Queens-born R&B singer and songwriter Mai Anna shares “Chameleon,” a playful, experimental letter to herself about shedding expectations and reconnecting with her sense of self. Created in Joshua Tree with longtime collaborator and producer Solomon Fox, the track pairs an elastic, jazz-inflected bassline with Mai Anna’s rich, effortless vocals, shifting between silky R&B runs and quick, percussive bursts of phrasing that give the song an unexpected, slightly off-kilter edge. The single offers the latest glimpse into her forthcoming debut, Sleepy Eyes, via Epic Records / Not So Fast.
Stream “Chameleon” right here: Chameleon – Mai Anna
“I’ve had so many moments where I was afraid of what was next, especially when the version of my life I had imagined started to fall apart,” Mai Anna shares. “But I’ve learned that sometimes beautiful things fall apart because you’re ready for something new. When I could let go of who I thought I was supposed to be, I found myself much closer to who I actually was.”
The single is accompanied by an official music video by Jasper Seven Productions (Doja Cat, H.E.R., Mariah Carey), featuring Mai Anna alongside her real-life friends (including featured artist Chloe George), as they enter a shared dream state, moving through each character’s inner world as the song’s realizations unfold.
Watch the official music video right here: Mai Anna – Chameleon (Official Music Video) ft. Chloe George
Mai Anna’s arrival has been years in the making. Raised in Queens by a Japanese mother and Puerto Rican father, she came to music from an upbringing rooted in academics. While attending Harvard, she continued writing at the piano, jamming and performing without ever recording her work, and later studied under Esperanza Spalding. That journey ultimately led to a collection of songs, Sleepy Eyes, shaped over three years through her close friendship and creative partnership with Fox.
With “Chameleon,” Mai Anna offers another glimpse at the range behind Sleepy Eyes – and how much more there is still to discover.
