Bacchanalia Magazine

by Reb Jordin

Mayday Mae, an emerging alternative singer songwriter, is set to release their third single ‘Girls into Music’ on March 29th securing their place as both an amazing artist and an advocate for the plight of women in this unjust world. Following in the footsteps of the iconic riot grrrls before them, Mayday Mae gives a voice to the girls who have been told to quieten down their entire lives. This artist is a beacon of determination and girl power, guiding other women through an industry ruled by ignorant men. When asked about their new single Mayday May says, “girls into music is a song about pursuing your passion in a male-dominated world and the constant struggle to prove yourself to others. In the world of music, I feel as if there are certain expectations put on women and gender non-conforming people where they have to put in twice the effort as their male counterparts to get recognition for their skill and talent. This song was a way for me to express that frustration and empower myself from those experiences of being minimised. I know I am definitely not alone in these experiences, so in a way I sought to comfort those who felt the same.”

‘Girls into Music’ explores the theme of being frustrated due to a woman’s talent being
underestimated because of something so frivolous as her gender. Stand out lyrics which reflect this are, ‘you think that I came here just for the show no no, I came to teach you what should be known’. This moment conveys that women aren’t just here for a man’s entertainment; they have minds and dreams to rival that of a man, yet they’re still constantly underestimated.

The theme of a woman’s determination in the face of their frustrations is continued into the lyrics, ‘I’m not going insane, am I? When you think that I lie about our skills being aligned.’ Here Mayday May tells the story of women being gaslit into believing they should be below men in everything even though they are just as talented and important. The punchy base riffs and drums just add to the anger behind this sadly relatable moment. ‘Girls into Music’ with its gritty tone, pounding drums and shredding guitar feels like being transported back to a gig in the seventies where there is a powerhouse woman on stage teaching the men how to really perform. The single awakens the feminine urge to just scream at the injustices of the world, fighting against the universal oppression of women.

The song builds into the post chorus in a cacophony of instruments lost behind Mayday Mae’s powerful vocals as they scream, ‘sorry that I’m not perfect, that doesn’t mean that I don’t deserve this’. The artist appears to reach their breaking point here as the song meets its peak, this moment feels like an act of feminine rage, protesting the demure image of girlhood in favour of the reality that women are constantly treated unfairly no matter their strengths.

The single projects the desire to be seen for your talents and not your gender. Mayday Mae is no groupie, in fact most girls aren’t, they are the rockstars and the world should know it.

So go and give ‘Girls into Music’ a listen now and feel empowered by its liberating message. Also go and give Mayday Mae’s other two singles ‘bound!’ and ‘pin-up revolution’ a listen to fully immerse yourself within their world.