Exclusive Interview with 'MAE M' | Illustrate Magazine

MAE M is a rising talent from Vienna who has a passion for crafting catchy tunes and relatable lyrics. PIXY, Billie Eilish, Ashnikko, Stray Kids, and other highly regarded international artists served as inspiration for MAE M as she began her musical journey at a young age. She continued to sing throughout middle school and high school. Being both a musician and a storyteller, MAE M is heavily influenced by real life. She finds inspiration for her music in her own struggles and experiences, which enables her listeners to connect with and feel her music emotionally. In addition to stirring up emotions, MAE M incorporates her unique style into everything she produces by experimenting with a variety of musical genres, from electronic to dark pop. MAE M aspires to become a voice for this generation and seeks to positively impact the world with her music. She has big goals and lots of energy.
Young artist MAE M’s debut album demonstrates her excellent lyrical abilities, as well as a raw and distinct vocal performance and an overall eccentric style that lends her international appeal. She doesn’t quite fit in with the local music scene and hasn’t been featured by any major publications, which makes her the ideal “first-find.”

With influences from K-Pop, Destructive Behaviour is a genre-defying blend of Pop and electronic music. It grabs the listener, quickly makes its way to their brain, and doesn’t let go thanks to haunting melodies and earth-shattering basses and drums. It’s the ideal anthem to shout along to thanks to the upbeat chorus and simple-to-remember lyrics. Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

MAE M: I grew up in a small village on the countryside in Austria, and my parents always encouraged my musical endeavors. Although I have been making music since I was a child, it was only after I spent a few months in Los Angeles that I wanted to pursue becoming an artist. Things really got started when I decided to study songwriting at a conservatory in Vienna.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

MAE M: I started writing songs when I was about 15 and taught myself the basics on the guitar. After graduating high-school I moved to Vienna to study songwriting, where I took piano, guitar and vocal lessons, as well as a range of music-theory courses and writing classes.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘MAE M’?

MAE M: Talking vocals: I was a big fan of the early 2010s X-Factor contestants, especially Cher Lloyd and Little Mix. When I started writing songs myself, I was more into the emo and post hardcore genre.
About my name: On the one hand, it’s an allusion to my legal name. My parents blessed me with three first names, so I thought I’d put them to good use. On the other hand, it’s a neat play on words: MAE M, Ma’am if you’re nasty, Mayhem if you cross me.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

MAE M: Probably my lyrics. And my melodies. That’s usually where I start out too: Lyrics and a melody – everything else is built around that. I think my sound can be quite rough at times: Fat basses, heavy drums, and edgy synths – contrasted by rather raw and vulnerable vocals.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as Dark-POP?

MAE M:

When I started out writing – as an edgy teen – my biggest inspirations were probably Bring me the Horizon and Panic! at the Disco. I taught myself acoustic versions of their songs and then tried to write my own melodies over their harmonies.

As I continued to write more, and especially during my time at the conservatory, I figured out that my strongest suit is my lyrical work, and that I have a hunch for catchy melodies. I had to learn not to overthink my process and just do what I feel sounds right. As for the instrumentals on my songs: That’s mostly my producers. They manage to distill the ideas out of my badly produced demos and create something beautiful. It was only with their help that I could transition from Singer-Songwriter style into the Dark-Pop genre.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

MAE M:

I think it can be both at the same time. In the end, the interpretation is up to the listener, and their willingness to engage with a song – you can write a political anthem, but if the listener doesn’t actively listen to the lyrics, the message won’t be heard.
I try to stick to writing about my personal experience, because it’s what I know best and what I can portray authentically. Maybe there will be some political or socioeconomic topics in future songs – I wouldn’t want to restrict myself in that regard. However, I do try to make my songs accessible to my listeners. They should be able to enjoy it on a surface level, but also have the ability to dig deeper if they want to.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

MAE M:

Definitely. I love to see ideas becoming tangible and releasing them into the world, although that is a very scary thing. Once you show the world your art, it’s open for criticism, and that can make you feel quite vulnerable. Nevertheless, I plan to reach more people and gather a greater audience in the future.

8. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?

MAE M:

I enjoy both since they yield different energies. Being in the studio, working with my producers is always great fun and the joy of creating something new is indescribable. On the other hand, performing one’s art and thus celebrating what has already been created is a delight in and of itself – especially when celebrating it with a crowd of people. Sadly, I haven’t had the pleasure to experience a live crowd in a while, given the circumstances of the past two years.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

MAE M: I’ve been very lucky to live a quite privileged life so far, so I don’t think my hardships compare to what most people experience on a day to day. My biggest and ongoing struggle however is the feeling of not having accomplished enough, and not being responsible for my achievements – I think some people call this imposter syndrome. Once I can overcome this, I think there is a good chance I could be happy.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

MAE M: When I first showed the finished music video for “Destructive Behaviour” to my family. It was the first piece they ever heard and saw of me as an artist, and I think none of them expected it to be what it became.