The Dawning Of MAY …
Meet MAY, she’s the Melbourne born and New York City based singer-songwriter who voice and lyrics are beautiful and haunting. She is signed to Bastille’s Best Laid Plans where she will release her debut EP, Phantom and video “Last September” come November 2nd.
This week I not only had the privilege of seeing her play live in the most intimate setting in Los Angeles but I also got to interview her. You can view MAY’s answers below ….
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: I always start out with an with ice breaker question. So Early Bird or Night Owl?
MAY: I am a night owl, that is for certain… It’s the most enigmatic and curious time… When the best ideas come… Also, something mysterious and thought provoking about wondering who else is awake and who/what they are thinking about too.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Can you tell us how you got started as a Singer-Songwriter? What was the catalyst for you?
MAY: I have always written since I was a child and gravitated towards the piano. I would play how I felt from as young as I can remember. Writing and music have always been very sentimental for me.
TRB: Can you tell me more about your typical creative, recording and writing process and what goes on behind that?
MAY: For me, it purely begins with a feeling. I have to write about something almost immediately after it happens. I sit down at the piano and my hands find chords, depending on that feeling, and the story and words come from within those chords.
“MAY’s voice is instantly iconic and hauntingly beautiful.” – Dan Smith/Bastille
TRB: You just released a new song this past Friday called “Northern Lights”. Can you tell me more about that track it’s really is quite haunting in it’s sorrow.
MAY: Northern Lights is written in memory of my late father. I wrote it just outside of Hudson, New York, in the midst of the woods. I went up there for a few days and it, more so, wrote itself. To this day I cannot sing the whole song without a tear falling from my eye. There’s something about memories living on forever though music that has a profound effect on me.
TRB: Speaking of lyrics, Are themes of love and loss and human relationships where you feel most comfortable in your storytelling?
MAY: Definitely. I write when I cannot comprehend something or someone or a situation… It’s a natural exploration of my questions and findings in life; a way of moving on and making sense of the world.
TRB: Is there a lyric that you’ve written that has the most meaning to you or is your favorite?
MAY: I think as a whole, the lyrics in ‘Baby Save Me Tonight’ are my most favorite. It came almost word for word from an actual conversation I had, one whiskey filled night, with a friend in Montreal while I was working on the EP. I feel many people can relate to the meanings in this song.
TRB: Are there any current artists that have been “On Repeat” for you as a band lately? What music have you been digging?
MAY: I tend to listen to the same songs over and over again… My playlist is rarely updated… Mazzy Star, Leonard Cohen, Cigarettes After Sex. I am loving Erik Satie right now and Chopin – Prelude in E minor. One of my favorite songs to listen to whilst walking around New York is Tchaikovsky – Waltz of the Flowers.
TRB: Throwing in a fun one here… What was your favorite Children’s book growing up?
MAY: What I loved most was actually a series that my father used to make up and they were called ‘Mary Stories’ – About a little girl with green eyes and red hair and her brother Tom and all the mischief they would get up to. It was such a treat when he would be home early to put us to bed and tell us a ‘Mary Story’. Imaginary and made up stories were always my favorite.
TRB: How have your adoptive city (NYC) and hometown (Melbourne) inspired and influenced your songwriting?
MAY: New York has definitely influenced my writing. I feel, I have grown up a lot in New York and many significant life events have happened to me since moving. The imagery is all through my music and the very interesting characters I meet in the city play major roles in my stories and in my life.
TRB: And what’s next for MAY?
MAY: My EP, ‘Phantom’, will be out on November 2, along with a video for the next single ‘Last September’. I am also currently working on my next record, which I am very excited about…
WATCH MAY:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM585Mu1T5T7Iv9GJYEf68A
STREAM MAY // SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5BOL6IPAKcXHbgXpiyoHUv?si=wEvKu2m6TkC-k2K89_lS3w
FOLLOW MAY // SOCIALS:
INSTAGRAM: www.instgram.com/thedawnofmay
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/thedawnofmay
TWITTER: www.twitter.com/thedawnofmay
Until then,
Brittney W.
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