Amy May

SSW: Let’s talk about your background. We know that you started in music relatively early. When did you first discover your passion for music? At what age did you write your very first song and what was it about?

Amy May: I actually don’t recall a time in my childhood without music.. it always had a strong presence in our home. My father was a singer, songwriter and amazing guitarist, and my mother used to sing along to his songs and find harmonies, so as soon as my sister and I were old enough we’d join in! I started off writing poetry, words were always like magical doorways for me into imaginary worlds… Songwriting came a little later when I started to learn piano and guitar and was able to start putting those words into structured melodies.

What type of music did you grow up listening to? Who has had the greatest influence on your taste in music over time?

We didn’t have a television in our house for much of my childhood, so music was definitely the biggest artistic connection to the world around us. I remember a lot of long car journeys where my sister and I would be sat in the back singing along to whatever my parents wanted to listen to, and those artists really became the foundation of my own musical influences; James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac and Paul Simon. There was also a lot of Classical Music; Vivaldi, Chopin, Bach. I took it for granted at the time, but my parents had great taste!

Being originally from Cornwall, UK you ended up moving to London and then eventually LA. And now you are based in Malibu. Tell us a little more about your journey.

Cornwall was a beautiful and magical place to grow up, but I always had a kind of restlessness in me… My time in London was a wonderful chapter while I learned to play guitar and perform my songs in public at open mics, but I missed the ocean, so when I came out to LA I found the perfect balance between the buzz of a city that was also just minutes from the coast. Malibu has a beauty and wildness about it that immediately reminded me of Cornwall, and I knew I wanted to make it my home.

In a few words, how would you describe your signature sound? How would you characterize your music for those who have not heard it yet?

I would call it poetic pop music, with a blend of folk, rock and country influences.

We first met you performing in Santa Monica back in 2010, and we absolutely fell in love with your beautiful songs. Since then you released your 2nd album and about to release your 3rd! How did your sound and artistic vision change since you started writing? What did performing for people on the streets teach you?

Ah, thank you! From performing in a ball gown on a huge, elegant stage, to barefoot with feathers in my hair on the the sunny streets of Santa Monica, these experiences have all given me so much to draw from as a writer, artist and also a woman. I’ve been blessed to connect with people from so many different countries, cultures and walks of life, and there’s no doubt it has helped shape who I am. As a songwriter performing on the street, you learn pretty quickly if a new song is going to be successful or not- if it makes someone turn around and take a few minutes out of their busy day to listen, you know you’ve written something that people can relate and connect to, and that’s what I believe music is all about..

Tell us a little bit more about your songwriting process. What are sources of inspiration for your songs?

Since I was a child I’ve always been incredibly sensitive and felt things very deeply, and songwriting became a great channel for me to process those feelings; to make sense of them and ultimately give them expression. So whether it’s love, passion, pain or even just a feeling of being completely lost and alone, on a personal level the process is always incredibly rewarding.

Lyrically, what’s your favorite song that you’ve ever written? And what’s the story behind it?

Great question! And not an easy one to answer ha… I think right now it would be ‘Our Love’ from my new album. I wanted to paint a picture with my lyrics, of experiencing a kind of “True Love’ that would convince even the most cynical that it can still be possible.

You get to travel the world with your music and you are about to embark on your European tour. Have your travels had any effect on you creatively?

I always find travel creatively inspiring. Being in a new environment naturally heightens my senses and gives me a different and refreshing perspective on anything I’m feeling or thinking. Whenever I travel to Hawaii I write songs that just wouldn’t occur to me in LA or London… also I’ve found being in a neutral space like a hotel room can give me a lot of space emotionally to filter thoughts from; my imagination can roam free without the usual home-clutter around to distract or restrict what’s possible.

You are about to release your new album “Mystic” which we are super excited for our readers to hear! We feel so lucky we got to hear it already. Such a great record! Tell us a little bit about it. What were the inspirations behind the songs and how long did it take you to complete it?

Thank you! I’m so excited to share it with the world! This album took a lot longer to bring to fruition than I first anticipated. During the time I was writing and recording it, my mother passed away, and that began a chapter that was incredibly painful and dark for me to navigate. Grief is like carrying around a tremendously heavy rock on your chest, that no one else can see or feel. On the surface it can appear like you’re doing well and moving on, but inside I often felt like I didn’t know who I was, or even what I believed in anymore. Pieces of the journey I went on to find answers to those questions can be found on “Mystic”, especially in the song ‘Author’, which chronicles the moment I found the strength to come back to myself, consciously choose, and recommit to exactly what I wanted my life to be. The extra time for this album ended up allowing me to add new songs and get really clear on what I wanted to create for my sound, so I believe that all timing is divine and perfect!

What would you like for listeners of your music to take away from your new album?

I’d love it if they can hear their story in mine, enough to feel comforted, inspired and never alone, no matter what feelings are in their heart, or questions are running through their mind.

Let’s talk about more of your personal journey. Thinking of yourself as a soul on earth, what do you believe your purpose is?

I practice yoga and meditation, and in Sanskrit the word ‘Dharma’ is used to describe your soul’s unique evolution or path, so it’s something I consider often. Perhaps mine is to share my heart, and hopefully inspire others to keep theirs open to all the love, magic and wonder in the world around us.

What is the hardest lesson you’ve learnt in life so far?

That we don’t get to know what happens after “life”.

How do you use your intuition in your creative process?

I trust the words that fall out of my mind and onto paper before trying to have them form a structure or fit a rhyme… I allow it all to flow, then when it begins to form a picture I piece the story together. With lyrics I prefer using pen and paper to typing, on a keypad it’s way too easy to erase an idea before it’s had a chance to evolve, with paper and ink you get to keep all the “first drafts” which often become the final choices.

If there was a perfect soundtrack for this year of your life, which song would it be?

Lauren Alaina’s song ‘Road Less Traveled’ has a great energy, and also lyrically is the perfect statement for where life has and continues to take me!