rocknroll_n_blues_queens | Australian bluesy music for our Fridays (Reply)

Her new vocal style on this album is ethereal:

ABBE MAY - DESIGN DESIRE

ABBE MAY - MAMMALIAN LOCOMOTION

Q AND A WITH ABBE MAY at a Has been that never was

AHB: The video for Mammalian Locomotion shows footage of the Sisters of Motion roller troupe. You’ve said that the troup appeals to you because they are naturally beautiful and strong women. And I think it suits the song really well! Do you consider strong female musicians to be your primary influence?
AM: I try not to think about it in terms of gender. I think it is important to separate gender from influence. I like musicians for their music, not specifically because they are female. That said I do often choose to perform with female supports… They have to be good though and i usually avoid acoustic balladeer types too. I like electric guitar girls… and I do this because the scene is generally dominated by men. Maybe thats a contradiction? The world is full of contradictions. Im just doing my bit haha.
My favourite band at the moment is Hootenanny. I like them because they are amazing… Not because they are female. Check em out on facebook
AHB: You’ve expressed a casual interest in graphic design. Do you ever see yourself utilising that interest for a music video
AM: I think I could probably get into design quite intensely if I wasn’t making music. But its really one or the other… or they would both suffer.
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But in the past it was loud and full throated. And the GUITARS people!!! Hitting me right where I like it!

Abbe May "Costanza" clip

Abbe May - Howl and moan

Abbe May - Storm (with a ukelele!!)

Myspace

Website

INTERVIEW | Abbe May at Mindful Earful

I raved about her in part 3 of my 3-part series of LISTEN UP! Australia, and now the Aussie blues siren Abbe May answers some of A Mindful Earful’s questions about listening to music growing up, her sound, and some of her favourite albums of the year. (Plus, she has some harsh opinions on manufactured music by Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.)
So, get ready for some lengthy, intelligent answers with ellipses galore, and read on!
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You’ve performed and released records under Abbe May and the Rockin’ Pneumonia, The Devil and Abbe May, and as a solo artist. Why so many different projects?
AM: I have been trying out lots of different things and playing with different musicians over the last few years. It keeps it interesting for me to collaborate with different people and means I keep learning new things…It also takes the songs places I might not have gone on my own. There are certainly places I maybe shouldn’t have gone in the past, and some of them are on record! Haha. But those trips are good for future reference, you know? Like that voice in your head that can say, “Don’t go there! Remember what happened last time?”
It says on your Myspace that you’re unsigned. What is it like being an independent female artist in the music industry, especially since blues isn’t exactly what one would think of as “typical mainstream” music.
AM: I am signed to Sandcastle music in Australia…I just am terrible at keeping websites up to date! I was independent until this year though… It could be really hard because it is expensive making records, and I often found once I got the money to make the record…I had nothing left to sort of promote it with. A label is good for this kind of thing. It has been good working with Sandcastle because they are very supportive and know a lot more about what to do with a record once its finished than I do.

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