MAY-A: Support Act Review

This has been exciting week for lovers of all types of music. There’s really been something for everyone: local acts in intimate venues, sell-out stadiums with international headliners, the too sweet sounds of a forest god, a cult-like genre-defying experience, and the dreamy rock sound of British group Glass Animals. Making an appearance as their support artist was a performer with a cult following of her own: MAY-A.

This is what happened during MAY-A’s set at the Riverstage on November 22nd, 2024.

MAY-A

I’ve been a fan of MAY-A’s music since 2020 when her song Apricots first hit the airwaves on Triple J. The Sydney musician debuted with a musical sensibility that highlighted her vocal talents – she could be soft and romantic, creating a personal feeling that connected listeners to her songs easily. Her early songs were teenage anthems, exploring youth and the exploration of sexuality. She’s spoken before about the fluidity of attraction and not being conformed to a label, and has accumulated a dedicated fanbase among young queer women who see themselves in the sincerity of her lyrics.

Yet the MAY-A we saw on stage in 2024 is projecting a new image, the culmination of over a year of work (dating back to her Australian tour last year). Here, those ‘light and soft’ pop songs are revamped into a heavier rock style. I was impressed by the almost-punk version of Time I Love To Waste, and as an opening song for an opening act it sets the tone of this event perfectly. The crowd was frenetic in their energy, throughout the evening.

I imagine that it’s hard, when you have such a comprehensive discography limited to a half-hour opening set, to pick which songs stay on the list and which to reserve for your own shows later. We saw a range of great hits – Sweat You Out My System, LOLA, Your Funeral – but I was nostalgic for some of her sweeter earlier tracks like Green, Apricots and Central Station. If you enjoyed MAY-A’s set and want to hear more, I’d recommend starting with those three!

MAY-A was a relevant choice to open for Glass Animals; the two acts share a special connection that Australian audiences will appreciate greatly. Both have topped Triple J’s Hottest 100, which I jokingly describe as the most important display of democracy in our nation. In 2020, Glass Animals took out the top spot with Heat Waves, while MAY-A featured on Flume’s track Say Nothing in 2022. This victory song closed out MAY-A’s set and hopefully left any newcomers convinced she’s worth keeping an eye on. If they want to join the fan club, they’ll need to be prepared to line up early – MAY-A’s current fanbase is devoted but we’re eager to have you along, so follow her for more dates!

Fave song: LOLA