{"id":59531,"date":"2020-02-05T15:47:25","date_gmt":"2020-02-05T15:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=59531"},"modified":"2020-02-05T15:47:25","modified_gmt":"2020-02-05T15:47:25","slug":"interview-with-may-rosa-about-before-i-knew-summer-and-2020-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2020\/02\/interview-with-may-rosa-about-before-i-knew-summer-and-2020-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW WITH MAY ROSA ABOUT ‘BEFORE I KNEW (SUMMER)’ AND 2020 PLANS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amy had the chance to talk to Belfast-based singer\/songwriter May Rosa about her new single, \u2018Before I Knew (Summer)\u2019.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Hi May, Thank you for talking to essentially pop today, how are you?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Hi Essentially Pop! Thank you for having me \ud83d\ude42 I\u2019m very well thank you; very busy but that\u2019s great.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

For those who don\u2019t know you, tell me one thing about you?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

I am an alt pop artist who loves the 80\u2019s, synths and David Lynch. Okay.. I guess that\u2019s four things.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

When did you first start creating music?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

I wrote my first song at 12. I can still remember it… it was called \u2018It\u2019s Getting Colder\u2019. It was very angsty and dramatic…I was listening to Evanescence at the time, so you can imagine how extra it was!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

What was the inspiration behind your new song ‘before i knew (summer\u2019)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

I wanted to write about the simplicity of childhood, growing up in suburban Belfast and the fond memories I have from that time; when in reality was one of fantasy… before I experienced sadness and heartbreak. It\u2019s the first song from a series of work dealing with the mystery of memory; especially inherited memory which I\u2019m fascinated by. I wanted it to be evocative and nostalgic.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

How long did it take you to write the song?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Not long at all – a demo was done within a week or so. I wrote it as a poem first and the melody came very quickly, as did the arrangement and production.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

What were you most excited about releasing a single?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

I\u2019m always excited about releasing music. Listeners can get to know me better as an artist and my story and aesthetic. I guess I get most excited most when people connect and relate to it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

What are the goals you want to achieve in terms of releasing the single?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s a prelude to the upcoming releases – to introduce listeners to what\u2019s to come and for them to get excited by the concept. With every release, I always aim to reach more potential fans and other creatives to collaborate with.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

What are some of your favourite lyrics from this single?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\u2018Bleary eyed, Cycling past the end of the street Where dreams on yellow post-it notes Float in the breeze\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

and\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

\u2018Screeching to a halt By the dull derelict house\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Where pigeons coo and cry Home to hundreds of them now. Crane my neck to see up high Past the pylon and telephone wires That ruin the blue sky. Dusty sunlight gets in my eyes As zoo animals in the clouds Are waving goodbye. I felt a sudden sense of sadness. I didn\u2019t know why.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

What do you describe your style as?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

I suppose it\u2019s alternative\/art Pop. Dreamy, cinematic and stylised.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Does the new single mean any ep’s on the horizon?.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

I don\u2019t have any EP releases planned, but I do have 3 other singles coming out before the summer!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Proudest moment in 2019?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Releasing my Waxwork Sweetheart EP, forming my band and performing my first gig as May Rosa.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Plans for 2020?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

I\u2019m releasing a video for \u2018Before I Knew (Summer)\u2019… I guess it\u2019ll be out when this interview goes live! I\u2019m super excited about that! I\u2019m releasing the next singles, playing live shows and hopefully festivals. I will also be releasing a single called \u2018Ceasefire Baby\u2019 to raise awareness of the suicide epidemic that we have in Belfast. All money raised will go to a suicide prevention charity here.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Listen to \u2018Before I Knew (Summer)\u2019:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n