We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rachel May. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rachel below.

Rachel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My mom and dad are the ones who introduced me to their favorite music that would go on to be some of the greatest influences in my own life and music, and both of my parents always encouraged my singing. When I was a kid and mostly did musical theater, my dad was always taking me to auditions and driving me to rehearsals, while my mom was helping me memorize lines during times when I could just barely read. They both really recognized the importance of artistic expression and never failed to encourage it in me. I think they just wanted me to be happy, and they knew that singing made me the happiest.
These days; they attend almost every show of mine to support me and my music, and it’s really meaningful to have their support.

Recently, I decided to make the leap into doing music full time, which meant quitting my “regular” job at a middle school library. I was pretty terrified to tell them that this was what I wanted to do, where my path was taking me. But they could not have been more supportive. Like me, they understand the importance of chasing what makes you happy and doing the things you are best at, and we only get one life to do the things that we love.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Rachel May and I am a 24-year-old singer/songwriter out of Baltimore, Maryland. I have been singing and writing songs for as long as I can remember, but I got my start in Baltimore singing at the Cat’s Eye Pub back in 2022 when I would sit in with my friends’ bands singing mostly rock songs. After that summer, I joined the band 5 Spot, writing and performing both original music and groovy covers at Cat’s Eye every month. Around the same time I joined 5 Spot that Fall, I found myself busking at The Ramble Festival in Darlington, Maryland. It was there that I was introduced to all sorts of acoustic bluegrass, folk, and roots music, as well as the local community who played it. From there, I bounced between two different musical worlds: one centered around high-energy psychedelic jam bands, and another in an acoustic, rootsy realm.

While exceptionally different, I’ve found so much joy and fulfillment in both of these genres and communities, as well as a fair amount of success! 5 Spot has being playing opening and headlining shows at venues in Baltimore and beyond, and my solo, folksy music has brought me opportunities such as playing Charm City Bluegrass, where folks like Billy Strings, The Travelin’ McCourys, and The Wood Brothers have headlined in past years! I also released my first single this year!
Something that I’ve really come to appreciate in my music career is how I haven’t settled into one style. I am a deep appreciator of all kinds of genres and styles, and would love to continue to pursue singing in any capacities that this life allows me to.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I believe the best ways to create a thriving, creative ecosystem is to meaningfully engage with the local happenings. This means going to shows, buying artist merch, talking to artists and musicians and showing them your gratitude/enjoyment of their work in a personal, human-to-human way! Specifically for music, the first two are huge!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I think that for me my particular goal or mission driving my creative journey is simply to be able to the sing songs that I love for as long as possible. I have found that I am the most authentic version of myself when sharing my music and my voice, and it has been something that throughout my life I have found myself coming back to, regardless of what I’m doing or how far I may have strayed from it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rachelmaymusic.com
• Instagram: rachelmayisokay
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2cJdgIC8f0ftuTPHJrssSo?si=dlR1khKPTsq1jb5eByG-GA

Image Credits

Liz Pappas
Nick Fitanides