In the latest episode of Fender Sessions, Australian singer-songwriter MAY-A reveals the impact music has on her life, the unique personalities of various guitars, and her creative process.
The rising star certainly has a lot to discuss. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise in Australia’s music scene over the last few years, culminating in reaching the coveted top spot of triple j’s Hottest 100 this year with her massive Flume collaboration, “Say Nothing”.
A proud Sydneysider, MAY-A’s Fender Session took place at one of the city’s most beloved venues, Frankie’s Pizza, with the indie-pop artist performing her latest single, ‘Sweat You Out My System’, as well as past favourites ‘Apricots’ and, of course, ‘Say Nothing’.
You can watch MAY-A’s full Fender Session below, as well as read her in-depth accompanying conversation with The Brag.
MAY-A and band play a Fender Vintera® ‘60s Jazzmaster®, Made In Japan Traditional 70S Mustang®, Player Plus Meteroa® & Player Precision Bass®.
The Brag: Was it an honour to be asked to do a Fender Session?
MAY-A: Absolutely. It had actually been floating around in my mind as something I’d die to do one day. I was so psyched when they came through and asked us, I would’ve thought I’d have to beg on my hands and knees for an opportunity like that.
What makes Fender so good for guitars?
I can’t answer this question from a tech perspective whatsoever, they just have a good feeling. They slot into your body in a satisfying way.
“Each guitar kind of creates a different vibe, it has a different personality” – can you expand on this feeling? Is it at the stage where you know which guitar to select for a particular song’s mood?
I mean aesthetically speaking, if you saw someone jump up on stage with an Ibanez – one of the guitars with a really spiky body- you’re probably going to expect them to play death metal, not soft indie pop. I think its fun playing with that expectation and appearance. Different builds of guitars bring out different tones and feelings which completely effects the way that you play. You represent yourself though the type of guitar that you play, I think.
Do you remember your first-ever guitar?
The first guitar I ever started playing on was one of those classic shitty nylon string guitars, the Valencia ones that cost about one hundred bucks, I really loved that thing. I could not tell you where it is now, but I’ve been considering getting another one for nostalgia’s sake. The first guitar that I bought for myself was a Fender Jazzmaster. I still use it all the time.
It was great to see your session take place at Frankie’s Pizza. It’s such a loss for the Sydney music community. Did you have many great nights there?
It’s so upsetting! Unfortunately due to graduating high school directly before COVID hit us, I never got to spend time at the venue, or many bars around Sydney honestly. My band mates were sharing fond, crazy stories as we were setting up and I really felt that I missed out on something quite iconic.
You say that your songs are often like diary entries. As your career progresses, does it get any easier to reveal so much of yourself in such personal songwriting
I’ve found it to be harder to be as brutally honest now that people seem to dissect the songs. It kind of feels like when you become aware of your breathing, how do you go back to that being a subconscious thing? I’m trying to figure that out now in a songwriting sense – forgetting what I’ve previously released, what people expect or may want from me, and just write as if no one will actually hear it again. There’s things I obviously want to keep to myself for the sake of self-preservation, but art should disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed, you know?
I like what you have to say about the vitality of music; it’s true that we couldn’t function properly without it in our lives. When did you first realise music was such an important part of your own life?
Music has always been as important to me as eating, I just don’t know when I became aware of that. It controls and regulates our emotions like a vessel we use to release energy. If I can’t cry, I’ll put on a sad song; if I want to bring a group of people together, I’ll put on a song that we all have in common; if I can’t find the words to say something, I’ll put on the appropriate track. There’s a reason what we consider the most pinnacle moments of our lives are all accompanied with music. Funerals, weddings, parties – we use music to grieve, celebrate and forget.
We’ve obviously got to ask about the Hottest 100. How did you feel when you found out you and Flume had nabbed the number one spot? Did you ever expect that collaboration to go as far as it did?
Absolutely insane. I honestly didn’t even think he’d use my vocals on the song. I was told to record them as a possible option and when we sent them off I remember laughing to myself thinking “this will never happen, but at least it was fun to hear an unreleased flume song.” I am so grateful to him for having me on the song and taking me on tour, I’ve learned so much through Harley and am proud of what I got to be a part of.
Who’s next on your collaborative radar? Any particular producer you’d like to work with in the future?
I had songs with Budjerah, POWFU, the DMA’S, and Flume come out recently. This year I’m focusing on my personal project. Really sitting down and thinking about what it is I want to say, what I want to stand for, and figure out who I am as both a human and an artist. I want to put out a body of work that I feel really represents me both honestly and sonically. But who knows, something unexpected may pop up.
How was it touring with WALLOWS in the UK and Europe?
It was an absolutely euphoric experience. Being able to play shows every night with my closest friends was a dream. The crowds were so beautiful and receptive, the crew working the tour were open and lovely, and the Wallows guys were welcoming. The European shows were damn cold but wouldn’t trade it for a thing.
How have you found touring post-pandemic overall? Most artists seem to say it’s a lot different now. A lot harder.
I wouldn’t know honestly. I hadn’t played a show with the band before COVID hit so I barely have anything to compare it to, so for me, this is pretty amazing and I’m just happy to be here!
