Meet Faeya.

April 11, 2021. Interview conducted by Arielle Longo.

Faeya is a 16 year old singer-songwriter from Toronto, Ontario.

Arielle: What first inspired you to become an artist?

Faeya: All my songs are about everything that has happened to me and the experiences of the people in my life. My family inspires me greatly. Growing up, I was immersed in music. My parents signed me up to begin piano lessons when I was four, and I began singing shortly after. Though my close relatives are not musicians, my family has a deep appreciation for music. Through the years, I have experimented with various genres, including classical, jazz and pop. Once I stopped following a curriculum, I was able to develop my own performance and compositional style. To this day, I continue to study classical piano, which I consider the core influence of my musical style. Undergoing classical piano education has been the most important and constant passion of mine. Before applying lyrics to my melodies, I learned to feel and convey emotion through instrumental pieces – which I think had a big impact on my creative style.

Are there people/artists in particular that inspire you?

I’ve always adored the Romantic Era and continue to be inspired by great composers like Chopin, Beethoven and Mendelssohn. Also, I’ve always loved poetry and writing. When I began experimenting with songwriting around the age of 11, I discovered the beauty of the combination of creative writing and music. This was the moment when I thought, “Wow, this is something I really want to pursue!”. I have always listened to a wide range of genres; including lots of classical music and music from artists like Joni Mitchell, Bon Iver, Taylor Swift, Birdy, and Gabrielle Aplin, who continue to inspire me.

What is your creative process like?

I am a strong believer that where there is emotion, there is music. I don’t have a specific routine. I am always creating music, recording clips of melodies on my phone and writing lyrics and poems in my journals. Often, those will remain as ideas, ready to be pieced together when I forcefully try to write. Other times, I will sit beside a piano and the music will come so easily. This is my favourite way to write because the song always turns out more meaningful and raw. When I am inspired by an experience, a person or an emotion, I will note down a musical concept. Creativity is so individual, and for me, routine is not always the key to consistency.

Photos: Kassandra Melnyk Photography.

Is there a story behind your stage name?

Before releasing any original music, I knew that I wanted to record under a stage name. I love the idea of an identity being carried through the artist’s chosen name. When deciding, I considered names that would reflect the style and purpose of my music. “Faeya” originated as a spin-off of the word “Fae”, which is an alternate name for a fairy. As a lover of magical stories and fantasies, I am very inspired to create art by the magic of nature. I wanted my name to reflect this indistinctly musing aspect of my music.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I hope that my music will continue to grow with me. I look forward to sharing with you soon the songs I’ve been working on recently and have a chance to perform live (even if virtually). I am so thankful for all the support I have received since my debut EP release and I am very excited for my listeners to join along for the journey!