Maya and Rol3ert announce collaborative single 'ROMANTICIZE'

US-based singer-songwriter Maya and Spotify RADAR artist Rol3ert will release a collaborative digital single, "ROMANTICIZE," on May 13. An official music video will premiere the same day at 8 PM JST.

The song is a medium-tempo ballad with English lyrics, themed around the romanticization of the past. It depicts a separated couple using motifs like guitars and Polaroid photos. Tokyo-based beatmaker A.G.O. produced the track, which features floating synths and minimal beats layered with both artists' vocals.

Maya described the song as having a strong narrative, built around the concept of "making the past seem beautiful." She said she wove in elements from her own life, like hair ties and bunk beds, to create episodes for a fictional broken relationship. Rol3ert noted the track and lyrics were completed in their first session together, calling the work an intuitive collaboration.

The music video, directed by Futoshi Nakazawa, was shot in an airport setting. The single is available for pre-save via a link from The Orchard.

Maya, a high school student living in America, began gaining attention through TikTok covers in 2023. She has since been featured in a Honda global CM with Yoko Kanno and collaborated with m-flo. Rol3ert, born in the US and raised in Japan from age two, started his solo career in January 2025. His music blends English lyrics with J-pop melodies, and he has performed at major festivals like FUJI ROCK.

Source: PR Times via The Orchard Japan