I’ve never met May Payne but she has made me cry. Not a small cry either, big salty tears that streak my makeup and run down my cheeks leaving watery trails. Payne sent me a recording of a live performance of her recently released EP ‘Sane’ and despite never having met her, thus marks the day I shed 1000 tears.
Currently based in Manchester, singer/songwriter May Payne began her music career as soon as she could talk. Immediately feeling a connection to music, from an early age, Payne sang songs and played guitar during the early days and professionally in later years. Often using her own personal trauma to convey emotion within her music and lyrics, Payne gives Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval a run for her money when it comes to evoking emotion with the listener.
Her latest EP ‘Sane (Live Strings Version)’ is out now. With a passion for the pastoral and all things natural, Payne released the EP from her bedroom, with her five fluffy sheep toys for company. On March 8th, she daringly pressed share on Youtube, releasing the accompanying video for the EP and for the first time in the artist’s career, we see her for who she truly is.
“It isn’t really who I am” said Payne in relation to her last project which was really produced. ‘Sane (Live Strings Version)’ has allowed Payne to explore her sound away from the studio. There’s nowhere to hide in a live set, and there’s certainly nowhere to hide in the eyes of God, so Payne chose Sacred Trinity Church in Manchester as her setting. With a small production team present who were lucky enough to listen in, Payne performed four elegant songs that provide a rawness and truth that fans have been desperate to get their hands on.
Beginning with the title track ‘Sane’, like some kind of ethereal pixie, Payne sits elegantly upon the piano. Donned in musical warpaint of streaked white eyeliner, her small face is framed and dainty, and I can tell that what I’m going to experience is something of purity. Providing melodic likeness to that of Kate Rusby and Billie Marten, Payne sits with her musical peers as someone who belongs in the eyes of fame.
There’s nothing I love more than two tracks blending into one. With ‘Delicious Things’ and ‘Lipstick On The Glass’ from Wolf Alice’s album ‘Blue Weekend’ being a particular favourite, music feels right when it’s continuous. Audio doesn’t wane during Payne’s performance and she drifts from ‘Sane’ to ‘Take it Too’ without anyone noticing.
A musical melodic lullaby, accompanied by guitarist Reuben Savage, in ‘Take It Too’ Payne stands at the altar of the church as an angel. Built in 1635, the Sacred Trinity Church has gathered thousands of voices over the years and there’s a promise in Payne’s voice that echoes across the building. With a band of string instruments and the ghosts of choral hymns behind her, Payne’s voice becomes elevated and alive.
Payne voices her encounter with assault that she experienced during her time at University. An incredibly delicate topic, Payne spoke out on social media recently about where her themes come from, giving a whole new meaning to the third track ‘I Hate The Way You Touch Me’. She has an innate ability to dance across octaves and move from big bellowing tones to falsetto high notes. She saves her big notes like secrets, delicately dancing along softer melodies until she brings out a big belting line like “I am a person.” And it’s at this point I’m reminded – yes, I am, yes she is, yes we women, are.
We return to the piano for the conclusive song ‘Between The Lines’ and her outfit becomes crumpled. We are in our Little Simz era of office wear and Payne creates a juxtaposition between her oversized suit and elfin makeup. A sweet end to a complex cake, Payne leaves up with the conclusive line “I’m stuck between the line…”
It’s easy to get bogged down in our emotions in life – especially as a woman. May Payne is an individual who has experienced trauma and rather than letting it swallow her whole – she becomes the master of it, divulging her emotions through art and taking control of the situation. Her EP ‘Sane’ struck a chord in me. She speaks openly about topics that most people fear. All I know is, as I stare at my computer screen, whilst I wipe salty tears from my mascara-stained cheeks – I hope I meet her one day.
8/10
Words: Isabel Armitage
