Maya Hawke Reveals the One Song She Wishes She Wrote
From the Upside Down to the recording studio, Maya Hawke has carved out a unique path in Hollywood. While her acting career soars, she opens up about her musical journey and the one artist whose profound lyrics made her wish she'd written them herself. Discover the song that resonated so deeply with the star.
It’s hard to imagine pop culture without *Stranger Things* at this point. If you haven't been pulled into its orbit, you're missing out on one of the most creative and well-crafted shows in recent memory, complete with a killer soundtrack and a cast of brilliant young actors, including Maya Hawke. As the fifth season captivates audiences worldwide, it’s a great time to revisit where it all began back in 2016. The journey from then to now shows just how much the series has evolved, reminding us of its sharp writing and the incredible growth of its characters and the actors who play them.
From Hawkins to Hollywood
Maya Hawke joined the cast in the third season in 2019, instantly winning over fans as Robin, Steve's coworker at the Starcourt Mall ice cream parlor. While her parents are Hollywood royalty Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, which certainly helped open doors, she has proven that talent is what truly counts. She made the most of her opportunities, delivering a strong performance in a BBC adaptation of *Little Women* and snagging a role in Quentin Tarantino’s *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood* before landing her breakout part in the Duffer Brothers' hit series.
Her career has been on a fast track ever since. She appeared in Bradley Cooper’s acclaimed Leonard Bernstein biopic, *Maestro*, and joined the star-studded cast of Wes Anderson’s *Asteroid City*. Adding to her impressive resume, she also voiced a character in a Pixar movie, checking off several major career milestones before turning 30.
A Voice of Her Own
Beyond her acting credits, Hawke has cultivated a successful career as a musician. Her journey into music began in 2019 with the release of her first two singles. In the five years that followed, she has impressively released three full-length albums: *Blush*, *Moss*, and *Chaos Angel*. This consistent output showcases her dedication to her craft and her distinct artistic vision.
Hawke has often cited folk legends and powerful female singer-songwriters as major influences, naming artists like Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and Phoebe Bridgers as inspirations. Their storytelling and musicality have clearly shaped her own work. However, another artist who emerged in the 90s left a particularly deep impression on her.
The Song She Wished She Wrote
She revealed her admiration for one artist in particular during an interview with Flaunt. “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.”
Apple, a New York native, also achieved fame at a young age. Her 1996 debut album, *Tidal*, was a massive success, going triple-platinum in the U.S. when she was just 19. The track Hawke mentioned, ‘Under the Table,’ is from Apple’s 2020 album *Fetch the Bolt Cutters*, which was only her third record in two decades, marking a highly anticipated return.
Meanwhile, Hawke’s own star continues to rise, with a major role confirmed for the next installment of the *Hunger Games* franchise, *Sunrise on the Reaping*, which is slated for a 2026 release.