Maya Jupiter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maya Jupiter
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Maya Jupiter, Orlando, Florida, November 2010
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Melissha Martinez |
| Born | 21 December 1978 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico |
| Origin | Sydney, Australia |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Mother Tongues |
Melissha Martinez (born December 21, 1978) is a talented musician from Mexico. She is better known by her stage name, Maya Jupiter. She is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and radio host. Maya Jupiter released her first album, Today, in 2003. She was also part of a hip-hop group called Foreign Heights. They released an album in 2007. The group was even nominated for an award! From 2004 to 2008, Maya Jupiter hosted a popular radio show called Hip-Hop Show on Triple J. After that, she moved to Los Angeles to continue her music career. She released her second album, Maya Jupiter, in 2010.
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About Maya Jupiter
Maya Jupiter was born Melissha Martinez on December 21, 1978. Her birthplace was La Paz, Mexico. Her father is Mexican and her mother is Turkish. Maya has an older sister named Shiraz.
Moving to Australia
When Maya was one year old, her family moved to Melbourne, Australia. Later, when she was four, they moved to Sydney. She grew up in Busby and then Ashfield.
Early Life and Music
Maya's parents loved music and played many different styles at home. Her mom played classical, Turkish, pop, jazz, and soul music. Her dad listened to Spanish-language music. This helped Maya experience many sounds.
Maya was a good student. She was a school captain in primary school. In high school, she became a prefect and a sports captain. When she was 14, she wrote her first rhyme. Her sister took her to salsa and Latin American clubs. Maya mostly spoke English growing up. She started speaking more Spanish when she was 17.
Starting Her Music Career
At 18, she chose her stage name, Maya Jupiter. Her mother suggested it to honor her Mayan heritage. She began performing in an R&B club in Sydney.
In 1998, Maya discovered the Australian hip hop scene. She was inspired by other female artists like MC Trey. By 2001, she started recording her own songs.
First Album: Today
In August 2003, Maya Jupiter released her first album, Today. It was released on Mother Tongues, a record label that helps women in hip-hop music. One song, "Mamacita," was about her mother and her family. It helped Maya connect with her Mexican culture.
That same year, she worked with a Latin, jazz, and hip-hop band called Son Veneno. They performed at many festivals together.
Radio Host and Group Work
By 2003, Maya Jupiter was also a host for TV shows like Soul Kitchen and Freestyle on Channel V. She also taught hip-hop workshops.
In 2004, she became the host of Triple J's weekly Hip Hop Show. This was a national radio show.
In 2006, Maya joined with rapper MC Trey and DJ Nick Toth to form the group Foreign Heights. They released their first song, "It Goes On," in November 2006. Their self-titled album came out in January 2007. They performed at the Big Day Out festival. In 2007, Foreign Heights was nominated for an ARIA Music Award for 'Best Urban Release' for their song "Get Yours (Remix)".
Solo Career in Los Angeles
On April 14, 2008, Maya left her radio show. She moved to Los Angeles to focus on her solo music career.
In December 2010, she released her second album, Maya Jupiter. Her husband, Aloe Blacc, helped with the recording. The album featured unique sounds. It used instruments like a Latin American harp, requintos, and jaranas. It also used live percussion instruments instead of computer-made beats. Reviewers praised the album for its focus on social justice.
Family Life
Maya Jupiter is married to the singer Aloe Blacc. They got married in 2010. In September 2013, they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Mandela. In January 2016, they had their second child, a son.
Music Releases
This section lists the albums and singles Maya Jupiter has released.
Albums
- Solo Albums
- Today – Mother Tongues (August 2003)
- Maya Jupiter (December 2010)
- Never Said Yes (August 2018)
- Albums with Foreign Heights
- Foreign Heights – Grindin'/Central Station Records (January 2007)
Singles
- Solo Singles
- "The Artless"/"Ordinary Night" – Mother Tongues (2001)
- "Funny Luck"/"Move" – Mother Tongues (2003)
- "It Goes On" (2006)
