MAY-A is the music industry’s much-needed, indie-pop agony aunt
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
Hailing from down under, MAY-A is the Byron-born singer comparing girls to mayonnaise. As she releases the breakup bounce-back Swing of Things with POWFU, hear about her journey to queer liberation through transparent “emo lyrics” and a stream of endearing guitarwork.
Credit @maybelle.t
NAME MAY-A
AGE 19
LOCATION Sydney, Australia
STAR SIGN Virgo
PARTY TRICK I can fall on my face on command? It’s not a trick, but I do it at parties.
Alice May Stenson: How would you describe the MAY-A sound?
Maya Cumming: Right now it’s kind of an alt-indie-pop sound that’s heavy on the guitar, mixed in with a splash of pop punk and some raw emo lyrics.
AMS: Can you remember the lyrics to your first ever song?
MC: “I’m going to push you in the river if you don’t go back” is the only memory I have of a song I wrote with a friend when I was around seven or eight.
AMS: When did you first fall in love with music? Was there a defining moment?
MC: I think it’s always been there. My father always played a lot of music on guitar and conversed with me about what the songs were about, so I've always paid attention to the lyrics throughout my life. Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones and Coming into Los Angeles by Arlo Guthrie were the first two songs I ever remember loving – when it came to special requests I'd always ask my dad to “play the chicken song again.”
AMS: What’s something you’d tell that same younger version of yourself?
MC: You’re still alive. Live your life as a kid, you can get older, you can’t get younger.
AMS: Both lyrically and sonically, what were the starting points for Swing of Things?
MC: The starting point, lyrically, was basically me writing a bunch of emotional crap into my phone that was converted into the final product in the studio. It was a direct stream-of-consciousness. I’d only just met the producer, Gabs, that day and I was pretty nervous so I just played some chords on the guitar and he voice memo’d it on his phone. He decided to put it straight into the track – I love that he did that, it added a really cool texture to the sound and feels very raw. I think that helped me write the song super fast as it just felt like me and the guitar.
AMS: What was the biggest challenge in putting out this track?
MC: Definitely having to put out another song to the public about my ending relationship and my ex-partner being very aware it was about them. The challenge was trying to be considerate of her feelings while also thinking about transparency as an artist.
AMS: How does it feel to have an all-girl band? Can you play many instruments yourself?
MC: The best fucking thing in the world haha. I dreamed of having a girl band when I was a kid. I’ve never felt so understood, it’s like a family and I'm so proud to go up on that stage with all of them. I can play piano, guitar and drums, so I guess I could be a one-man-girl-band, a shitty one if that.
AMS: What do you want to make people think and feel through your songs?
MC: I’m not sure. I think I want people to see me and the honesty in what I'm saying, as well as being able to help people feel understood and having music they can relate to. If you’re feeling understood from my music, it probably means you understand me. I didn’t write songs I don’t think I’d ever be able to sort my emotions out.
AMS: We’ve had mayonnaise and Apricots. What’s a better MAY-A approved food combination?
MC: Anything would be better than that. Avocado and Vegemite on toast though, an Australian delicacy.
AMS: Can you share a secret with us?
MC: I’ve never actually eaten apricots and mayonnaise.
AMS: In general, what are you always proud of?
MC: I think I’ve got a pretty good set of morals, and a great support system – my mum is my lifesaver.
AMS: How has being vulnerable in your work helped you to process your own sexuality?
MC: I think writing and singing about my sexuality is natural, because it’s simply how I feel, but I’ve noticed the longer I write and sing about it, the more confident I am in myself – it’s how I approach living life as a queer woman. I feel very empowered currently!
AMS: What have love and loss taught you?
MC: That I definitely need to work on myself for right now. Don’t take the good moments for granted and don’t overlook the bad ones just because it was once good.
AMS: Have you any advice for getting over someone and falling back into the swing of things?
MC: I’m still figuring that one out myself. The best advice I can give is to put that person’s contact on silent. That’s as out-of-sight out-of-mind as I’ve ever felt – and get off their social media! You’re just punishing yourself.
AMS: What’s the ultimate first date dealbreaker?
MC: Pretty obvious but if you’re racist, sexist, classist et cetera. Just be a good person!
AMS: Biggest pinch-me career moment so far?
MC: AHH I HAVE A VERY BIG TOUR SUPPORT ANNOUNCEMENT COMING!
AMS: It’s your birthday relatively soon! Who would you invite to a dream party and which cake are you having?
MC: I’m not sure if tiramisu counts as cake but I could eat my bodyweight in that stuff. Honestly if WILLOW SMITH rocked up to my party I’d be pretty ecstatic.
AMS: Finish the sentence: I feel happiest when…
MC: I’m hanging out with my band, my friends and my family around a fire, in a pub, watching a movie or playing pool. The simple parts of getting to know the people you hold close.
AMS: And what can we expect next from you?
MC: I’m releasing an EP called don’t kiss ur friends on August 6th and I may be making a small appearance in the UK soon. All exciting things.
MAY-A’s new EP, ‘don’t kiss ur friends’, is out August 6 2021. Images by @maybelle.t.