Mýa Says Hearing Her ‘Younger Voice’ Makes Her ‘Very Emotional’ Because of ‘All That Was Endured’ (Exclusive)

Mýa is opening up about why hearing her “younger voice” stirs “emotional” memories from the early days of her career.

The Grammy-winning singer, 45, spoke with everyone about her journey while reflecting on the 25th anniversary of her seminal album, Fear of Flying.

“I don’t really listen to a lot of the old music because I like my voice now,” Mýa shares. “It’s very cringey to me because I sound like a kid.”

She tells everyone, “I get very emotional when I hear my younger voice because of all that was endured.”

“I was just a baby when I started fresh out of high school,” Mýa adds, recalling how, at such a young age, she found herself in “a position where the world is looking at you.”

Revisiting her past figures prominently in one of her latest songs, “Face to Face,” the music video for which serves as a meditation on what she calls her “journey of self-love” and a look toward her future.

“I am so enamored by the journey because sometimes it takes 25, 27, 30 years to come into who you’re going to be for the rest of your life — and that’s where I am now,” Mýa says. “I’m still growing and evolving every few years — every six months, sometimes.”

The “Case of the Ex” singer tells PEOPLE, “I’m just truly proud of myself for withstanding so much. The industry’s changed, the world’s changed, and I’ve kept my sanity in the process, while my art and my craft continue to get better. The world has yet to receive the best of Mýa.”

Reflecting on the challenges she’s faced throughout her career, Mýa says, “All of that was necessary to become the best musician, the best songwriter, the best person.”

“I’m so excited about what’s next,” she continues. “I really feel like I’ve arrived for the first time in this era, in my ‘grown woman era,’ and that is magical. I don’t hear it on all those younger records. The magic is now, and I cannot wait to get to share all of that.”

The singer also notes, “I’m still proud of her — ‘Fear of Flying Mýa.’ She was in school, learning the ropes.”

Of the inspiration behind her music video for “Face to Face,” Mýa tells everyone, “I wanted everyone to see themselves in different stages and literally give permission or inspire people to look within, but also at different versions of themselves — because that’s what life is all about.”

The video, she explains, is about “moving forward to the next step in the next level or phase” of life.

“‘Face to Face’ is a very, very high vibrational record,” Mýa adds. “It’s all about self-reflection, introspection, healing, but also reassurance. It’s a spiritual song, even though it has a bit of swag. I call it my spiritual flex song.”