We recently connected with Maria Davis and have shared our conversation below.
Maria, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I try to think of the positives in life, rather than dwell on negative things. I think because of that, inspiration comes from many sources. If something bad is happening or going on, I try to figure out a way to make it better, just like anyone would do. From that is where creativity can bloom. Also, besides music I’m also an aerial cinematographer, so the beauty I see while in the air gives tons of inspiration to be creative.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am an electronic chillout music producer. Sometimes I have a bit of trance overtones in my music too. I have released several albums and singles which can be found across all streaming services, and I just released a collaborative album with the artist, 7and5, titled “Synergy”.
In addition to music, I also do filmmaking, specializing in aerial cinematography. I have won multiple awards for my work both in film and music.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think some things that have helped along my journey is my background in marketing, being personable, and kindness. Years ago I worked in marketing and learned a lot about how to get the word out for something. I also worked as a mechanic for several years and in a job like that, you need to know how to sell a big ticket repair. No gimmicks or un-needed service, but if a vehicle needed a new engine… explaining how doing that vs buying another used car and inheriting someone else’s problem would save a person money in the long run. Basically, a pay now or pay later type of thing.
Being personable is just who I am, and kindness goes a long way. We never know what the next person is dealing with in their life. A smile, kind gesture or help when someone needs it can go really far.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
When I was very little, around three years old, my Uncle Tom would play music on his record player. I was so young, I had no idea what the names of the records were, I just knew what I liked, and that was the album, “Chariots of Fire” by Vangelis. I would ask him to play “that one” many times, but he didn’t know what “that one” meant because I didn’t point at anything. It wasn’t until he played it again one day and I said to him, “that one” and from then on he knew. My Uncle Tom really was my first introduction to electronic music, and I’ve been in love with it ever since.
My Mom has always been supportive of the music. She has absolutely no music background and is tone deaf. When I was around six years old she bought a little Casio PT-10 keyboard. Originally it was for my brother, but he showed no interest. She got the sheet music for the song “Memory” where it shows the letters of the notes, and put the little letter stickers on the keys. She sat there for hours teaching me how to play the song. Even though she has no music background, she did know the song, so that’s how she taught me. From there and through the years she would encourage me with making my own compositions on bigger keyboards.
When I was a teenager, I had an accident and ended up breaking and shattering basically ever single bone in my right hand. I had surgery to fix it and the surgeon said I had a 50/50 chance of getting full use of my hand back. Call it a mother’s instinct, but my mom bought me the biggest keyboard she could find that had full size keys. By playing that, I had to stretch my fingers to reach the keys to play, and I really feel that if it wasn’t for that keyboard I might not have regained full use of my hand. Mom always knows best right?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mariadavismusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariadavismusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MariaDavisMusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariadavistotalityfilms/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MariaDavisMusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mariadavis
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/mariadavismusic
- Other: https://linktr.ee/mariadavismusic
