Abbe May Is Uniquely Her Own

By Stephanie McKinny

Ever wonder what the newest talent out of Australia is? Well, I’ll tell you. Please, please – no need to thank me; that’s what I’m here for. Her name is Abbe May and you’ve never heard anything like her. Yeah, I’m that confident. Her last single, “Mammalian Locomotion,” was so well received that she’s up for three WAMi Awards, including Best Female Vocalist. The video features the Sisters of Motion Roller Troupe, which seems like a nod to the strong female image that Abbe herself holds. It’s not easy being a girl in the rock scene – she’ll tell you it helps to have a brother who teaches you to write songs on a guitar – but Abbe makes simple work of it. Her crunchy guitar riffs met with an other-worldly ethereal voice is something that is uniquely her own, and she showcases that in her latest single, “Design Desire,” which is the title track to her album due out this summer. The instrumental talent is there, but it’s her ghostly voice that really sends chills up your spine. Instantly. Don’t let that unique sound fool you though – her song “Disney on Acid,” the B-side to “Mammalian Locomotion,” features a classic 1930’s jazz tone that is silky smooth. You can almost see the fedoras and the slow smoke in the air. It’s amazing how versatile her voice is. With influences like Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Hootenanny, you can’t really go wrong. Abbe May is a contradiction of the senses, but the final product kicks a lot of ass.