that’s a nice sign as well that it has a place for people.
You’ve toured and played support with Morning Maxwell for artists like The Veronicas and played iconic venues like the Corner Hotel. How have those live experiences shaped your performance style?
Those were some of the most fun shows I’ve ever played! The Keep It Together festival where The Veronicas headlinedwas a highlight. That show really inspired me, it was the first time I had worked directly with a choreographer for a performance. I only found out a few days prior that I’d be performing there and it showed me that I definitely want to incorporate dance into future live shows after pulling that off. I had a blast!
Now that you’re signed to an indie label like Tomboi Records, how has that changed your approach to creating and releasing music?
To be honest, I’m still working just as hard as I was as a fully independent artist (if not harder) because I really want to utilize the opportunities I have with my label. It’s been great for me to have a team that is delegated some of the essentials, especially for someone who has ADHD. It allows me to focus more on the creative side of things which I like.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a woman in the pop music industry, and how do you push through it?
There are honestly so many challenges you can face as a woman in pop. The scope is large. I think identity has been a huge struggle for me, not only because of the stereotypes placed on us but because it always feels like there’s some kinda expectation that pop is only for young and hot women. I’ve experienced different things when being in more of a rock music scene or around punk and I wish we could have the same attitudes to women in pop as we do those other genres. It feels a bit reductive sometimes and I often in the past have struggled to connect my identity to what I am doing because the patriarchy runs so strong, everywhere, but also very much so in music and entertainment. I speak about some of my general struggles as a woman with body image issues in the ballad on my EP and I think being a performer definitelyexacerbates those things for me sometimes. It feels that there are higher standards for female performers than male performers when it comes to image and it irks me alot. How I push through it is writing about it, having supportive people around you, books and…therapy.
What’s something you’re doing with this EP sonically or lyrically that you’ve never done before?
Having a theme has been something I haven’t done so much before because I’ve always released singles so the lyrical angle is what feels different this time more than the sonic itself. In saying that though, it’s the first time I’ve released music that leans into a rock influenced sound so I’m glad to be sharing those elements of my musical roots too. And the other side of it celebrates my love for dance pop. Sonically, the EP is very much a few different influences all meshed together on one body of work. It’s a blend of pop rock and dance pop which I’m particularly excited about.
Regarding the lyrical aspect, that’s where there is more of a cohesive theme. And it’s been fun to do so. Luckily it all came together nicely but I think that’s also just down to the fact that I have been more honest on a deeper level lyrically. So naturally, the through line theme found itself. I feel this is because I lent into what I was just going through at the time instead of trying to create a ‘vibe’ like I have often done before with what I release. This time I went for the truth. Not to say that I don’t have some deep and truthful songs out there. But these songs are more about addressing the relationship I have with myself and moving away from writing about a lover or an ex..
What’s next for Mareya after this release? More touring? Collaborations? World domination?
After this I have a few more singles to tease you with before the EP comes out. It’s a 6 track EP so I decided I wanted more than just one or two singles for it because I feel these songs deserve their own time to marinate. I am feeling excited to get these songs stage ready too. I’m also toying with the idea of creating a visual for the last single too but unsure yet…we shall see. I’d like to get some remixes going too so there’s a few things brewing that you can keep your eyes and ears peeled for.
Mareya‘s ‘ADHD & Me’ is now live for you to stream on your favourite music streaming platform, including Spotify and Apple Music. For more Australian music interviews, keep reading right here on TAGG.
