Twenty-one year old singer-songwriter Mae Krell got their start in the music industry as a concert photographer, most notably photographing the Governor’s Ball for Rolling Stone Magazine at age 17. Since then, Mae’s debut EP Anabasis was released on February 16th, 2018, which featured two singles titled “Monsters” and “Scars.” Mae spent the rest of 2018 organizing a nationwide tour, but came back even stronger with their single ‘garden,’ released on March 20, 2020. Mae’s new acoustic, stripped down style brings out the honesty and authenticity within their lyrics. Influenced by artists like Bob Dylan and Phoebe Bridgers, Mae Krell’s goal is to “evoke new emotions with each note.”
Mae Krell’s next single ‘home’ will be released on May 29, 2020. Outside of writing and performing, Mae works as editor-in-chief of Tongue Tied Magazine, a music website designed to encourage pop culture and young adult interests within the music industry. Introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do? Hi! thanks so much for having me 🙂 I’m Mae, and I make music! Sad singer songwriter-ey stuff with folk/pop influence. Who are some of your biggest inspirations in the music industry? I’m really into Phoebe Bridgers and Jake Scott right now. Inspiration is such a big word to describe a person you don’t know, though, so I typically tend to say that my inspirations are my friends who also make music. Ryan Cassata is a buddy of mine who I’m constantly inspired by. When did you start songwriting and performing? What inspires you to write lyrics? I wrote my first song when I was around sixteen. I was writing (shitty) poetry before then, but when I picked up a guitar is when I really started writing music. I played my first gig about two months after I wrote my first song. You just released your new single, ‘garden’ in March. What inspired you to write this piece? Yes! I’m so stoked that it’s out! I wrote “garden” almost three years ago now in a hospital room in rural Connecticut. I was in the really early stages of getting help for myself, and was so terrified of what it would be like to finally feel okay, since that wasn’t at all what I was used to. garden is about those fears and how they manifested in my mind. Watch the official music video for “garden” here:Can you tell us about your typical writing and recording process?
Of course!! My writing process tends to surround a single line. I’ll have lyric ideas in my phone notes or something and will just pull one out and write around it. Melody comes after that! In terms of recording, I’ve worked mostly with Joey Auch, who is wonderful. We’ll get together and discuss the vibe and ambience of the song first, then build an atmosphere and then go into instrumentation and vocals. What is the best advice you have been given so far on your musical journey? A buddy of mine who has been putting out music for a long time recently told me that in order to be in the right place at the right time you have to keep putting yourself out there consistently. Which totally sounds obvious, but I think there’s this image put out there that people make one good record and get “discovered”- but that’s totally not how it works. and you have to be resilient more than anything else. Consistent and resilient. When you aren’t writing or performing, what are some of your hobbies? What helps you stay inspired? I pretty much just hang out with my dog and spend a lot of time outside! During quarantine I’ve been doing a lot of driving… like a lot. My dad has been saying that I’m the newly licensed driver with the most miles. Since I’m a totally DIY artist, making music takes so much more time than just recording. Creating visuals, videos, PR, playlist pitching, etc. How does being a member of the LGBTQ community impact your career as a musician? There’s obviously the day to day discrimination that comes with being queer and walking through the world that way. But honestly the incredible LGBTQ artists that I’ve gotten to meet and connect with since I’m a part of that community as well is a huge highlight. What is your best advice for young people entering the music industry as singers and songwriters? Just write a ton of stuff and record it, even if it’s DIY and at home! People will tell you that you can’t do everything yourself but you totally can, it’s just a lot of work haha. Anything else you would like to add? I have a new single, “home” that’s releasing on 5.29!! I’m super stoked about it 🙂