1. Artistic Freedom: At the beginning of his carreer, the artist expressed dissatisfaction with the music industry and the constraints he felt it imposed on his creativity. Changing his name in 1995, from Terence Trent D’Arby to Sananda Maitreya, allowed him to break free from the expectations associated with his earlier persona and pursue a more authentic and liberated artistic path.

2. Spiritual and Personal Transformation: Sananda Maitreya’s name change is also linked to a spiritual and personal transformation. He has always considered himself a very spiritual person. He is deeply interested in mysticism, philosophy, and spirituality, and he wanted his new name to reflect this inner journey. “Sananda” is said to reflect the concept of “rebirth”, and “Maitreya” to embody the evolution of mankind through spirituality.

3. Distance himself from Past Success: The artist had achieved a  significant success with his early works, from 1987 to 1995 with his first 4 albums “Introducing the Hardline”, “Neither Fish Nor Flesh”, “Symphony Or Damn” & “Vibrator”. Although during those years, he struggled with expectations and various comparisons that came with his international success. In the end, he declared in various interviews that, the only thing that has always mattered to him the most, has been his artistry and the freedom of his music. Changing his name allowed him to distance himself from his past achievements and redefine his identity on his own terms without restrictions.

Since adopting the name Sananda Maitreya, he has continued to create music and has released a new studio album every 2 years. His body of work now counts 13 studio albums. In fact, in March 2024 he will be releasing his 13th studio album called: “The Pegasus Project: Pegasus & The Swan”. All of his work reflects an eclectic and diverse range of influences, as he has embraced a broader spectrum of musical styles and themes in his artistry.

The decision to change his name was more rooted in his desire for artistic freedom, spiritual exploration and a personal transformation.

Sananda Maitreya is the name the artist has chosen for himself, and it is the name by which he wishes to be recognized in his artistic endeavors. Acknowledging and using an artist’s chosen name is a way to honor his personal and creative journey.