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SPEAKER 1: If you're a songwriter, being a Korean adoptee, a woman, and only 4 feet 10 inches tall gives you a lot to talk about. As Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports, Saint Paul musician Mayda's big sound belies her diminutive size.

CHRIS ROBERTS: In the crowd, it's easy to overlook Mayda. But on stage, it's hard not to notice her.

MAYDA MILLER: Just look at me. There's not a whole lot of Korean female artists out there playing and writing their own material.

[POP MUSIC] Does she pull you up into the clouds?

And I'm teeny.

[POP MUSIC] And she makes you feel aroused.

CHRIS ROBERTS: But while she may stand out in an ocean of white rappers and indie rockers, Mayda also has to resist being pigeonholed. She thinks Korean adoptees tend to be typecast as American culture obsessed, submissive, and studious.

MAYDA MILLER: When people look at me, they think, oh, she probably plays violin, classical piano, or whatever. And I don't.

CHRIS ROBERTS: Mayda battles those preconceived notions in the title track of her new CD, Stereotype.

[MAYDA, "STEREOTYPE"] It only takes one look to start shaping your head. It only takes one crook to start sleeping with the bat in your bed. It only takes one brick just to build up those walls. And it only takes one hit to make them all fall. I wanna break your stereo, I wanna break your stereotype. I wanna break your stereo.

Mayda is a Saint Paul Central and University of Minnesota grad. Over the years, she's evolved from a guitarist and occasional backup singer in an all-female high school rock band, to a solo artist and songwriter with a controlled yet powerful voice.

MAYDA MILLER: I feel like music just comes so easy. I have to do it. I don't have a choice.

CHRIS ROBERTS: It's in my DNA, Mayda says, referring to her Korean background and the parents she's never met. It's not something she addresses directly in her music, but letting go or giving up something is a recurring theme, such as on the song "Quick As A Dove."

[MAYDA, "QUICK AS A DOVE"] That little girl told me something. Give away that dove if you love it. That little girl told me something. Give away that dove and you've got to let it go like the wind in the sky. Let it go like the tears in your eyes. If it feels like dove getting too strong, let it skip like a rock in the river. Let it go like the wind in the sky.

Last year, Mayda traveled to South Korea and played some shows for a Korean adoptee organization. She says it allowed her to claim her heritage, while accepting the cultural gulf between her and all the natives who look like her.

MAYDA MILLER: It really solidified who I am and who I'm trying to be. It definitely helped complete me, as corny as that sounds.

CHRIS ROBERTS: On some songs, Mayda sounds like a Prince protege. That could be because former Prince drummer Michael Bland has taken her under his wing. Bland discovered Mayda when some guy walked up to him on the street and gave him a demo CD.

MICHAEL BLAND: I wasn't particularly interested in most of what I heard, except there was this voice and a couple of riffs that got my attention. I'm like, well, who's that?

CHRIS ROBERTS: Bland has worked with some big name talent. In addition to his stint in Prince's band, he's toured with Paul Westerberg. And he's currently drummer for Soul Asylum. He's also started a company called Sonic Matrimony. It's devoted to grooming emerging artists. Bland says, like some of the stars he's played with, Mayda embodies what she sings about. He says he's not so concerned with making her famous as unleashing her voice.

MICHAEL BLAND: She's a triple minority. She's short, she's Korean, and she's a woman. So she's got a lot on her mind. And I just want to make sure she gets a chance to say what's on it.

CHRIS ROBERTS: One area where Mayda doesn't lack confidence is her ability to share observations, insights, and wisdom about the human experience in her songs. That's why she's eager to reach as large and broad an audience as possible.

MAYDA MILLER: Because I think it's important that we're all on the same page. So we can learn from our mistakes, what we've done, what works. Let's keep going with what works.

CHRIS ROBERTS: What works?

MAYDA MILLER: I don't know.

CHRIS ROBERTS: Mayda says that's a subject for future songs. I'm Chris Roberts, Minnesota Public Radio News, Saint Paul.

[POP MUSIC] Maybe lady smoke, she's the only one who can get through to you and see the things you'll think. She gets to feel your soul and touch your fabric. And sleep in your skin and then turn it into a smoky canvas. Oh, all that smoke, suck it up and let it go. Let it go. Let it go. Oh, let go, it gonna make you choke. Oh, all that smoke, suck it up and let it go. Let it go. Let it go. Oh, let go, it gonna make you choke.

I am the one who will kiss you. Kiss you. And taste the way she licks, I kind of like the way she kisses. Oh, she gets me in the mood when I see her. And see her dance around your eyes, I'm kind of jealous, the way she can hypnotize.

[SONG CONTINUES PLAYING]