May Roze is a London based singer-songwriter-producer, born and raised in Switzerland. True to her Aquarius sign, she loves to create and innovate and has been focusing on this since the start of her journey years ago. Knowing where she was heading from the start, she performed on stage for the first time at just 3 years old!

After hearing her recently released single ‘Heal’, we wanted to learn more about this incredible musician and delve back into her younger years where she started performing from the age of 3!

We caught up with May Roze and had a great chat about her early days, influences, home life, the music scene in both Switzerland and London and most importantly, what she’ll be preparing for us when we come round for dinner! For all of this and a LOT more, carry on reading!

We know a little bit about you, we know you’re called May Roze, we know that you’re a Swiss born, London based singer songwriter, we even know that your star sign is Aquarius, tell me something about you that you’ve never told an interviewer before….

Well I know it’s a bit random but I am horribly scared of jellyfish! But overall anything that comes from the sea/ocean.

You’ve been performing on stage since you were 3 years old, what is your earliest memory of doing this?

I was about that age and there was a celebration in the shopping centre in which my Mom had a second hand shop. Some other kids and I were invited to perform with the main act. I remember I was very competitive and was trying to sing louder than anyone else!

Did you grow up in a musical family? If so, who played what instruments?

Yes, I did. My mum plays folk guitar and accordion, my dad jazz piano, one of my brothers used to play classical guitar, the other one classical piano and my sister plays any instrument! Give her anything and she’ll play it. However, no one in my family sings and no one was ever into the genre of music that I make. They kind of had to get into it because of me!

Do you remember the first CD or record that you bought? Who was it, do you still own it and if so, do you still play it?

If I’m correct, it was a musical! Probably “Romeo & Juliette” or “Note Dame De Paris”. In both cases, yes I still own it and every time I play it, it brings me back to the good old days. It feels like innocence and it reminds me how quickly life passes by.

Your influences include many female singer songwriters including Kate Bush, Sade, Björk & Enya, what is it about these that you like so much?

I believe that these artists never competed with anyone. They arrived with a voice, a genre, different instruments, influences, something unique and that’s what made them timeless and legendary.

These are all what I call ‘classic artists’, which of the newer singer songwriters do you enjoy?

I love Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish, FKA Twigs, Grimes, Sevdaliza, Banks, and many more! Once again, I’ve realized I’m only citing female artists but don’t get me wrong I love listening to male artists too. I for example love Patrick Watson, Childish Gambino, Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Eminem, but I just find my music to be more influenced by the artists I’ve cited before.

Was it one of your influences that made you want to get involved in song writing?

I think what really made me want to get involved in song writing was to be able to tell my own story and just tell the stories I want to tell in general. It’s what made me go from wanting to do musicals to wanting to make a solo career. The need to tell things with my own words and not through someone else’s words or through a character. But now that I’m into song writing and producing my own music, I definitely find influences in these artists. Be it the lyrics, the melodies, productions or the atmosphere.

Tell me about how you go about writing a song, do you think of the lyrics first and then the melody or the other way around?

It depends if I’m writing the song by myself or with other people. I constantly write lyrics, I sometimes very randomly have melodic ideas but most of the time, I like to have the beat first and then the melodies and lyrics all come together. Sometimes I just take my guitar and write something like that. There isn’t only one way for me to do it. It’s really about how I feel ‘in the moment’.

How do you create your music for your song? Are there other musicians involved in this process?

So far it’s only been me and my laptop or the producer’s laptop and instruments. But I’d love to have more live instruments in my music. One day, I really want to record an album with an orchestra.

Have you used a studio to record your music or do you use a home based setup?

Yes, I always use a studio to record the songs. Most of the time, I start at home in my own home studio but then bring my ideas to the studio and to a proper studio engineer to record it, unless the song was created in the studio directly.

You’re also influenced by musicals, tell me which musical is your favourite and why? (I love West Side Story and got to see the new movie before Christmas, magical!)

Oh yes I love West Side Story too! However growing up in the French part of Switzerland, my influences are mostly French musicals such as Notre Dame De Paris, Les Dix Commandements, Le Roi Soleil, Starmania, Romeo & Juliette. My all time fav is Notre Dame De Paris! Just imagine a 3-year-old, kissing the TV because she’s in love with one of the characters, singing all the songs at the top of her lungs and knowing all the lyrics by heart. Well that’s a bit embarrassing but that’s me! This musical changed my life. That’s when I decided that it’s what I wanted to do for a living.

You performed in musical plays from the age of 6 to 14, which do you have the best memories of?

I keep great memories of the rehearsals, the atmosphere, the team we were, the adrenaline before a show, the costumes and make up, learning so much. Learning to be the only child in the room, learning to be professional at such a young age.

I read that you’ve been working with international vocal coaches since the age of 8, please tell me more about this, who is it you have worked with and where are they from?

When I was younger I worked with a vocal coach that completely destroyed my voice. I had to do years of re-education. It was tough on my self-confidence. My voice would feel weak and crack all the time. I then looked for some of the bests. I looked for people with whom it would feel effortless and just feel good. I’ve learned early on that I wouldn’t let anyone tell me what to do with my instrument. If anything doesn’t feel comfortable, I don’t do it. The last coach I worked with was Nick Cooper from Los Angeles and I feel like I’ve found the one I completely trust with my voice.

You took part in the semi-finals of the Swiss Eurovision Song Contest, firstly, how did this come about and secondly, tell me more about the song you performed, when it was and who finally went on to win the finals?

A friend had been offering for a few years to manage me while taking part of the ESC but I was working on projects so always rejected the offer. At that time, I was on a break and wasn’t working on anything and so I decided to accept. I sang a song called “Letter To Myself” that I had co-written with some danish composers. It was a great experience but I didn’t go to the finals. Instead, a friend of mine, Melanie René, went and rocked it!

You moved to London in 2015, how did you feel when you first arrived and what would you say were the biggest hurdles that you had to overcome?

I had worked on music in London in the past and so thank God had a few landmarks! But it was very lonely leaving my entire family and friends and starting a new life somewhere new at just 19. I think that was the hardest part. I was very nostalgic. I remember the very strong sensation of being in this big city surrounded by people at all times but still feeling so lonely inside. Since then, I’ve learned to just enjoy the moment you’re given and not overthink things anymore. Just live. We’re all connected anyway. No matter where we are.

How does the music scene in London compare to that of where you used to live in Switzerland?

I want to be optimistic and one day hopefully bring some change to the music scene in Switzerland because I think that there is potential but sadly we miss opportunities. Having to leave your country because you know that if you stay you can’t ever make it is sad. I’ve been told my entire life that I should find myself a real job. That shows how it is. It’s just not an option.

Here in London it feels like everything is possible. There is a photography studio next to my flat, rehearsal spaces, recording studios, gigs, it’s everywhere. At all times. Not being originally from here I can really notice it. Hopefully one day Switzerland can have more opportunities for musicians.

Where in London are you based?

I’ve lived everywhere for short periods of time in London but at the moment I’m based in South London. In the Lambeth Borough.

How do you find living there?

I enjoy it! I live with nice flatmates, in a nice flat, with my cat. So I’m happy. I lived in horrible places here in London so definitely happy with the one I’m in now.

Are there any music venues that you regularly frequent? Any open-mic style evenings that you attend?

I used to in the past but now with the Covid situation, I don’t really go to open mics anymore and I limit gigs as well. (Except if I’m playing!) I’m really looking forward to this Covid to be completely over and being able to go and listen to some other up and coming artists! So many venues I still have to discover.

How would your friends describe you as a person?

Probably loyal, caring, always ready to listen.. at least I hope! Also I guess passionate and determined.

If you were asked to nominate 3 bands or artists to headline Glastonbury 2023, who would you choose and why? (you can choose from dead or alive acts as well but you CAN’T choose yourself)

I would say Michael Jackson, Billie Eilish, Björk.

• Michael Jackson because it was always a dream of mine to see him perform. I mean he is and will always be the king!

• Billie Eilish because she’s a super talented and creative young artist and I love what she does.

• Björk because she’s a queen and seeing her live would be an experience! The costumes, the universe/world, everything I believe would be out of this world.

 

In 2018, you started to make your mark in the UK when your single “Again” reached number 23 in the UK Commercial Pop charts and number 1 in the Kings of Spins, was this your own track or something that you collaborated on? If so, who else was involved?

“Again” is a song I’ve written with a French producer a few years ago. We were the only two people involved and I’m very grateful for what it achieved. Though it doesn’t reflect my current musical direction, it’s a nice song and I’m glad people enjoyed it.

Your latest track ‘Heal’ was released on January 14th, how did you celebrate when it finally landed?

Well, I spent the day managing and supervising the release. As a self-managed, independent artist, it takes quite a bit of work to release a song. Making sure it’s out everywhere, announcing the release on socials, sometimes going live, sending it to magazines, playlists, blogs, radios. It’s always a happy time and very satisfying but I don’t really spend much time celebrating it sadly. I will probably do something for the release of the upcoming EP.

The video for ‘Heal’ landed a week later on 21st January, tell me where you recorded it and who else worked on that project with you?

That’s actually an interesting question… I filmed “Heal” music video in my living room. I had this idea of being under some plastic dust sheets with butterflies around me, and coming out of the plastic sheets to make it look like a rebirth. Everything I had in mind could be made in a simple room. So there was no second thought! I’ve made space in my living room and Zak Fenning, the filmmaker, and I spent the night filming! 

How long did it take to create the video and how much plastic sheeting did you get through?

Ah, I love the question! It all went pretty fast. It took about a week to put all my ideas down, know where we were gonna film it, order everything we were gonna need and actually film. The shoot lasted for about 6 hours once the material was all set up. The editing took me a few days as well. In terms of plastic sheets, we had to make sure everything was covered! But it wasn’t THAT bad!

Tell us your best joke…..

Oh wow…. Okay so I consider myself to be a pretty funny person in terms of personality. I can be quite goofy but I’m BAD with jokes. Like when I try, I fail. So I’ll leave that out!

Your track ‘Heal’ is the second single of your debut EP of the same name, you refer to this as a chapter closing and another one opening, I get the feeling that you are leaving something behind and starting over again? Please tell me more….

Yes, I’m leaving in the past what belongs to the past.. I too often reminisced over things that are not anymore and I don’t want to do that anymore. You live for the future and the now right?

I wrote this EP while I was in the most intense relationship I’ve ever been in. And because great things didn’t come alone, it came with a lot of pain. I invested myself like I never thought I would and I’ve lost my self in it. I wanted to call this EP “Heal” as that’s all I want now. I’ve stayed in it for long enough and all I live for now is happiness, feeling light and free, and this is me saying “Good bye” to a person, a relationship, a situation, to the person I was. I’ve had to rebuilt myself and I’m a completely different person now. I’m ready for what’s to come and I’m not looking back!

When will the EP be available and what formats are you planning to release it on?

So the EP will be digitally released on the 11th of March 2022 so it will be in all online stores and digital platforms. For now I’m not planning on releasing hard copies but we never know! 

Will you be hosting a launch party to celebrate its release? If so, when and where would you like this to take place?

I was thinking about it but I actually think that I’m gonna do something online instead! I’ll probably go live on Instagram, listen to the songs, perform them, chill with my friends, and just have a nice time celebrating it together.

We’re all coming to your house for dinner, what will you be cooking for us?

I usually make lots of different things so people can always find something they like. But let’s say I was making a starter, and a main meal I would make guacamole as it’s my go to and just love it. I would make an orange salad, some rice as it’s always safe and lots of veggies with a satay sauce that anyone can add if they’d like. I guess it would be a vegan night! Hope you like it!

Have you any live shows planned in the near future? What about music festivals?

Yes, I have a gig on the 25th of February at the Bread and Roses and another one at The Bedford Balham on the 10th of May. More will be announced soon. Sadly no music festivals in the calendar yet.

What would be a perfect day for May Roze?

A perfect day for me would be waking up with a sunray touching my face, hearing the birds, hearing my family in the house, the smell of breakfast, exercising, meditating, having great food throughout the day, leaving for the recording studio or rehearsal studio, having a very productive day, getting ready for the gig on the night, having a great show, being surrounded by the people I love, going to bed feeling like I’ve shared something with the world, that I’ve done my part to make it a better place.

I think that that would be my perfect day.

You are all over the socials, which would you say are the best ones to keep up to date with your music?

I would say Instagram! Then Tiktok. The rest follows these. That is obviously without thinking about streaming platforms like Spotify, Soundcloud, etc.

Lastly, would you rather have the ability to talk to animals or speak 10 human languages fluently?

That’s so hard! I can’t really decide..

I started writing that I would pick 10 human languages but then came to my mind that animals don’t really have a voice. They can’t express with the world the same way humans do. There will always be someone understanding you no matter your language but animals are left with no voice. And they might be suffering, they might be feeling some type of way and not being heard and if I could change that then I would.  That’s why I’d pick having the ability to talk to animals.

We’d like to thank May Roze for taking the time to chat to us and we wish her every success for the single and forthcomng EP which is set for release on March 11th.

Keep in touch with May Roze at the following sites below;

Instagram

Tiktok

Facebook

Twitter

Spotify

Soundcloud

YouTube