Words + Music:
Gaysian Funfetti

By SAYMOUKDA DUANGPHOUXAY VONGSAY, MAYDA
Featuring SARA OCHS

GAYSIAN FUNFETTI was inspired by Mayda's song, ACTIN' CRAZY. Two sisters, separated by time, taboos, and secrets, find themselves sharing an apartment after major break-ups with their lovers and family. What does it mean to be Southeast Asian, young, and gay as hell? What does it mean to be siblings, daughters, and lovers? And what is the recipe for Gaysian Funfetti cupcakes? Special thanks to Theater Mu for opening their rehearsal space for Mayda and I to write. Thanks to Sean and Earl for Friday’s recording session. Thanks to Christina and The Jungle for supporting Southeast Asian American stories.

About Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay

She/Her | Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay is a Lao writer. CNN’s “United Shades of America” host W. Kamau Bell called her work “revolutionary.” Governor Mark Dayton recognized her with a “Lao Artists Heritage Month” Proclamation. She’s a recipient of a Sally Award for Initiative from the Ordway Center for Performing Arts which “recognizes bold new steps and strategic leadership undertaken by an individual...in creating projects or artistic programs never before seen in Minnesota that will have a significant impact on strengthening Minnesota’s artistic/cultural community.” She's the author of the children's book WHEN EVERYTHING WAS EVERYTHING and is best known for her award-winning play KUNG FU ZOMBIES VS CANNIBALS. Her plays have been presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (NY), Theater Mu (MN), Lower Depth Theater (LA), Asian Improv Arts (IL), and elsewhere. Other awards include grants/fellowships from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Jerome Foundation, Bush Foundation, Andy Warhol Foundation, MAP Fund, Playwrights' Center, Forecast Public Art, MRAC, MSAB, and others. Saymoukda is currently an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Playwright in Residence at Theater Mu, a McKnight Foundation Fellow in Community-Engaged Practice Art, and a Jerome Hill Artist Fellow in playwriting. 

Twitter and Instagram: @refugenius 

Website: refugenius.net

About Sara Ochs

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About Mayda

She/Her | Mayda is a young yet seasoned Korean Adoptee multi-musician/playwright/producer from the land of 10,000 Lakes. “Her R&B-infused pop is undeniably fresh, as she swings between pared-down acoustic struts, full-band funkadelic blasts, and electronic drumbeats and synth flourishes that would make the Purple One proud. The result is a slick, expansive, and evolving pop sound, aided in part by producer and mentor Michael Bland (who drummed with Prince in the early ’90s and currently plays with Nick Jonas), whose Sonic Matrimony Collective label released Mayda’s first full-length, The Interrogation, last year. The prolific young soul singer is just beginning her journey, but it’s hard not to anticipate big things from the petite yet larger-than-life pop songstress.” -Andrea Swensson, NPR's The Current

Mayda’s music has expanded across many different spectrums locally as well as internationally. Numerous of Mayda’s songs have been on public platforms such as Rachael Ray show, Good Morning America, KFC youtube, Reebok Seoul commercials, Jersey Shore, and cable networks such as Showtime, BravoTV, HBO and MTV. Not only has Mayda’s original work been featured international programs, but Mayda has also been a jingle writer for companies and businesses (Target, Famous Footwear, KARE 11, MyTalk 107.1FM and more)

Before the pandemic, Mayda was signed with South Korean Indie Label, Musicaroma/Feel Good Inc. On her 3rd, 3-week tour in Seoul, Mayda was able to meet her birth parents for the first time. In lieu of the performances, her trip was documented on public television as well as media print. Mayda then went on a 2-week tour debuting in Europe from Ireland, Germany, Copenhagen, Spain, to Sweden! On returning to the US, Mayda released a brand new batch of songs that were showcased in her self-written and performed one-woman theater piece, DeMayda'd at the world renowned Guthrie Theater and Mu Theater Arts. Mayda went on to tour in Hawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico right before the pandemic began.

Since then, Mayda has been finishing up a brand new album to be released in the fall 2021.

Website: http://www.imaydasong.com

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/maydamiller

IG: @maydamess

Twitter: @mayda

Contact: imaydasong@gmail.com

She/Her | Sara Ochs is a singer, actor, teaching artist, the Development Director at Mu Performing Arts, and a Korean drama addict. She is passionate about the arts, travel, social justice, good food, good friends, and small fluffy non-cat animals.