Our 23/24 Features Editor Olivia Hannant shares her thoughts on debut EP from Dorset born singer-songwriter May Payne. In what she describes as 'an ode to vulnerability and introspection' this poignant offering is sure to stick with you.
Content Warning: mention of sexual assault
In a debut overflowing with emotional depth and unguarded honesty, singer-songwriter May Payne pours herself out in a way so authentic this eclectic ensemble of tracks can’t help but loop around your mind and keep you thinking.
In a social landscape of niche micro celebrities and Instagram posts accompanied by misogyny and controversy, lead me to question simply why being a teenage girl is regarded as so bad? That same excess of indescribable emotion so many feel is harnessed perfectly throughout this EP, a harsh reality of a skin that’s been lived in through the highs and lows of human existence.
Opening track Sane explores feelings of spiralling emotional attachment and dependency on an individual who doesn’t reciprocate, littered with sonically warm guitar phrases and string selection throughout. This track oozes comfortability, feeling like it was intricately weaved together and could fill any space if played into the open, a difficult task.
Lead single, Take it too, manifests as a therapeutic outlet of the female experience, doused in a certain passion and driven by hindsight. The folk-pop ballad sits nicely between opening track Sane and the second from last I Hate it When You Touch Me, a poignant piano ballad, raw and unedited in reflection of ways in which the body holds the trauma the mind is yet to process. A touching and messy regurgitation of the impact of sexual assault and emotionally abusive relationships.
Between the Lines, a follow- up produced by Noah Curran and recorded by the band, May’s various influences can be heard throughout the track. Acting as an outlet for past thoughts and feelings, this track feels somewhat cyclical. Although cathartic and fragile, as a listener we are haunted by a sense of retrospection.
This deeply personal EP glimmers like a rare piece of sea glass on a busy beach, the resounding emotions expressed throughout will continue to resonate. An ode to vulnerability and introspection and a warm hug to listeners everywhere.
Olivia Hannant
Edited by Olivia Hannant, Images courtesy of artist
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