With a national tour on the horizon, Maya Hawke is opening up about the artists who have influenced her sound, and one name has caught our attention.
In a recent interview, she spoke candidly about the influence Taylor Swift has had on her musical journey.
Why Maya Hawke Saw Taylor Swift As An Inspirational Figure
Maya Hawke didn’t hold back when talking to Rolling Stone about just how deeply Taylor Swift has influenced her. She explained that Swift changed the way an entire generation connects with music.
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As a musician focusing on lyrical storytelling, Maya Hawke stated that she looks up to Taylor Swift a lot. “I think she made a generation of young people who listen to music and think, ‘Oh, wow, my life could matter. Like, my feelings could matter,'” she said.
That impact hit close to home for Hawke. She explained that Swift’s music gave her the confidence to believe that even the smallest, most personal details are worth turning into songs. She also admitted that this influence has been there for as long as she can remember, saying she has been listening to Swift her entire life and has always felt inspired by her work.
Hawke admitted she knows every Taylor Swift song by heart, adding, “You could start any song from any word, and I would be able to know where you were and finish it probably.” She describes it as “undeniable influence.”
Maya Hawke’s Own Struggle With Songwriting
Despite her deep love for music, Maya Hawke admitted that she didn’t always feel confident about writing her own songs. In fact, she revealed that being surrounded by incredibly talented musicians often made her hesitate rather than feel encouraged.
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Opening up about that phase, Hawke said, “I just didn’t think I was any good… and this is where great fortune meets its own complications.” While she had access to some of the best artists in the industry, that same exposure made her doubt whether her own ideas were strong enough to stand alongside theirs.
She reflected that things might have been very different otherwise. Hawke shared that if she hadn’t been in those circles, she probably would have been quietly making demos in her room and uploading them online. Instead, she found herself in situations where, as she put it, “Hey, come over, I’ve got the greatest guitar player in the world here who wants to write a song with you.”
Over time, however, her perspective began to change. Hawke explained that it took her a while to truly value her own voice because it was hers. As she put it, she eventually learned to see her ideas as worthwhile, “not because it was better, but because it was mine.”
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