Maina Doe on Owning Her Voice and Being ‘The Original’

In an uber-saturated music landscape, artists are increasingly searching for ways to stand out and develop a sound, look, and brand that feel ingenious and original. It’s a process that can feel contrived for some, but for Sydney R&B rising star Maina Doe, being original doesn’t require much thought—it’s all about being herself.

“I think the things that make us unique and original are often the things that we don’t think about… the things that just come naturally out of us.”

It’s that ethos that has led to Maina becoming one of the most celebrated artists of this current crop of Australian talent. She began releasing music in 2019, but her career was briefly stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic. She restarted in earnest in 2022 with a string of successful singles that set the stage for her debut EP, One Day It Will All Make Sense (ODIWAMS).

Last year, Complex AU spoke to Maina a few weeks shy of ODIWAMS’ July release. A swirling mix of R&B, Afrobeats, pop and hip-hop, ODIWAMS was built on Maina’s desire to “bring softness, natural organic textures into these more gritty, electronic-sounding things that I love. “The project was warmly received by fans and critics alike.

Since then, her career has continued to flourish. She’s performed sold-out shows in both London and Sydney, played at SXSW Sydney, and been featured by the likes of Esquire and Vogue Australia. Her latest project is her Complex Session in collaboration with Adidas, where she performed her unreleased track “Your Supply.” We caught up with Maina on set to chat about originality, her EP, and her creative process.

Tell me about the track you’ve done for this session. What’s the story behind it?
I wrote it not long ago, and the inspiration was, I guess, just thinking about connections that supply us—and how you can always tell when someone is really tucked in with you versus not.

Your Complex Session is in collaboration with Adidas, celebrating their ‘The Original’ campaign. What does originality mean to you personally?
Funnily enough, I think the things that make us unique and original are often the things we don’t think about. It’s usually what comes naturally. As soon as we overthink those things, that’s when it starts to feel diluted and not real.

When starting from scratch on an entirely new, original idea, what comes to you first—lyrics or melody?
I definitely do melody first. That’s the most important. Once we’ve figured out the badge of music the voice will sit on, we jump in with melody, vibe, and structure. It’s often nonsensical at first, and then we start making things make sense once the lyrics come in.

Are there any techniques or tricks you’ve developed over the years to make songwriting easier?
To be honest, I’m a woman of simplicity—and I really think that’s the key to so much goodness, confidence, and creativity. My method, my whole thing, is just to be as present as I can. I carry with me everything I’ve experienced in life, so when I’m put in a spot where I have to create and express myself, there’s already so much there to draw from.

Does performing songs change the way you feel about how they’re written? Do you tweak songs when performing live?
Yeah, for sure. Going back to what we said earlier—melody and structure are everything. They take priority over the words and lyrics.When you sing something live, you really catch the energy of the whole song. I’ll often test-drive a song at a show to see how the crowd responds, and how I respond. Like, does it excite me? Does it carry the energy I intended? Performing is a good litmus test. The songs I end up releasing are often the ones I enjoy singing live the most.

Last time we spoke, your EP ODIWAMS was about to come out. How do you feel now that it’s been out in the world for a while?
It’s been so great, so gratifying. It’s been nice to see how it’s travelled through the world and taken shape in different corners of the internet. It’s also been cool to see how people have responded to it. One of the massive things about releasing is that you feel very exposed—it’s a vulnerable thing, you know? So yeah, to have the project received so well has been super cool.

You said at the time, “Often, my creative process doesn’t even make sense to me.” Has working on music post-ODIWAMS clarified that for you at all?
It’s so funny because my inspirations will always be a mystery to me—and I don’t really want that to change. I like sudden ideas. I like inspiration to come supernaturally. I don’t want to think too hard about it or chase it, you know? But the process of making music has definitely become more effective and more succinct and precise. I’m just a lot more on point about my taste—and I trust my taste. So yeah, the process has become very specific, but how the inspiration comes about? That will always be a mystery to me—which I like.

You performed ODIWAMS in London last year. How was that experience? Was it your first time performing there?
It was my first time performing there. I didn’t really know who would show up, and it was a packed room. It was really cool. A few artists I really admire came through as well, which was really nice.It was so nice to sing my project to a completely different crowd. I think that was the first time I’d been properly nervous for a show in a long time. But it was beautiful.

What has been inspiring you recently?
A few things have inspired me. I went to Japan in October, and that kind of rewired my brain in many ways. I’m really excited to use some of the things I took from that experience—it really refined a lot of my taste.

This sounds so silly, but I also started watching reality TV, which I’d never done before. And yeah—I like writing and thinking about stories from different angles, especially around relationships and human connection. Funnily enough, watching these reality shows changed something in my psyche. It reminded me how complex people can be.

What’s next for you?
I think just doing more and going to different places—that’s a huge priority for me this year. I think it’ll really inform the music to come.