First of all, congratulations on the release and success of your new album, Kiss My Apocalypse. How does it feel to be the sultry queen of the recently coined genre, doom-pop?
Hahaha, I’m enjoying myself immensely. Especially now that I am about to do the last show of my current tour in my home town and can then set my mind upon developing my next tour and festival show for later in the year.
This is not your first successful album. There was a lot of hype and love surrounding your previous 2011 LP, Design Desire which explored your blues/rock side with some killer guitar work from yourself. What made you decide to put down the guitar to explore electronic music?
I just got a bit bored with guitar music.. So i experimented with synths instead. I’m now playing guitar live again, though.
Some people criticise the change from a bluesy rock style to electronica as ‘selling out’. Do you feel that the Australian music industry is a tough nut to crack and how do you overcome these criticisms in order to continue to pursue your music?
No one has ever accused me of selling out to my face. There has been a few people who like to tell me they prefer the old stuff to the new stuff. I always reply with a wink and the line, “well there’s no accounting for taste.”.. usually poeple laugh. I’ve found that in general the reaction to Kiss My Apocalypse has been overwhelmingly positive and exciting.
I have come to find that the majority of albums that stand the test of time are “concept” albums as opposed to a bunch of odd songs thrown together. Without giving too many secrets away, did the idea of an apocalyptic take on love as the basis for the album happen spontaneously like one of those “in-the-shower-idea” moments? Or was a concept album something you’ve been planning for some time?
I wanted to make a concept album, but i wasn’t sure of the angle I would take until I was a few songs into the writing process. So it was both a planned and an “AH HA” type of conception.
You’ve mentioned in previous interviews some of the very obvious influences for Kiss My Apocalypse such as the bitterness of lost love. Besides these personal situations, were there any particular musicians or albums that helped inspire the record? Who are some songwriters you can’t get enough of at the moment?
Beyonce, Destiny’s child, Portishead, Kanye West, Mathas, Mei Saraswati, Tricky, The White Stripes, Radiohead..
Where is your favourite place in Australia to travel to and perform?
I like the coast of WA… the best beaches… but if we are to discuss my favourite place to travel to, it would have to be the balmy Sunshine Coast on a Big Day Out tour.
Do you have any ideas on what Australian punters can do to help keep our music industry thriving and help support independent artists?
Go to shows. Buy music. Buy Merchandise. Don’t be an internet troll.
Kiss My Apocalypse seems to be a very cathartic album from a songwriter’s perspective. How do you recover from the aftermath of releasing such personal feelings and emotions to the world?
I had a bit of a crash after it was released because I felt really empty. It sounds strange but for a couple of days there, I was really low. I had nothing left to say and I was in the midst of a PR campaign… weird times. I’m totally fine now.
From your experience, what advice can you give to upcoming singer/songwriters trying to get their music heard?
Play as much as you can. Write as much as you can. Don’t get a ‘real’ job. Make music your life. If you are any good, it will work in some way.
Best of luck touring the album and soak up all the well-deserve success! What can we expect to see from Abbe May next? Or perhaps you’ve got a nice long recovery break planned?
Another tour is being scheduled for later in the year. There will be some summer festivals and more recording from me.
Interviewer: Demi Mitchell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TPutu0CcGg