Person to Person: 'I try to be a saver, but I’ll spend my money if I think it’s worth it'

Tell us about yourself;

I was born into a third-culture musical family. Evenings in our household consisted of my siblings and I putting on shows for our parents and their unwitting guests.

With a collection of my dad’s various instruments laying around, you don’t have to perk your ears for very long before a melody from at least one corner of the house creeps in.

Not much changed when I moved to Ireland on my own at 18 to study at the Cork School of Music, where I immersed myself into the vibrant music scene and surrounded myself with creatives. I was fascinated by the amount of live music you could find at every passing street corner- this was not something I would’ve experienced back home.

Where were you born? I was born in Toronto, Canada, but grew up in Luxembourg.

Where do you live? I currently live with two other professional musicians in Cork city. I have a lovely balcony where I love to sip my coffee and noodle on my guitar.

Family? My mom is Austrian and my dad is Canadian. I have three siblings who all live in different countries; an older brother who lives in Sweden, a younger brother studying jazz music in Switzerland, and a younger sister who still lives back home in Luxembourg.

Best friend? I went to an International School, so just like my family, my friends are scattered across the globe. Some of them live here in Cork, and the rest give me a good excuse to go on holiday.

Earliest childhood memory? I remember writing and drawing loads as a child. My mom used to read us bedtime stories every night, but while my siblings listened attentively, I would wander off on a mission. There was always a story or an idea in my head needing to be expressed. With a vivid imagination, a stack of paper and pens (I of course, had all the colors), I remember filling pages and pages with stories, songs or drawings and then delivering them back to my mom all excitedly.

Person you most admire? Ever since watching Raye in the 3Arena a few months back, I have been even more enthralled with her artistry. Her performances are always so theatrical and dynamic, offering beautiful compositions played by live musicians, sometimes even featuring a symphony orchestra.

Person who most irritates you? People who use AI instead of hiring creatives. If you’re looking for art, hire an artist! The same goes for music.

Where was your most memorable holiday? One summer, my 80-something year old grandparents joined us on a hiking trip where we stayed in this cozy hut by a mountain valley. We were surrounded by the sound of running streams and sheep gallivanting across the rocky terrain.

Having worked as a biologist, my grandma has an extensive knowledge on plants and helped us pick mushrooms and herbs for the soup we’d end up cooking for dinner. One of the days we were up there, my grandpa showed us this waterfall he had discovered as a young boy. He led us off-trail, through ant hills and blueberry bushes to reveal the perfect spot for us to bathe in the icy-cold glacier water under an extravagant waterfall. We’d spend hours there, propping up a hammock where I’d read in the sun, or battling my siblings with boats made of leaves and sticks, to see which survived longest down the stream.

Favourite TV programme?

It’s a toss up between Modern Family and White Collar.

Favourite radio show? I don’t really listen to the radio but I do love a good podcast. My top shows include The Mel Robbins Podcast, The DOAC, The Wellness Scoop, On Purpose, The Short History of... and Kwik Brain.

Your signature dish if cooking? I love cooking and you can often find me wandering through the English Market to source ingredients for a new recipe I want to try. But to be honest, breakfast is my favourite meal of the day and my current fixation is making yoghurt bowls. 

I’ll add some home-made berry-chia jam, a drizzle of nut butter, sliced banana and a sprinkling of dark chocolate to a bed of greek yoghurt - that and coffee is chef’s kiss to me.

Favourite restaurant?

There’s this traditional Austrian restaurant, Gasser, in Villach, Austria, near a lake where my mom used to always go camping as a child. They serve my favorite traditional Austrian dishes which you’d only really find in the Carinthia (Kärnten) region of Austria.

Last book you read? Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. It is a brief, devastating novel about an American man in Paris who destroys the man he loves because he cannot forgive himself for loving a man. It follows a non-linear narrative, which I find very effective in embodying the protagonist’s own memories and complex feelings.

Best book you read? I recently discovered that web novels exist, and started reading a dystopian / dark fantasy progression web novel called Shadow Slave. Not sure if I would classify this as the best book I ever read, but it most certainly kept me reading through the night on numerous occasions - It had me hooked!

Last album/CD/download you bought?

The last album I listened to was Pink Moon by Nick Drake.

Favourite song? Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough - Michael Jackson.

One person you would like to see in concert? Jill Scott.

Do you have a pet? I have none in Ireland but back home I’ve got a dog, cats, chickens and two dwarf goats named Bramble and Twig. Have you ever seen a goat on a swing? We have this round swing under the cherry tree in our back-garden which they love jumping onto. It is very entertaining to watch.

Morning person or night owl? I hate to admit this but I am both. I love being up before everyone else and having a productive morning to myself, but I also love the deep creative flow I come into at night. (I don’t get enough sleep).

Your proudest moment? One of my goals this year was to be able to do over one unassisted, clean pull-up. I can now do over five so I’d say that was quite a proud moment this year. It makes me feel powerful.

Spendthrift or saver? I try to be a saver, but I’ll spend my money if I think it’s worth it and focus on high-quality items or meaningful experiences.

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live? I have seagulls nesting outside of my window and let’s just say I have developed a hatred for the bird. They are extremely loud and make sounds I didn’t even know were possible. If I could, I would ask them to please move out!

What makes you happy? Making music with my friends. Dancing. Chocolate. My boyfriend.

How would you like to be remembered?

I want to be remembered for the way I make people feel. From the small interactions I have with people throughout the day, to the music I create and perform.

What else are you up to at the moment?

Currently, I am in the process of recording my first release. I am also completing my Masters Degree and work as a Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor at NRG Health & Fitness.

Maya Libbey is a 23-year-old singer/songwriter who brings a powerful mix of classical, R&B, soul, and pop to the stage. She will perform at Live at St Luke’s on October 22 as part of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. She will be joined by fellow Irish talent Tyra-Lee Spry, Ezra Williams, and Mirrors. Tickets on sale on https://guinnesscorkjazzfestival.com/