Brooklyn based singer-songwriter Janie May writes with her heart out. With a sleek style, honey-coated voice and sophisticated, yet upbeat tunes, the singer and trained social worker emphasizes the emotional aspect of life – emotions without warning yet too often felt and the source of human connection. May sat down with Jejune to talk about what she wants to achieve through music, her EP Balance Me, art and mental health in the age of coronavirus, and all the while showing us how solidarity as a guiding force takes us far.

Where are you based?
I am based in New York City, currently in North Brooklyn.

When did you get into music? Who are your biggest inspirations?
I always gravitated towards rhythm and lyrics. I wrote poems as a child and was always singing around the house, trying to emulate legends like Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey but was actually very shy about singing publicly or putting myself out there musically until I was almost 22. I started learning piano at around age six and studied formally for about seven years. I would often play around with melodies on the keyboard as a kid and remember trying to compose my own hooks… so I suppose it’s something that is just a part of who I am. Ballet was also a big part of my life as a kid and I trained in ballet from about age five until age twenty (with some years off between) and initially inspired by a New York City Ballet performance of The Nutcracker. I would often find myself getting lost in the music during ballet class and would sometimes get emotional without knowing why; I just felt that the music touched me very deeply. I considered a career as a dancer for quite some time but ultimately felt that it was not the right choice for me.

In terms of musicians who inspire me, I would say one of my biggest inspirations is Stevie Wonder, who is lyrically and musically an absolute genius. I aspire to write songs that are as elegant and timeless as his. Lady Gaga inspires me in terms of her boundless creativity, business acumen and grit; I actually saw her perform in a play at Regis High School when I was a freshman at a nearby school and remember hearing her voice and having a gut feeling that she would hit it big. Sade, Linda Ronstadt, Atlantic Starr, Fiona Apple, Prince, Aaliyah, Amy Winehouse, Tupac, and Matt Maeson are a few more musicians that I find to be inspiring. For me it is an endless list; there are so many talented songwriters out there that it is hard to not feel constantly inspired or in awe of what others have created.

You’re a proud Brooklynite. How does your hometown influence your music?
To me Brooklyn will always be a melting pot where people from all corners of the globe share the same sidewalks and learn and work side by side. There is a true sense of cultural and socioeconomic diversity in Brooklyn that is incredibly unique. Being constantly exposed to people who were all very different from one another yet shared common goals and drives shaped me into a perennially curious and open-minded person, I think. I believe that comes through in my music in that I have a particular interest in blending genres and am always looking to discover new artists and sounds to be inspired and influenced by.

How do you go about songwriting? What kinds of feelings jump out during this process?
I generally start with a feeling, a phrase, or a piece of a melody. Sometimes a melody will pop into my head and the song will get created from there; that was the case with Not Alone. I am also often inspired by people that I will see walking around the city or situations in my own life. Sometimes I will encounter someone who looks particularly interesting or who seems to have an interesting outlook on things and that will lead me to feel inspired or spend time thinking about their experience. Of course, probably the most common impetus for writing a song is a personal experience. I think feelings of loss and longing are often the easiest to channel into music. Feelings can stick with me for a long time and initially I found songwriting as one way of working through those feelings from various life experiences.

Could you talk about your recently released EP, Balance Me? What’s the story behind it?
This EP was the outgrowth of a few songwriting camps that I did with the NY Topliner Camp. Zach was my teammate for one camp and both of the original tracks on the EP were created from instrumentals that he made. Essentially, these songs reflected the moods, emotions and experiences of one’s late twenties. I know I felt like I went through so many changes in those years and I think the songs reflect the feeling of wanting to feel a bit more settled and sure of things in life.

You collaborated with a number of creatives for this EP, such as Brooklyn-based EDM group The Beat Disciples. How was your experience working together?
It was a lot of fun to work on the EP with The Beat Disciples. They did all of the recording and audio engineering for the original tracks in addition to creating the remixes. I really enjoy collaborating because I feel that the more ideas there are, the better. They provided a lot of great ideas during the recording process, especially for the background vocals. Along with Zach we also brainstormed and filmed the music videos for Some Of These Days ourselves.

What are you hoping audiences will feel when listening to your music?
I guess it is different for each song but I aspire to make music that resonates with people. I hope that my music makes people feel as though a situation or emotional experience that they have been through has been articulated and portrayed for them.

In addition to being a musician, you’re a trained psychotherapist. Could you talk about your experience as a social worker? What inspired you to pursue a Masters of Social Work?
There are many areas of overlap between my music and my work as a therapist. Emotions, of course, are the foundation of both. I was inspired to pursue a career as a therapist in part due to the experience of a relative and in part due to a natural aptitude for and interest in the work. There is an investigative element to this work as well as a healing element. I enjoy the creativity that is involved in planning sessions as well as the process of growing to understand how a client thinks in order to assist in shifting thought patterns that are not helpful. I very much enjoy being able to provide hope and a new outlook to others, which I feel is also often the aim of the arts.

How do you create a balance between social work and your endeavors as a musician?
My work as a therapist is my 9-to-5, so to speak. I tend to work on music in the evenings as a way to relax at the end of the day. I like being able to shift gears and have found that having a creative outlet helps to restore my energy after a long day.

Can you talk a little bit about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your work?
I have been working remotely since the pandemic hit New York City in mid-to-late March. Initially, doing tele-health was a bit of a shift but I think it is here to stay, as it is very convenient for clients. The demand for services is higher now than it ever has been for most psychotherapists that I know and we are the “invisible front line” in many ways. Just as the pandemic has highlighted the importance of access to medical care, I believe it has done the same for mental health care. People are finally taking mental health seriously and while most providers are still feeling a bit overwhelmed by demand, I know that we are going to see major changes in terms of the accessibility of care in the years to come.

Mental health is at an all-time low right now. How do you encourage your clients and others to stay positive and sane during everything going on?
I think the writing of Victor Frankl is particularly relevant in these times. Man’s Search For Meaning is perhaps one of the best works regarding how to stay positive in trying times. I believe faith is crucial during times like this as well, as well as an acknowledgment that in life there will be hard times but that they, too, shall pass. I suppose that one way of maintaining positivity and a sense of routine during all of this is to focus on what can be controlled and to find ways to make the most of the time and resources that one has. While this pandemic has strained some relationships it has also made many families stronger. People have made career changes that are ultimately a better fit, etc. I feel that there is always a silver lining to a situation, it just depends on shifting one’s perspective sometimes. Times of great struggle can be awesome opportunities for change and growth as well, although when it occurs on a societal level, history shows us that it often takes time. I am hopeful, however, that we will see significant policy changes in the coming years that will help support the physical, mental, economic, and social well-being of more people.

Your commitment to helping out others goes beyond your profession - you’re also involved with some non-profit organizations, including Womankind. What draws you to work with a certain non-profit or join a particular community outreach effort?
I volunteered with them for a few months prior to the start of my graduate program several years ago, so I am not currently active with them but it was a very good learning experience. I had briefly worked for someone as a teenager who turned out to be a predator and while I was not attacked by this person it was extremely unsettling and a bit traumatic to learn of what they had done. It can be so hard to trust and feel safe after experiencing any type of abuse, whether it is emotional, financial, physical, or sexual, and I wanted to learn more about the ways that their recovery was supported and aided by this organization.

Could you talk about your work with Womankind? What’s been the most memorable or meaningful aspect of collaborating with them?
It was meaningful to be able to assist people who were subject to what I and I think most people would consider to be evil. I was particularly interested in being able to help survivors of human trafficking and they were one of the few organizations that I was able to find in NYC that did this work. Most of what I did was phone-based and I won’t go into much detail in order to preserve confidentiality but it was certainly meaningful to be able to provide hope and guidance to women who had suffered through so much pain and were looking to rebuild their lives.

Domestic violence is at a high right now with everyone sheltering in place. Do you have any advice for someone struggling with this right now?
This is an especially tough time for anyone involved in a situation where there is domestic violence. I would absolutely recommend reaching out to an organization like Safe Horizon. I think trying to stay focused on specific tasks and on concrete steps that can be taken can also provide a sense of routine as well as a sense of self-efficacy and control, things that have often been eroded when one has experienced abuse.

How are you staying positive during shelter-in-place?
I am very much an introvert so I am one of the lucky ones who has not found the adjustment to be too difficult. I think being a naturally creative person has helped me; this has been a great time to dive into various projects. Early in the pandemic, I spent a lot of time sewing masks. I enjoy photography so when the weather was a bit warmer I would often go on walks and try to see if I could find anything that would be interesting to capture. Trying out new recipes, decorating, working out, and staying connected to friends and family are things that I enjoy and that have been all thankfully still accessible during this year.

What’s your life motto?
“This too shall pass” because it is a reminder to savor the present moment, a cautionary statement against getting too comfortable, and a comforting piece of wisdom to remember during difficult times.

To learn more about Janie May, please follow her via the below platforms:
Instagram: @janiemaymusic
Facebook: @janiemaymusic

Janie May Gets Real