"I’ve never met May Payne, but she has made me cry" - CLASH
May Payne's musical career began when she gained a cult following online at age 14, her outspoken vulnerability forming a sincere, deep connection between her and her audience of hundreds of thousands of fellow teens. This radical honesty still guides the 21-year-old singer-songwriter today as she shares her innermost thoughts through her sensitive, emotion-lead music. Drawing from an eclectic mix of influences including RnB, emo, and folk, May uses her music as a form of self-therapy, writing songs in the hopes of being able to better understand her intense and confusing emotions. She recently was crowned winner of the inaugural 'CASIO Sessions' competition, impressing the panel with an emotive performance of 'I Hate It When You Touch Me', the second single from her debut EP.
Debut EP - Sane
"Admissions that feel, through her soulful delivery and cinematic, expansive sonics, as if they’re all her saying them out loud for the first time" - DIY
May's debut EP ‘Sane’ is an exercise in self-therapy, exploring the pain of being a hyper-sensitive young woman from two perspectives - her 17-year-old and 21-year-old self. The honesty of her piano-led singer-songwriter ballads is grounded within the warmth and power of her top tier live band, adorned with shimmering production embellishments reminiscent of the likes of Lizzy McAlpine and Phoebe Bridgers. The EP was written, recorded, and produced completely DIY by May and her band of friends including producer Noah Curran in various bedrooms and was released September 1st 2023 to an outpouring support from her dedicated online fanbase.
Sane
(Live Strings Version)
This recent release showcases May's songs at their most sensitive and confessional, stripped back and accompanied by string octet. She arranged string parts herself in collaboration with producer Noah Curran. This EP was released on March 1st alongside a poignant and visually striking video of the live performance, captured as part of a self-organised live session at the Sacred Trinity Church in Manchester, garnering praise from CLASH and The Pentatonic.
After years of honing her craft at Berklee College of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music, May formed a band of close friends to help her realise her sound. The group have performed at venues across the country, supporting the likes of NEEVE, Rosie Frater-Taylor, Bonnie Kemplay, and The Slow Readers Club. Currently Manchester based, May has received support from Spotify Editorials, BBC Introducing, and has been featured as a Fresh On The Net favourite. She is currently in the process of co-producing her sophomore EP alongside Toby Ollis-Brownstone, a folk-rock departure from her previous sound. The release of this project will mark the start of a new era inspired by the likes of Big Thief, Slow Pulp, and Soccer Mommy.