by Shamel Anderson
Published on: May 29, 2025
Original Photography by ittzraph
INTERVIEWER: Tell us about the key contributors to this project.
MARIITHEKIDD: There’s three people that made this song come alive. It was me who wrote all the lyrics and recorded it myself. The producer who made the beat who goes by the name of ‘KINGXMAGS.’ The engineer who mixed and mastered the track is my fellow Lithuanian friend who goes by the name of ‘Aska’.
INTERVIEWER: Who influenced this release?
MARIITHEKIDD: Ever since I started making music, I always had certain favorite artists that I always used to listen to when I wanted to feel inspired. When I was down, when I was feeling happy, when I was going through any sort of emotion, I had these artists constantly playing in my headphones. I always loved Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Lecrae, Mac Miller & Kendrick Lamar. They’re my favorite artists of all time. They’re actually the reason why I even started to make music. I always resonated with their sound and their message. I was listening to a lot of worship music and Christian Rap songs during the time of this recording. I was finding so many new talented artists that I never knew.
INTERVIEWER: What’s the story behind this release?
MARIITHEKIDD: This song is about me finally accepting who I truly am. My walk with Christ and how he changed my life for the better, improved me as a person, and gave me a new perspective in life. I knew that I had to spread his love and message through the talent that He gave me. This isn’t like any other gospel song. This track is filled with energy, confidence, unique flows, and powering lyrics. This was my first recorded track after months of having a writers block. I just knew that it was the Holy Spirit guiding me and giving me all the motivation to record this record.
INTERVIEWER: Tell us what makes this release stand out and why it’s significant
MARIITHEKIDD: In a world full of evil and explicit content, a track like this shows it’s full potential and possibility to reach the right people. This is my first Gospel/Christian Rap release. In the past, I was making explicit music that never truly resonated with me. I knew I had to change my ways and follow my heart. After my walk with Christ, I finally got the motivation and inspiration from spending time with him and seeing the changes in my life that He made. I knew that he gave me this talent of music to spread his message. It didn’t feel right making explicit songs and talking about things that didn’t matter, knowing that it was Him that gifted me this talent.
INTERVIEWER: Where did the recording take place?
MARIITHEKIDD: The track was recorded in my bedroom studio like any other of my tracks. When I first found the beat, I recorded myself humming the melody and trying to find flows with my phone, so I could later listen and fill in the words to complete the song. There were two versions of this song at the start, but I decided to re-record some parts and completely changed how the song went.
INTERVIEWER: What was unique about the recording process?
MARIITHEKIDD: After months and months of having a writers block, I finally decided to sit down and record some demos and get some ideas flowing. I had this one beat from a producer named “KINGXMAGS” where it had this gospel sound melody to it, and at the time I was reading my Bible and praying heavy every day and connecting with God, so it instantly resonated with me, and I knew right there and then that I had to use this beat. I was feeling unmotivated, and I had thoughts of pausing my music career due to my walk with Christ. My previous sound was very explicit. Although it got me loads of streams and followers, I just did not want to make that kind of music anymore, which was a huge step towards my career. I finally decided that I had to spread God’s message through my music somehow, some way. Realizing that he gave me the talent of creating music and sharing my art to the world, I knew I had to praise his name. This was one of my first Christian rap songs that I ever recorded. I just knew that the Holy Spirit was guiding me and speaking through me, giving me ideas and bars to write and to complete this song. It had been months of me not writing and not recording anything to me creating this song in one day. I decided to shoot a music video for this song too! I wanted to collaborate with a fellow Christian creative to bring the song to life. We shot the music video in Dublin a few weeks after I recorded the track.
INTERVIEWER :Could you share a memorable quote about this release or your journey as an artist?
MARIITHEKIDD: As I previously said, it was the Holy Spirit that gave me the inspiration to record this song. After getting closer and closer to Lord Jesus, I knew I had to spread the message through the talent that he gave me. In the past I was making explicit music, trying to be and pretend someone I’m not. Rapping about things that didn’t matter or made sense. I would rather make music that touches someone’s soul and inspires them to be better and get closer to God. The quote at the start of the song is what truly inspired me to do everything. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
INTERVIEWER: Is there anything additional that would be valuable for curators to know?
MARIITHEKIDD: I am a Lithuanian artist who lives in Ireland. So I guess a unique fact about me is that English isn’t even my first language! I want this track to lift people up when they listen to it, hence the title “LIFT ME UP.” My message and goal for this song is to connect more people to God and see his true love. I hope people feel and connect with this song the same way that I connected to it. I guess it took me years to finally reach this point where I am truly happy with my sound. A sound that not only inspires others, but myself too!