“For me, songwriting comes from a place of wanting to find the truth in life. Sometimes that truth is so complex and nuanced that it requires a whole song to explain,” shares Maria Maita-Keppeler, the principal songwriter and front person for the Portland, Oregon-based indie rock band MAITA.

Maita-Keppeler began experimenting with songwriting while soaking in the indie artists of the 2000’s. She related to how these writers interweave reality and poetry, and resonated with their emotional candor, particularly in light of her tendencies toward emotional restraint while growing up. “I have always had this desire to make sure everyone is happy and no one is dissatisfied or hurt,” Maita-Keppeler explains. “Music has been a place for me to demand the free space to say what I want to say.”

Maita-Keppeler’s bold vulnerability and literate flair is on full display on the quartet’s debut album, Best Wishes. The album was released on venerated indie imprint Kill Rock Stars (Elliott Smith, Sleater-Kinney, the Decemberists) in May of 2020, and since then has been featured in NPR, Spin, Brooklyn Vegan, and Consequence of Sound.

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