May 8, 2024

Hello readers! The end of our time together draws near. I hope that you enjoyed my previous articles about Conan Gray and The Smashing Pumpkins. To be honest, I wasn’t a fan of writing The Smashing Pumpkins column—not because it was a different genre than what I normally listen to, but because it was last minute, not what I wanted and more importantly, it wasn’t me. Originally, I wanted to write about myself, how music plays a huge part in my life. Someone said it was “too boring” and “too much about me.” Respectfully, forget you, it’s my last column so I’m gonna do it anyway. 

Ever since I was a baby, my mother said I loved Anita Baker. She would play Baker’s songs whenever I would cry and if she watched anything that had music in it, it would draw my attention. When I was a little bit older, my sister and I would sing all kinds of songs together. Songs on the radio like “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen (a personal favorite), songs from Disney and Nickelodeon shows and karaoke. My sister and I have very different music tastes but I sometimes listen to the stuff she enjoyed when she was a teen. 

I briefly mentioned this in my first column: I’ve been in choir almost every year I’ve been in school, except for eighth grade and sophomore year (due to scheduling). Some of my best memories from my time in choir are learning songs in different languages, making new friends, going on field trips and watching “Hairspray” (which I got to see at Playhouse Square for my birthday). It was an amazing show.

 I love writing songs in my free time, but believe me when I say (sorry country fans) that I’d rather listen to country music than sing one of my songs (let alone allow someone to read it). Except Carrie Underwood. She’s iconic. Would I ever consider releasing songs for people to hear? Maybe. Just…maybe. 

I really don’t have much more to say except that if I do become famous, I would allow (some of) you to say that you knew me in high school. I would say “until next time readers” like I normally do but there is no next time, just goodbye.

Xoxo, Mai