#POPULARPLAY: MAY-A

Do you remember the specific moment when the idea of apricots came to you?

I’d just gotten to the studio straight from hanging out with this girl and my emotions were super out of whack. I’m pretty sure we were meant to write a completely different song on that particular day but I can definitely say ‘Apricots’ was completely unplanned and more of a stream-of-consciousness word vomit rather than an idea. It was something that I needed to get out of my system, so I’d say that the song was a right-place-right-time moment.

 

Was there anything about releasing this song that worried you?

I honestly didn’t think too much of it. I was a little nervous about how people would interpret the song and if previous listeners would still enjoy it, but honestly I felt more relieved than worried, I’d been holding onto that song for what felt like forever.

 

As an artist, how do you protect the art you put out into the world?

Someone once told me they felt as though when you put art out into the world it is no longer yours. I kind of agree with this. You’re giving something away for people to form their own opinions on. They relate it to their own personal experiences and choose when they want to incorporate it in their lives, it they even want to, so it does become theirs in a way. Songs people play in the background become a part of their memories, art that is hung in people’s houses become a part of their every day life. I think the thought of that is really sweet, you can be such a big part of someone’s life without even knowing them. So I don’t think it needs protection, I think it’ll find the right people who will protect it themselves.

 

What is something you want incoming fans to know about you?

I think I’d want people to know that I’m just like them. With similar insecurities and anxieties and that I’d like to never take myself too seriously.

 

Do you currently have a name for your fans? And if not, what would they be called?

I don’t think fanbases should have names honestly :) I think it’s cooler to each be your own person.

 

What do you look for when you’re looking for new music/artists to listen to?

Honestly! Sometimes I just type random shit into Spotify or I’ll keep clicking on random profiles from the “fans also like” section and add a bunch of songs to a massive playlist and then continue listening to the songs I actually like. I can do this kind of stuff for hours, you never know where you’ll end up.

 

As an artist, when do you feel most present?

I think I feel the most present at very random times. When I’m feeling super inspired, it’s more of a very frantic, manic-like feeling of ‘ihavetodothisrightthissecondori’lllosetheidea’ and even when I’m in the studio I’ll be so focused on getting the sound or the lyrics or the feeling correct, Even when painting I get stressed that the picture is not being executed in the same way I can see it in my brain. I think I’m the most present when I’m randomly writing in a book for no purpose or reason, or I’ve stopped in the middle of a moment to type out some lyrics on my phone. Those sort of short-lived moments where I feel like I’ve paused life for a second to write something down. That’s where a lot of my best lyrics come from.

 

 

Can’t get enough? Keep up with MAY-A on her socials: Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube!