Maya Hawke Talks Wishful Thinking, Stranger Things, Hunger Games | The Rolling Stone Studio

Why It Matters

Hawke’s candid discussion of ambition, anxiety, and artistic intent signals a maturing voice that could reshape how young actors‑musicians navigate fame while delivering emotionally authentic music.

Key Takeaways

• Hawke frames her album as a journey toward contentment.
• She wrestles with anxiety despite recent career successes.
• Maitreya Corso blends Eastern philosophy with personal storytelling.
• Influences range from Joni Mitchell to Taylor Swift.
• She emphasizes feeling over literal interpretation in songwriting.

Summary

Maya Hawke sat down with Rolling Stone at SXSW to promote her new record, Maitreya Corso, and her latest film, Wishful Thinking. The conversation centered on how the album functions as a narrative arc—beginning with the question “What if I got what I wanted?” and ending in a celebration of joy—while also reflecting the actress‑singer’s current moment of heightened visibility.

Hawke unpacked the central tension of desire versus contentment, likening ambition to a treadmill that constantly pulls you toward a carrot. She described the album’s title as a mash‑up of Gregory Corso and Buddhist concepts of new beginnings, signaling a deliberate blend of Eastern philosophy with intimate, autobiographical lyrics. Throughout, she acknowledged lingering anxiety on public stages, even as she revels in the creative rush that keeps her “waking up and brushing her hair.”

The interview was peppered with vivid references: Hawke cited Joni Mitchell’s melodic permission, Taylor Swift’s hyper‑specific storytelling, and a “magical” moment on the Stranger Things set that reminded her why acting feels authentic. She also highlighted the structural importance of opening and closing tracks, treating them as “state‑of‑the‑union” statements that bookend the record’s emotional journey.

For industry observers, Hawke’s articulation of balancing fame, anxiety, and artistic integrity offers a template for emerging multi‑disciplinary talent. Her willingness to foreground feeling over literal narrative suggests a shift toward more emotionally resonant pop‑folk, potentially expanding her audience beyond the Netflix‑driven fanbase and positioning her as a serious musician in a crowded market.

Original Description

#mayahawke joins Brian Hiatt at The Rolling Stone Studio live at @SXSW, sponsored by @Delta, to talk about her excellent upcoming album 'Matreiya Corso,' her acclaimed new movie 'Wishful Thinking' (with Lewis Pullman), the grief of saying goodbye to #strangerthings, stepping into the #hungergames universe, and the "gremlin" in her head who's never satisfied.

The interview marks the first time Hawke has spoken publicly about 'Maitreya Corso,' a concept album about ambition, contentment, and falling in love. She explains why she always asks permission before writing about people — including #sadiesink, whose name is dropped in one new song.  Elsewhere in the interview, she addresses Robin not getting a final scene with her girlfriend, and why she understands how Stranger Things' sorrow over the end of the show led them to invent Conformity Gate. Plus: Hunger Games as "anti-fascist, populist art," and much more.

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Talent: Maya Hawke

Interviewer: Brian Hiatt

Director of Social & Video: Waiss Aramesh

Head of Film & Premium Content: Alexandra Dale

Executive Producer: Christopher Hwisu Kim

Senior Producer & Shoot Director: Viviane Feldman

Producer, Shoot Director & Editor: Mitch Saavedra

Director of Photography (Video): MJ Johnston

Camera operators: Leland Ohlinger, Dè Randle, Caleb Kuntz

Sound: Ferrick Hallaron

Technical Director: Brent Klein

Digital Technician: Michael Solano

PA: Mel Bueno

Creative Director: Joe Hutchinson

Executive Music Editor: Christian Hoard

Co-Editors in Chief: Sean Woods, Shirley Halperin

CEO: Julian Holguin

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