Imelda May
Imelda May
Imelda Mary Higham, professionally known as Imelda May, is an Irish musician, producer and singer-songwriter. Born and raised in The Liberties area of Dublin, May began her career in music at age sixteen—performing with a number of local bands and musicians— before forming her own band in 2002. She released her debut studio album, No Turning Back, in 2003 and relocated to London, United Kingdom with husband and guitarist Darrel Higham after its release...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionRock Singer
Date of Birth10 July 1974
CityDublin, Ireland
CountryIreland
Everybody told me that if I insisted on doing rockabilly music, I'd never have a chance of selling any records. In fact, I lost count of how many people told me to ditch it all together, in favour, I guess, of sounding like everybody else.
At school, I'd refuse to take part in biology lessons when animals were being dissected. One time, the teacher announced that we would be gassing worms. So I ran around the room, gathered up all the worms and set them free in the fields. I just loved animals and couldn't bear the thought of them suffering.
American audiences are great. They get what I am doing, but as my band will tell you, nowhere tops the Irish audience. They are just brilliant. They are very open, but the Americans and Spanish come a close second.
Ireland and America, music-wise, are very closely related. The Irish came over with their fiddles in hand, and you can hear it in the bluegrass and rockabilly. I love it when music from different countries combine.
When I'm writing, I mean what I'm saying - there's a lot of me in each song.
When I heard Elvis and his 'Sun Sessions,' I went mad for it. I was about thirteen.
Up-tempo or slow tempo, I don't feel that one is better than the other.
Thrashing about on stage is my exercise for the day!
Ooooh, I love Nashville! It seems like everywhere you walk, there's great music coming out of every wall.
Music was always part of my life - my mother says I came out singing. I wanted to be Gene Kelly - or Judy Garland.
Music rules a lot of my life - I was bitten by the bug young.
I'm not filthy rich! I'm not as rich as people think. It's funny, isn't it?
I'm not a feminist that hates men by any means.
I worry about people who sell out to chase fame because when they get it, it might not be so satisfying.