After scouting out dramatic photoshoot locations at The Royal Opera, we wandered around central London and chatted about her love of storytelling, her favourite parts of building a supportive community, and her plans for some very special live shows.
Hey Lydia! Could you please introduce yourself and where you’re from?
I would love nothing more! Hi, I’m Lydia May. I’m a Melbourne artist now living in London. I can’t really tell you what genre of music I make because I feel like it changes a lot, but it definitely sits in the kind of alt-pop rock sphere. I’m very theatrical by nature, and I’m currently drinking this guava juice and having a great time.
Let’s talk about your single, 'Lifesaver'. In that gorgeous song, you talk about friendships and how important they are to you. What else is important for our audience to know about you, other than your love for the people around you?
I love music, I think the most life-saving part of my life is live music. It’s been my longest friend. [Sometimes] I don’t feel like I understand friendships particularly well. Like, I love them when they’re great, but it’s also such a twisting and, you know, beautiful and vulnerable thing. It’s so nice that you brought up that song because I really wrote it about people that I thought I would be friends with forever, then these things change. But it’s taking on such a new meaning.
It means so much to your fans as well, doesn’t it?
They made me fall back in love with it, to be honest. My music is so personal and chronological with my life, and I wrote this song when I didn’t expect anyone to be listening to it, let alone connecting and relating to the lyrics. So the more people tell me that they love it, the more I love it as well. I think [the song] is really about the people who listen now, I think they are my life savers.
Speaking of those people, so many came to the tour that you put on - the 'Lifesaver' Tour.
Yeah, a year anniversary last week!
You organised that entirely by yourself, which is an incredible undertaking. How was that, looking back a year later?
It definitely feels like that was day one. They were my first shows where people actually bought tickets to see me. After years of pub gigs, that was mega… I never thought I would see the day; it felt so special. I think music isn't necessarily about the person writing or singing it, really good music makes you see yourself in the words, and then we can meet in this collective sphere. The craziest thing was seeing them come to the show and then make friends and sing and post about it online. I mean, I write a lot of music from a very solitary place, and seeing friendships form because of my songs or because of live shows is magic dust.
It’s so sweet to see your documentation of your shows on your socials.
Oh yeah, I never miss a repost.
What has been your biggest “I made it” moment so far?
To be honest, I don’t think I’ve had my moment. Very candidly, a lot of the time I feel insecure and unable to see where I’m at in my career. But then I think back to like, six months or a year ago, when just the idea of my music actually resonating with someone was the biggest thing. And now, I’ve got that in quite a few people. Having those people be here and connect to what I write, seeing those relationships, is the biggest “I made it” moment in terms of feeling like I’m on the right track. There is a lot to come that I’m really excited about.
That leads on perfectly. What have you got coming up that you’re excited about?
I can say that I’m working on my first EP project! I’m working on so much new music, and I’m producing again myself. I’m also working with people who have been a dream to get into a room with. That’s a big “I made it” moment, being able to write in these amazing places and with amazingly talented people.
The first single of the EP is ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’. That [song] is all about resurrection. There’s a theme of resilience and the challenging path to get to a place, pulling yourself out of this kind of purgatory, this self-inflicted hell that we all have. I love the concept, I love the story, I love the character. I think dressing up my emotions through songs is such a fun and creative outlet for me. There’s also some incredible new outfits coming up with my gorgeous designer, Elliot [MacGregor].
I’m really working hard on my first band show headline, hopefully [happening] very, very soon. I’m very excited.
What’s the best run-in you’ve had with a fan so far?
I can’t pick, that’s like picking a favourite child. I’m very lucky to have met a lot of beautiful, beautiful people. The Manchester show recently showed up in force, and I think getting my first flag where everyone had signed their names was very lovely. I have to give a huge shout-out to Maybelle HQ, Miss Alicia. She made this whole project for me, where people could send little notes and she would handwrite them on letters and give them to me at shows. It always amazes me how generous and loving they are. I think that the fact that the people who are here are so kind and welcoming to everybody [online] and that really translates in person, and I’m so proud of that. I’m most proud of, not the numbers or anything, but who [my fans] actually are, and getting to know them more and more is such a gift.
For our audience to get an idea of who you are, what are your three “desert island” albums?
Oh no, I think I’m going to need four. I’m going to need Raye, 'My 21st Century Blues'. 'Ziggy Stardust' by Bowie and Aurora’s album, her first. Wait, it’s a really long title, 'All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend'. Then, the complete collection of Joni Mitchell. There are so many I missed! Never let me on a desert island, I’ll go to the island if I can have as many records as I want. I’m inspired by a lot of male rock bands as well, to be honest. That’s been an interesting thing for me to navigate while also having such a love for theatrical pop and singer-songwriter ballads. It’s such an eclectic taste that influences my music. I’m really enjoying the challenge of trying to find my sound, or my sonic home base, for this project. It’s a fun journey to go on - I think producing my own music has definitely helped with that as well. I like having all the moving parts connected. The visuals, the release of a project, the lyrics, the live show, and everything. I want it to feel like a journey if that makes sense. Like reading a book or watching a movie and seeing it unfold.
I’m so excited to watch your plan come to life. We have the final question: could you sum up your sound in three words?
Thank you so much for talking to me! I’ll go with weird and wonderful.
Izzy Reeve
Images: Izzy Reeve
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