Maya Hawke Reveals the Song That Struck a Deep Chord With Her
Maya Hawke opens up about the music that moves her, her journey from Stranger Things to the big screen, and the song she wishes she had written herself.
If you haven’t gotten hooked on Stranger Things by now, you might be in the minority. The show has become a cultural phenomenon, blending nostalgia, suspense, and a killer soundtrack. Its cast of rising stars, including Maya Hawke, has helped make it one of the most talked-about series in recent memory. As the latest season takes over the internet, it’s a good time to revisit how it all began back in 2016, when the cast was younger and the world hadn’t yet rediscovered Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill.’
From Hawkins to Hollywood
Stranger Things isn’t just about supernatural mysteries and ‘80s throwbacks—it’s also a showcase for talented young actors. Maya Hawke joined the cast in the third season, quickly winning fans as Robin, the witty co-worker of Steve at the Scoops Ahoy ice cream shop. While her famous parents, Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, may have opened some doors, Maya’s talent is what’s kept her in the spotlight. She first made waves in a BBC adaptation of Little Women, followed by a small role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, before landing her breakout part in the Duffer Brothers’ hit series.
Since then, she’s added impressive credits to her resume, including a role in Maestro, Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic, and a part in Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City. She’s even lent her voice to a Pixar film. All this before turning 30, and that’s just her acting career.
Music That Resonates
Alongside her work on screen, Hawke has been building a name for herself as a musician. She released her first singles in 2019 and has since put out three albums: Blush, Moss, and Chaos Angel. Her music draws inspiration from folk and iconic solo artists, with influences like Phoebe Bridgers, Joni Mitchell, and Leonard Cohen shaping her sound.
But one artist stands out for Hawke.
“Fiona Apple is another big one for me. She’s so inventive, and when I hear her observations about the world, I’m always like ‘Fuck!’ When I listened to her song ‘Under the Table’ from her new record, I related to it so profoundly that I wished I could have dragged it out of my stomach as my own. I feel what she’s saying so much, and it’s so specific and so true.”
Finding Inspiration in Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple, who shot to fame in the late ‘90s, released her debut album Tidal in 1996 at just 19 years old. The album went triple platinum in the US. ‘Under the Table’ comes from her 2020 release Fetch the Bolt Cutters, only her third album in two decades, but one that clearly struck a chord with Hawke.
Looking ahead, Hawke is set to take on a major role in the next Hunger Games film, Sunrise on the Reaping, scheduled for release in 2026. Whether on screen or through her music, she continues to carve out her own path, inspired by the artists who came before her and the stories she’s eager to tell.