Maia Zakay delivers

For Maia Zakay, music has always been a source of enjoyment and a soothing bit of therapy. Now 19, the London born and Los Angeles raised singer and songwriter, first stood in front of a microphone at the tender age of three. And while listeners will hear training in a voice that contains equal measure of sensuality, smoothness, range and hip-hop flow, Zakay is a largely self-taught artist who possesses an intense love for and curiosity about music.

That can been seen in her new debut album, #SpeakUp. Zakay's songwriting is imprinted on all 15 tracks on this album that contains tracks that are fun and also deeply personal. Zakay started writing music at age 16 and a way to respond to a dark time in her life, and cuts like "Never Know," the latest track from #SpeakUp, showcase her ablity to put a ultra-modern, social media spin on the old story about two people who can't manage to communicate despite having all of the modern tools of communication.

As a singer, Zakay displays control of her vocal instruments, moving seamlessly between the range of an old-school R&B singer and the deploying the rapid fire delivery that is deeply influenced by hip-hop. Zakay's vocal adaptabilty makes her the ideal duet partner for hip-hop artist J Drip.